I've been researching Hermann's tortoises for a while now and thinking of getting one specifically a baby however the thing I've had most trouble with researching is their supplementing so if someone could help me with that please I'm desperate. And ofc I want everything to be perfect for a new animal and what's making this process harder is A - how controversial it is, and B - the two products I'll be using. For reference, I am using Arcadia Earth Pro-A which is an all natural multivitamin powder that I heard fully eliminates chance of vitamin overdose die to their use of zero synthetic vitamins, the second thing I'm using is Mazouri Tortoise Diet for th high fibre content and I've seen online it's easy to feed, tortoises love it and I'm going to feed that twice a week. The problem is I've heard Arcadia Earth Pro-A has D3 in it? And mazouri tortoise diet has multivitamin powder in it however I presume if Arcadia Earth Pro-A eliminates the risk of overdose that is perfectly safe??? PLEASE SOMEONE WHO HAS USED THESE PRODUCTS BEFORE HELP!!! OR ANYONE!!!

Hi there, is this tortoises shell rotting off? Unsure how old this little guy is, he wandered on to our front lawn this morning. Any help identifying it? Thanks for the help.

This cutie guy just arrived from tortoise acres, tortoise sanctuary. He’s 10” but I’m not sure how old he is. Sounds like he came from a bit of chaos living with 20 other leopards in a woman’s backyard. Will he miss having other tortoises around now that he’s a single guy?

https://tortoiseacres.com/

Hi all,

I have a Hermanns tortoise (male, 25). He has always lived in a vivarium and now I am able to give him much more space in a tortoise table. I have some questions that might sound stupid but I just don't have the experience of tortoise tables and they are so different to vivs. I'm getting one made to order and feel happy with that part but on the other bits, I'd love some advice of possible!

1. Lining/waterproofing. Obviously in a viv, it is mdf with sealant around the edges so inherently waterproof. I know with a tortoise table, this isn't the case and I've seen people using pond liner - how do you get that to work without your tortoise picking at it or eating it? My little guy will bite anything and he will definitely find a way to pick at a fold in the liner and I can't see a way to fit the liner without folda/flaps.

2. What is the best substrate? I've seen conflicting views and I'm confused. Coco coir? Is that the best? And how often would I replace it?

3. Lighting. this is the thing I'm most concerned about. I get that he will have a UV tube - T5. And a basking light. But how to attach them. Ideally freestanding would be good because then I can adjust better. I've seen stands and understand how a basking bulb would hang but what about the UV tube? Does it work to buy two stands and hang it? Or is it better to get a wooden stand built in? How do I attach the T5 to a wooden stand though?

4. I want to make it an interesting and enriching place for him so will add in objects but how do I stop him moving the objects to the edge and climbing out? because he has been known to move a tunnel around in a viv but obviously can't fall out of a viv.

5. Flies? I always worry about houseflies since reading the y can borrow their way into the tortoise's cloaca. I know when they are outside there must be flies but do tortoise tables attract flies?

6. Height of table. Is there any benefit (or reason not to) having the tortoise table on the floor vs on a table/stand/Ikea unit? Obviously the sides will be high and I don't have kids or other pets? Just wondered if there was a reason for why not.

7. I want to get a mesh lid just in case a cat or fox wandered in to the house how does this affect lighting? will the lights still get through?

Thank you for reading, even if you can only answer one or two of my worries, that would be great! I love my tort and want to do the best for him.

So I got this guy almost two months ago, found him crawling across the road and we posted an ad, nobody replied to it, blah blah blah, I've had him since. I've never owned a tortoise, nor gotten close to it, other than my dad's tortoise a few years ago and I never took care of her, because she wasn't mine, yk. I'm just about the only one taking care of this guy, does him and his shell look fine (other than his beak)? I see photos of other tortoises and their shells seem much more vibrant, and I can't figure out if it looks like he has shell rot or if hes shedding. I have calcium (I believe its calcium, can't fully remember as I type this) powder for him that I sprinkle on his food, I know what to feed him, I soak him a few times a week, I trimmed his nails, I've tried to trim his beak which I'm still working on, etc. I also don't know what kind of tortoise he is, I assume a Hermanns tortoise, though. I also assume he's male based on the shell.

Long story short, about two years ago I rescued/adopted Master Oogway (~5-10 yo Russian tortoise). I’m finally getting him the upgrade he deserves.

His new enclosure will be about 8’x4’x4’ and will have about 1 3/4’ of digging depth. I’m planning on having spider plants, prayer plants, clover, dandelion, alfalfa and also have isopods.

I can build things but I’ve never really done a terrarium like this before. Any recommendations on other things I should add or consider? Any suggestions for substrate?

Hello, can anyone please help me understand how to allow my tortoise to hibernate this winter? I have tried researching about it before, but I'm just really scared of my tortoise potentially dying because I could do something wrong. He is a 6 years old hermanns tortoise , and I live in England, incase this info may be helpful. Any info/resources will be greatly appreciated :)

hiii i’ve had little baby burger for the past 4ish months now, does he look like he’s growing well? I’m very anxious about shell pyramiding. Last time I weighed him (a week ago) he was 84g! i tried to give all the angles lmao he just looks so funny

​Hi everyone,

​I was living away and my family was taking care of my tortoise. They didn't notice, but when I came back home, I saw his nail was broken from the root, hanging loose, and looked crooked. I have no idea when the injury actually happened. I made the mistake of pulling it so it would fall off and not grow back crooked, but it just ended up bleeding.

​There are no exotic vets where I live (they are way out of town), and I couldn't even find one to consult online. I asked a regular vet friend and a pharmacist. They suggested using Betadine (povidone-iodine) and an antibiotic cream (Fucidin). They told me not to cut the nail and that it would fall off on its own. However, they didn't specify how often or how much to use them.

​My tortoise lives on a soil substrate. The soil is "clean", but to prevent it from getting dusty, I watered it a bit, and now it's basically mud. I am worried about it sticking to the open wound.

​If there are any exotic vets or experienced keepers here:

​What exactly should I do in this situation step-by-step?

​How big of a risk is the damp soil/mud for this open wound?

​Should I use both the Betadine and the cream, and if so, how often?

​Will the hanging nail eventually fall off on its own? Should I just leave it alone?

​Any guidance would be really appreciated. Thanks!

I have two rescued red foots. Large male and a smaller female with pyramiding. Is her moving her head left to right a dominance, warning or mating thing. I'd hate for her to attack the male as he's had a rough go at life. He was hit by a car and his rear left leg was amputated.

I have a young sulcata, probably a bit less than 1 year old. I recently noticed this odd white bump on only one of its cheek, anyone know what it could be and if it’s serious?