Tortoises

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by kaitkaitkait

Perhaps one day I shall own one for myself, although I suspect as co-pets they are incompatible with cats?

~is curious now~

Kait

I'd say yes although if you had a small tortoise, you'd need to make sure the cat didn't bat out at it's face like cats tend to do. Tortoises haven't got lightning reflexes as you know, so this could damage the eyes and the softer skin of the tortoise's neck with a claw.
As they get bigger and thicker skinned they should be relatively safe.
Tortoises can give a sharp nip too. Usually fingers if feeding carelessly. They don't mean to they just chunk away at anything that looks like food.

My advice would be to have a read up on it all first and talk to a really good reptile expert or get some information from a local vet.

It's also important to ensure the security of your tortoise as they are valuable. I know someone who had 8 stolen one night. she was devastated as they'd been with her since childhood.

[kaitkaitkait]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

I'd say yes although if you had a small tortoise, you'd need to make sure the cat didn't bat out at it's face like cats tend to do. Tortoises haven't got lightning reflexes as you know, so this could damage the eyes and the softer skin of the tortoise's neck with a claw.

Hm, yes...my Gribeau's a sweetie but cats WILL be cats. I wouldn't want to stress a poor little tortoise out - maybe when she's older and less inclined to pounce...
That'll give me enough time to read up on tortoise care anyway

It's also important to ensure the security of your tortoise as they are valuable. I know someone who had 8 stolen one night. she was devastated as they'd been with her since childhood.

Oh that's terrible! There are no *permissible* words for the type of person who does that.

[TORTUGA]

Birds will take very small totoises if they get the chance as they look like snails. Its always best to keep small T ortoises in an inclosure with a net over it or something in the summer. I only put my small ones out in the garden in an inclosure when I am around as I am also concerned about thieves who could stumble upon them all in one place. I let my adults roam the whole garden as it is densly planted and unless you are looking for them, most of the time you wont see them. I have to say they rarely cross the lawns, and prefer to go all the way around the borders instead, maybe they feel exposed crossing neat short grass. I have both my adults fitted with micro chips as if stolen any small chance they go to a vets one day or escape could mean I get them back. I also dont have a Tortoise house in the garden for night time sleeping for the reason of a prowler looking whats in side and wondering off with them. I let them sleep where they want, each Tortoise has its preferred sleeping place in the garden and whilst there is a slight risk of a Fox attack, so far nothing bad has happend!

[Garden Carpet]

I found a tortoise walking up the middle of a main road. I stopped the car in front of it so that no other cars could hit it while I picked it up.... My husband (now ex) took over driving as he wouldnt hold the poor crittur. Did he know something I didnt.. cos the blessed beastie pee'd and poo'd on my lightweight summer dress... not absorbant.. so I had to sit in a wee puddle of wee all the way to the animal shelter and home again!!! I would still like one as a pet but it would terrify my chihuahua LOL
jaki

[cherrybee]

Hi Spike and TORTUGA a very warm welcome to WAB

[werdnal]

Had a tortoise briefly when I was a child, but our Collie Dog used to go mental trying to get into his enclosure, so we felt it kinder to pass him on to a friend who had another tortoise for company.

Incidentally, if you ever get down to Cornwall, you might want to visit the Tortoise Sanctuary, see The Tortoise Garden @ Cornwall Connect

[Sally Nunn]

My daugher has just inherited a Herman tortoise...name of Herman!!! He is apparently 75 years old. He is fast and a great escape artist. I was talking to an old lady(90) at my aunts funeral that could remember 40 years ago having to chase him up the road because he had escaped while my aunt was on holiday.
Sal.

[littlemoo]

We used to have 3 Tortoises when I was a child. We had a small one, which was
found wandering in the road in East London by my Aunt, who put it in a basket under
her pram. We were given 2 full grown tortoises, I believe they
were Testudo graeca ibera (Greek Tortoises) very similar to the
Hermann's Tortoise.

Sadly the Tortoises died, one in hibernation and the other one stopped eating

I'd love to get a Tortoise, they are funny creatures, I know they cost
about £100 + to buy now.

[bluecarolina]

Tortuga
can you recommend any good vets for my tortoise in Bristol?

thanks

[Jim Ford]

'Tortuga's' last post was over 3 years ago. I suggest you enquire elsewhere.

BTW, welcome to 'WAB'.

Jim