Calling any tortoise experts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Beauregard]

Ok! so a grouchy vet gave my mom the impression that she isn't taking good care of 'our fred'.Every year(well about the last 10)she ,yes female,has been needing to have oxytocin(i think)to help induce the eggs that she cant lay alone(grunts about pacing and walking in circles).The vet said that she should be laying them naturally and should have a sort of sand pit with special soil/sand blend-he didn't know exactly.He also commented on her shell as he said it shouldn't be flakey ,incase bugs get in it , and he chipped bits off it that were dryHe also said that the underside of her body/shell should be photographed and observed for changes anually.Any advice appreciated in relation to this!and any tortoise related info iykwim,please .By the way fred is about 65 we think and ....."a virgin".

So iv'e discovered that she should have been having a soak 2xweely -so she has about 25years of that to catch up on!
Iv'e found out the soil/sand mix etc.
Anyone got any dietry advice?please

Just done a quick search - does this site help? \link{http://www.tortoiselife.co.uk/\Tortoise Life}

\link{http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite?blobcol=urlblob&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobkey=id&blobtable=RSPCABlob&blobwhere=1099596657214&cachecontrol=%3A15%2C45%3A00+%2F*%2F*&ssbinary=true\RSPCA Care Sheet}

(the RSPCA sheet requires Acrobat to view as it's a pdf)

I've got two who need baths more frequently than they are used to. Lots of hissing involved but they are a lot happier to have the bath in this heat. I look at the tortoise trust website \link{http://www.tortoisetrust.org/care/care.html\tortoise trust} and \link{http://www.tlady.clara.net/id16.htm\tortoise lady}. That reminds me I have run out of calcium and need to get some more as I'm sure my old lady will want to lay yet more empty eggs. I think the tortoise trust can put you on to a vet who knows tortoises I think I need to find one although mine seem to be quite happy at the mo. :)

Thanks for the input !
Mom is thinking of giving the tortoise to some one better clued up on caring for them.