Tortoise

tortoise17

hi everyone,
as tortoise keeping is getting more popular in Ireland,
a few people have decided to orgonise a group,
we are known as "Irish Chelonia Group"
so far we have a yahoo group, but only have 16 members:mad:
so if you own a tortoise or turtle, please help us out,
here is a link:

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/irish_chelonia_group

what everyone needs to remember is
tortoises can never be housed in a glass vivarium!!!
they need additional calcium on their food, eg cuttle fish/limestone powder
there are so many different species of tortoises, it is important to know which breed you have, please note, within the species there can be many
sub species eg the spur thighed tortoise (testudo graeca), within testudo graeca there are , t.graeca graeca, t.graeca ibera, etc..

here are a few useful web sites
www.tortoisetrust.org
www.thetortoisehouse.com
www.vidi-herp.com
www.shelledwarriors.co.uk

and of course irish chelonia group, link above

i have a morrocan male graeca graeca,
and am getting a horsfield (testudo horsfieldii)
of course these tortoises will never have any contact with each other,
as different species can never be mixed!!

doctor evil

I`m just curious why can`t they be mixed? (know nothing about them)

tallus

Diseases can be transferred easily, and apparently with devastating effect.

tortoise17

as previously mensioned, diseases can be spread, also
some tortoise species are more agressive than others and could do serious shell injurys ,
also tortoises occur in totally different regions around the world, eg, some in rain forests in south america, some in the sahara desert, most tortoise species requires slightly differnt care,
eg with heat, humidity, diet, etc, ps not all tortoises hibernate

tortoises are herbivours, and sont eat meat, also thy need nutrobal and calcium powder to be dusted on their food, they
are best fed, dandilion, clover, sowthistle, mallow, etc..

who has tortoises? and what breed by the way?

tallus

I have a pair of Hermans in hibernation at the moment. They are about 4 years and two months old.

tortoise17

oh cool, where did you get them?
are they testudo hermanni hermanni or t. hermanni boetgerri?

what size are they?

tallus

reptile haven
hermanni hermanni
not sure on the size

tortoise17

how much do reptile haven sell them for?,

who else has a tortoise?

i was in a pet shop yesterday and there was 3 tortoises in a small fish tank with lizards, the tank had a glass lid on it, very sad!!:(

glass tanks are very bad cause they have very very por ventilation,
and dont allow for a range in tempeture, a mediterranean tortoise will
need a basking lamp of about 35-40 celcius, and about 20-22 degreese
away from the lamp, they need to thermo regulate...

tallus

I'm fine with a hotspot of 30, 40 sounds a tad over the top tbh.
Here's a photo of them pre-hibernation.

tortoise17

lovely pics!!!!

just watch out for the bigger fella, he seems to show some over growth,
do you hibernate them?,
also just watch out for over feeding!:)

tallus

If you read my previous post you will see that they are in hibernation at the moment.
Thermoregulate is one word by the way

tortoise17

oh sorry, missed that bit!!:o
thanks on the spelling, it will come in handy!!! lol!!

which hibernation method do you use?,

i have always used fridge

tallus

Fridge yes.

Shane190

I know that this is a bit off but i have 3 painted turtles...lol

Have a look ---->

tortoise17

hi shane they are lovely,

chelonia stand for both tortoise and turtle,
why not join our group and tell us your opinions on keeping turtles!:)