this is for you woofgang

[Emily Ball]

Always nice to hear from another chelonia enthusiast. What kind do you have woofgang? The website I ordered from last was:-

http://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk/seeds/pages/herb.htm 

It may seem a little expensive but 50g. goes a helluva long way.

[woofgang]

hi Emily. I have 2 spur thighed males that's tortoises for the rest of you!) I know that one of them is at least 40, as that's how long I have had him, and he was almost full grown when I got him (5 bob in brixton market) The other one came to us about 5 years later. He was found in hibernation in the house of a lady who had died. She had no relations or close people and at that time it was the job of the council to dispose of her property properly. The chap who was responsible for doing it knew that my mum had a tortoise and asked her if she would take on another one, pending any claim being made by an unheard of relative. They are both huge characters and love being scratched around the head and neck. Thanks for the seed info. What have you got?

(bet this gets moved to chatterbank!!)

[Emily Ball]

Mine are but babies compared to yours. They are both 6 yrs. old now . They are Hermann's boettgeri and are great little characters too. I have been fascinated by tortoises since I kept one as a child and mine enjoy being stroked under their chins too.  It may sound completely daft but the smell of the skin of their necks, when they have been basking in hot sunshine is possibly my favourite smell .

[woofgang]

yes they do smell nice don't they

[Brinjal]

I also have two african spurred tortoises.  Im not sure how old the males is but the one i take to be a female is about five years.   she was really tiny when i got her  but has grown considerable.   She is really friendly and loves to be tickled and gently scratched.    The male was already big when i got him and isnt overly fond of humans.   They are hibernating at present.

[woofgang]

wow Brinjal, where do you live? In the UK it isn't normal for tortoises to be hibernating in July!

[Emily Ball]

I was concerned about that too Brinjal. I have a large indoor vivarium for mine when the weather is too cold and wet for them to be outside but they don't need to go into hibernation at this time of the year -that can be positively dangerous for them.

[Brinjal]

I live in Zimbabwe.

[Brinjal]

It is winter here.   Well winter is almost over and they will wake up soon.   It was quite cold this year so they started to hibernate end of May.   Last year we had a really mild winter and they didnt really hibernate.

[Emily Ball]

Ah , that explains it. Here in the U.K. we like to think that July is the middle of summer, even though it might often feel like winter!

[Brinjal]

I think our winter must be like your summer a it is 19o this morning.   It will get up to about 22o by lunch time.