Hi all, Just want to know if any of you live in the middle east ...Africa or another hot climate? I have two Spur Thighs Fred and Willma and they both are active eating well but have runny noses, I have had great advice from the forum on what to try to find here for them but the next thing of course is Hibernation? This is so confusing, if I lived in the Uk I would be doing the same as everyone else but here I just don't know and the fact that they are full of worms makes me wonder if I should avoid it this year?  Also is there a way of telling a tortoises age? Many Thanks. Tara Fred and Willma !!

Hi Tara,

No i definately would not think of hibernating this year, your torts need to be fit and well before you even think about this.

Ali

Great !! I was so worried in case they are going to miss out on a good rest, Thanks very much Ali.

Hi Tara,

Just a thought but as you are in Egypt it might be worth getting your tortoises sub species ID'ed before you make a descision on whether they are to hibernate next time round.

I think there is a distinct posibility that if they were purchased in Eqypt, they are likely to be of the Testudo Graca Graca complex of tortoises, not the T Gracea Ibera which are commonly found in the UK, originate from the area around Turkey northwards and do indeed hibernate in the wild. T Gracea Gracea and its scientific sub species originate from across North Africa and the Middle East, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, through to Libya.  Obviously this covers a huge range of climactic conditions year round and it is thought best not to hibernate some of the regional sub species as their natural climate is warm enough for them to remain active year round. I'll admit I'm not great with identifying the various Gracea tortoise type from photo's but I know a few people who can!  Do you ave any pictures of the top and bottom of the tortoises shells and a photo of their head you could post here?

Regards,

Dave.

Hi Dave, I will get some photo's for you to have a look at, the vet told me that these tortoises are from Libya and said to hibernate around March? I thought this was really strange as March is just starting to really heat up again here, to be honest the advice give here is really confusing, the winter months here are December Jan and Feb so I am lost!! what ever happens I will not hibernate them this year as they have both runny noses and are full of worms the poor little things!! I have picked up lots of info on this site really it should get an award for the brilliant information and responses form the likes of Darren ect who are so helpful. Thanks a lot and I will get the pics on in the next couple of days.

Kind Regards Tara

Hi Tara,

If they are Libyan I know of just the person to advise on the hibernation situation. I know of someone who keeps and has sucessfully bred these tortoises here in the UK. Look forward to seeing the pictures.

Hi Dave, I uploaded files photos but don't know if I did it the right way !! Will try again.

Oh !! Hi Dave seems to have worked ! So....the first three pictures the vet told me this is a the female and the next three he  said are the male, the vet also thinks they are around 8 years old? who knows ! Kind Regards Tara

Wow Tara they are stunning, thanks for letting us see them

Vivienne

Hi Tara,

I'm having some connection problems at home so haven't seen the pictures until today (I'm at work  ). I'll forward this link onto tohse in the know, see what they think.

Beautiful tortoises by the way!

Hi Tara,

I've had a response from the guy who keeps the Libyan's:

"I would agree she looks libyan to me,How ever i have forwarded the photos to a friend of mine for a second opinion, I will let you know the out come of that when i hear anything. I would not hibernate her, Libyans dont cope very well with being hibernated, they come through the over side in a mess. My group tend to start laying there eggs this time off year,Their breeding season is later in the year for some reason."

Hope this helps,

Dave.

Hi Dave , Thanks a lot yes it has helped a lot, I wonder is it possible to tell what sex they are by the pictures I sent you ? If the vet is right the female is frantic at the moment climbing and running along boarders she is so fast on her feet I can't believe it. I am just wondering could she be looking for a nesting place? It is taking me a while to see the signs and understand the 'Tortoise ' but this website is really an eye opener. Thanks again!!

Kind Regards Tara

Thanks a lot Viviene, Yes they look so nice but both have the runny noses which is a real worry, I have wormed them now and have to say the big male ( I think he is a male ) is not so bad now, maybe after another worming the runny nose will stop!

Kind Regards Tara

Hi Tara,

From the photos they both look like males.
How is the RNS?
If you try pressing genmtly under the chin (inside the jawline) this will expell air through the nasal passage and help clear any blockage.

HTH
Darren

Hi Darren, Well that does not suprise me at all !! I had two vets look at them and both sexed them on size first of all and then confirmed the small one is a female after checking the behinds!!! Oh dear !!   I really don't care which sex they are as long as they happy and healthy. I will give them both a wee gentle squeeze under the chin to see if that also helps !  But have to say they seem a lot better from they were wormed, the big one more so but he was full of massive worms and goodness knows how many more that I could not see ! Thanks a lot.

Kind Regards Tara

Hi Tara,

How are they doing ?

TC
Darren

Hi Darren, They both seem to be a lot better after the worming, I also gave them both a squeeze under the chin and noticed a few bubbles coming from the small one but the big guy seems to be great now. Still...I was really worried as they came from a street market and I am sure they had no care or decent food, so now I have an area in the garden were I used to pull my weeds and now I let them grow and the pair of them are enjoying the sun and open space!! I am keeping an eye more on the small one now just to make sure it clears. Thanks very much.

Kind Regards Tara