Joey the tortoise is awake!

...or even *WHAT an important event", sorry!

"WHAT and important event..."

First wee this morning! Those of you with tortoises will know an important event this is!

I plundered the local woods and neighbours gardens yesterday and have collected lots of good tortoise friendly weeds (dandelion and plantain), which are now stored in the fridge in the garage and will feed her for a few days. Waiting for the chickweed to sprout in my garden later on this month, another of her favourites.

Ours is awake too, Shelley. But not keen on eating yet, only if I hand feed her ( lazy ). She's anout 75 now

Took Freda out of hibernation yesterday and made a little pen for her in the garage before we let her out in the garden. Thought she’d take a while before she woke up properly but she’s off looking for escape routes so I hope I can release her in the garden soon. I’ll still bring her in at night but she does manage to hide herself well despite her size. We put a yellow sticker on her back to help us in the search, which the dog often helps with.

Thank you, AskAlice

Joey looks very sprightly.

Lovely!

Oh, I've just found this photo taken a couple of years ago which made me laugh!

I’ve loved reading about Joey and all the other tortoises. They are fascinating creatures.

We once were walking in a huge park in Turkey which hadn’t been tended in many years and had been reclaimed by nature when we heard something moving in the undergrowth. The children were quite young and we were slightly apprehensive as to what it could be when all of a sudden a huge tortoise appeared in front of us. It was a magnificent creature, we still talk about how delighted we were to have come across it.

Joey is gorgeous! Thank you for the photo, and for this lovely thread.

It could be to do with diet - maybe lack of calcium. Joey has cuttlefish available throughout the summer and often gnaws on it. I've also read somewhere that lack of UV can distort the growth of shell but in some species of tortoise the shell can curl naturally at the back, particularly in males.

The only thing I am reasonably sure about is that "pyramiding", where the shell is very bumpy and lumpy, is caused by over-feeding. It's very hard (actually impossible) where I live to find a vet who knows about tortoises, I have to rely on books and tortoise forums online for any advice I need.

For you tortoise people, I have a question, please.

I knew a lady who had a very elderly tortoise (Samantha - the tortoise, not the lady!)

Samantha's shell curled upwards all around; is that because of her age, or her species, please?

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202404/medium-743721-joey.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202404/medium-825266-joey-march-2022.jpg

I'm loving all your comments, thank you all for joining in!

"Witzend", I love your bronze Spike O'Saurus. I have several (actually about 20!) tortoise ornaments dotted about in the garden but they are all bog-standard resin or stone, and also 30 or smaller tortoise trinkets in a cabinet in the living room. One of them has a noddy head, and our youngest granchild loves looking at the "Nod-Nod" when she comes to visit. Joey likes pansies too, and also rose petals - but only certain colours!

I've added some photos of Joey.The first photo was taken a couple of years ago by our neighbours, when they were pet-sitting while we were on holiday. They love her too! The second is of her in her kennel last summer.

My mum's next door neighbour looked after someone's tortoise, and her dog killed it, thinking it was some kind of a toy.

Chocolatelovinggran

Thank you for your help oldbat and AskAlice. My grandson has been offered a young tortoise needing a home.
Will s/he be OK around the family dog?

It would depend on the dog really. The family tortoise lives with a dog and cats without any issue. Like with all pets i wouldnt leave dog and tortoise together alone. I find them fascinating. Do your reading up on the species you have. Our tortoise cant be trusted around bare feet!

I was always frightened of the hibernation aspect of having a tortoise, but they intrigue me.

I had terrapins when I was little, instead. (I think a tortoise would have been a better choice)

We once came across a local tortoise while walking in a park in Athens. I happened to have a small bag of peaches, so took a bite out of one (to make it easy to access) and offered him/her the rest. S/he attacked it with evident relish!

On our recent holiday on Madeira we met the hotels resident giant tortoise Columbos. Here he is 'rushing' over to see us. He's very friendly. (The tortoise is!)

AskAlice

It's so lovely to hear that other people have dearly loved tortoises, and also hedgehogs *grandtanteJE65! I do wish I had a hedgehog visitor as they are such wonderful, interesting creatures.

Joey didn't venture out of the greenhouse today, much too gloomy. The weather here in Hertfordshire is not looking good for the next few days, but I hope it won't be too cold - I really want her to start eating soon. Maybe another few warm baths will help!

AskAlice, my Timmy used to love dead pansies! Not too dead of course, just somewhat past their best.

How lovely that you’ve been together for so long! Can we have a pic of Joey?

At about 9 I was finally allowed to have Timmy, very small then - he cost 4/6d and the pet shop keeper just put him in a brown paper bag!
A few years later we also acquired a much bigger one, found in the garden and nobody claimed him - we called him/her Big One 😂) but alas, neither survived hibernation during the very cold winter of (IIRC) 1963. I was devastated when I went to check and found them both dead.

All I have now is Spike O’Saurus, a prehistoric tortoise who came from a little metal worker’s shop in France. Cast in bronze, he’s happy to live in the garden all year round.

Some sunshine this morning and she's emerged from her kennel, but still in the greenhouse.

I've just checked and she's having a little nibble on some lettuce. I'm going to have a walk around the neighbourhood to see if anyone's garden is sprouting dandelions or plantain yet. The neighbours are happy for me to pinch some if I spot it, but I suspect any I do find will be very small-leaved at this time of year - more hors d'ouevre than main-meal!

It's so lovely to hear that other people have dearly loved tortoises, and also hedgehogs *grandtanteJE65! I do wish I had a hedgehog visitor as they are such wonderful, interesting creatures.

Joey didn't venture out of the greenhouse today, much too gloomy. The weather here in Hertfordshire is not looking good for the next few days, but I hope it won't be too cold - I really want her to start eating soon. Maybe another few warm baths will help!

How lovely! I hope you and Joey will have a wonderful summer this year and for many yet to come.

The cats and I are currently waiting for Mrs Hedgehog to waken up She spends the winter under a very large heap of brushwoood on my drying-green. Tigger squeezed himself in under the pile the other day to see whether Mrs Hedgehog was awake yet and came out looking disappointed, but I have put down a shallow bowl of water for her outside her front door.

That really made me smile. Thank you for posting - have a wonderful Summer, Joey. ♥️

Yes indeed what a lovely post.
And you clearly take such wonderful care of your beloved pet.
May both of you live to a great old age!