What a relief! Yesterday I woke my tortoise up from hibernation, gave him a bath and he drank. Presented him with some food, he ate. Everything is ok with him no health worries as of yet. This was his first hibernation, and I’m so glad it’s over and all is ok. Just thought since you guys named him, you should be kept up to date. Stefan
What was the name of that little feller, Walrus…I don’t remember now,haha!
LOL so your tortoise is done hibernating? that’s cute hah!
What type of tortoise is it?
I think Stokes had a tortoise as well. They are interesting creatures.
I think he has 2
It’s a Horsfield or Russian Tortoise called Brian, named by wickedkitchen if I remember, not seen him in a while. @transistor yes he is done hibernating and its a bloody relief he’s ok lol. @Bart they are very interesting, you wouldn’t believe how much personality is packed into such a small shell lol. Like I say it’s only fair to keep you fellas/lasses up to date seen as his name was got from here lol. He sends his love to Snuffhouse 
They Remind Me Of army Tanks, and for there size they as powerful! we had one years ago and it was determined to get in next doors garden, he pulled a rail out of the fence! Good Morning Brian, spring must be on it’s way.
Have you ever had trouble with salmonella, Walrus? That’s my wife’s main concern having tortoise around young ones, but I used to work in a chicken slaughterhouse so I don’t see a worry.
“They Remind Me Of army Tanks” Reminds me of the Testudo formation used by the Roman Army, with interlocking shields resembling shell structure. Hopefully Brian will live as long as the tortoise Captain Cook gave to a Tongan king in 1777. This particular creature died in 1965 aged 188 while Charles Darwin’s tortoise from the famous Beagle Expedition finally shuffled off its mortal coil in 2006 aged 175.
That testudo formation was actually used in Cairo during demonstrations with other ancient combat methods. There’s a good article on exiled online about that.
"That testudo formation was actually used in Cairo during demonstrations with other ancient combat methods. There’s a good article on exiled online about that. " Sounds interesting. Do you have a link? The only part of the film ‘Anthony and Cleopatra’ that I remember was the scene where Romans locked shields in testudo and marched through the barbarian hordes. As for the rest of the film … well, ‘Carry On Cleo’ was much better.
@Bart never had any problems with salmonella. I think that is more a concern with snakes, than tortoises, but it can still happen from them. So far so good. Stefan
I’m pretty sure salmonella is more a problem with aquatic turtles than any other reptile
You could be right on that one 9inch. I’m not too sure but I’ve never had any problems from Brian. Stefan
@PhilipS this is the site, it’s pretty good otherwise too: exiledonline.com/war-nerd-spartacus-live-on-al-jazeera/
There’s a great scene in The 300 where they use this method. As far as tortoises, go living in an aprtment is slight space prhobitive. I’ll stick to my Yellow Bellied Slider turtle that my 2 yr old so eloquently named ‘Turdy’! testudo formation…crappy vid, but gives the basic idea http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvsR9KrkiQc
Salmonella is mostly in Turtles and not Tortoises. Mostly young Turtles carry the risk. As mentioned, I have 2 Torts, a Horsfield (or Russian, whatever you fancy) like Walrus and a Redfoot. I also have a Red Ear Slider, which are mostly found in the Mississippi. My Red Ear was given to me when he was about the size of a half dollar, had him for about 15 year. Soon my Redfoot will be living outdoors full time. I don’t hibernate, it doesn’t get cold enough here and it is not a necessity, many owners do hibernate with cooler set ups and such. I just don’t have the nerves for it.
i have 2 red eared sliders also . about 7 years old . one of them fell out the window about 40 ft and landed on concrete but he is fine . then he fell off the balcony and landed on grass and has a big chunk missing out of the side of his shell . this was a few months ago healing up good thou .
They are resiliant critters. @jpsks: Maybe you need a larger tank?