On Saturday I spotted Brian in his outdoor enclosure with what at first glance looked like his tongue lolling out of his mouth.  I picked him up and on closer inspection realised it was a slug.  I pulled it out of his mouth, very carefully, but I think he probably had eaten half of it.  To date he seems fine but do you think this will do him any harm and also how on earth can I stop him doing this again if he finds another slug?

Thanks, Helen

I really would not worry! In over 40 years as a tortoise keeper, I have seen this on numerous occasions. During periods of drought especially, molluscs (slugs and snails) attach themselves to leaves of dandelions and other great food plants. I pick bags full of wild grown plants and regularly see "beasties" on the leaves. I NEVER remove these at all. I have for decades, had healthy, mature torts with perfect shells. Sometimes we are,I feel, in danger of becoming over-obsessive over our torts, giving so many supplements and such that we end up with sexually active torts after only 3-4 years from hatching ( a far cry from nature). In the wild, they must eat animal matter when grazing naturally...all part of a balanced diet. In nature, opportunism rules. I wonder how many wild european tortoises feed 365 days...in a temperature of 30 deg celsius.( I accept there are temperature gradients on tortoise tables). We are providing those conditions for thousands of mediterranean tortoises...is it really very natural? I must stress these are my personal views based on experience. I am not knocking other keepers at all, and would welcome views and experiences of other tort keepers.  I am no expert, and am the first to champion sharing expertise...I learn so much from reading other members' postings. What do others think?

Kind regards, David nr York.

David, thanks so much for your kind reply. I tend to agree with you, they must eat slugs if they go outside, it's just that we don't notice. He seems fine 5 days later. Tell me, do your torts stay outside all summer? I bring Brian in each night, but I have to decide each morning whether or not to put him out. He has a lovely 'chalet' in his enclosure which is waterproof but has no heating outside. If the forcast is for heavy rain, I don't put him out but I feel much happier if he does spend the day outdoors. What are your thoughts on this? Thanks, Helen

Hi Helen. Last autumn I moved house after 25 years in the same property. Luckily where I now live I have been able to replicate once more, conditions I have found successful for over 40 years now. I always choose a property with a south facing rear garden.I keep my  Testudo ibera torts  in a 16 by 10 foot pen in the south facing garden. There are 2 wooden shelters and a sun-warmed 5 by 2 foot cloched area. (Currently, I have a 6 by 6 foot part sectioned off where I am quarantining a new arrival.) Main pen has a gravelled area, rough planted area and  shrubs for shade. Luckily the garden is very secluded, and so I have no security worries. Unless there are really severe downpours forecast, when I would fear flash flooding, I leave them out all summer (...that is after the first 3 weeks following hibernation when they are kept under heat lamps to ensure they are healthy and feeding well. Also pre hibernation to allow guts to empty.) I do however,  ensure they are always in their shelters each night, and have someone do the same even when I am on holiday. I always hibernate if at a good weight and no health issues. I hope this helps. Regards David.