Hi.. I'm new in this forum. I've been reading all the topic about TTT in this forum, I can see lots of member a big fans of star tortoise. I have some but none of them still a baby .. I've got them 8 years ago .. so all of them grown up already. Right now I don't put them in terrarium anymore just let them run free around the house and garden. Star is not my favorite, I'm more Radiata fan. Because star not as pretty and cute when they grow old. I read about sudden death, and don't know why. maybe I can share some of my experience. I have 3 star and 5 Radiata and 1 box turtle. I have their picture and I will post it soon (after I figure it out how hehehhehehe) . I've got Bearded Dragon too (not a baby anymore too )

Oya about Okra or lady finger, it's ok to feed your tortoise with Okra but it has a high protein, it will cause your tortoise pyramiding fast.

Ask me anything I hope I can contribute in this forum

In my country Istar and Radiata don't need permit. we've got plenty here. A few month ago my Istar had hatch 5 hatchling from 6 egg. I gave them to the zoo. I one of WWF member and it sad to see rare animal being in the black market.. You can find Yniphora (the rarest among tortoise) here (T T). Hope when my Radiata reach age of 10 (1,5 years from now) I can breading them too. Wish me luck

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Added on July 22, 2010, 4:12 amFor me there is a different. Istar are more sensitive than Radiata. The humidity and temperature must be accurate. Istar are easily got lung disease than radiata. I always afraid if a newbie bought an Istar (even Istar are more cheaper but their more fragile than Radiata). With Radiata if they got runny nose I can easily gave them garamycin Drop (Gentamicin sulfate) but not to Istar, I have to treat them like a baby. With the right heat Radiata will be fine, but baby/ hatchling Istar humadity is very crucial and they got stress easily. (Istar Also can't stand high dose drugs they can easily overdose)

Someone post about how to force feeding a tortoise, well I tell you it's not pretty. We have to blend the food and open their mouth with a spoon, but you can not doing it too hard because it can crack their mouth (ouch!!) I used pipet instead of spoon. But if their nostril are block They wont survive either. so you have to pump it it out.

Istar more easily got stressed, Radiata more well adjust to a new environment. Istar more picky with their food. Radiata will eat everything.

Is your Istar sleeping all day. please check her eyes if it runny and swollen it mean she got flue or lung problems. If not that can be because he stress out.

Their environment very crucial. 1. Terrarium : don't use fish Aquarium because it's more humid than reptile terrarium (shorter version than Fish) 2. Bedding : Calsiumsand is a big No no they can eat it and got stomach blocked. news paper .. well You have to change it everyday because if they got wet by water, humidity will rise (lung prob.) I use mix of activated carbon, ziolit sand (wash it first) with small rock (krikil, I called here don't know in english ) and I put a rubber carpet with hole (like anti-slip carpet) above the small rock mixture... Why, because Ziolit sand and activated carbon will will neutralized acid (from TTT pee) so TTT wont got poisoned with acid steam. And it will reduce the humid also.

Treatment for carapace : Use an natural ointment, don't use chemical. I use Kamilosan Ointment (this ointment used by breast feeding mother, the ingredients are honey from flower. How to know natural ointment and chemical ointment: put it in the water if the oil have a rainbow effect it contain chemical.

Well I have to reminded you, I'm no expert. I'm just a have them for quite sometimes I don't know what information needed for this forum. Here we don't have a vet specialize for Tortoise and reptile that's why me and my friends keep browsing and share information about care sheet. Sometimes care sheet from European country or America can not be used here in Asian country.

Hope my information help, ask me anytime ... Love to know there are people like and care for TTT

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Added on July 22, 2010, 4:30 amTesting photo

this is my today radiata with my son





This post has been edited by SheNightOwl: Jul 22 2010, 04:54 AM

About Okra/ Lady finger. I think I should make it simple... Okra/lady finger is like a candy for kids. You don't feed them everyday with it, not even every week. I told you the truth, I gave Okra to my pet but occasionally (not even once a month). And I understand is hard to change your Istar diet once their "addicted" with Okra. But yes, it's not good for them, just like candy for kids, Ok but not good. Mizuri will be the best candy for them, if the mizury to hard for them, you can soak Mizuri with a little warm water it will be like congee/ porridge. I remember how panic I was after I know about Okra effect to my tortoise it took me 2 weeks to make them eat proper food. Hope this helping.

More picture coming soon

I'm from Jakarta, Indonesia. Thank you

When they still baby (cute and small)



I hope this picture gave the idea for terrarium bedding

Below is my Sulcata terrarium when he's a baby. I didn't mention him before because I sold him last year. Tooo Big (as big as 15" car tire) and he has a big appetite hahahahaha



This is the terrarium I was talking about not tall like fish tank, Sulcata bedding different from Radiata, Pixys and Istar (It don't last long any way 3 weeks only than I free him in my garden hahahahhahaha..)

Below is Pixys . Pixys also a tortoise but it small size always in terrarium, I gave her to my nephew a few month ago.

Thank you Akuning
I don't know about any substitute for carapace cream. One of my friend got carapace treatment cream from Japan, I read the ingredients and Kamilosan are the closest one Kamilosan ointment made from Camomile Honey, it works like anti-septic but also moisturized the carapace by far I don't have carapace problem, I read it some where about carapace disease that cause of a small wound (especially if you put your tortoise in the garden, like I did). I don't gave them every day only once every two weeks.

I often gave my tortoise Hibiscus leaf and flower, Opuntia cactus (because it's free hahahahaha. I plant it in my garden), watercress and fumak/siomak. And they also eat my grass if I'm late feeding them. Papaya once a week. for treat I gave them Okra but mostly I gave them Mazuri (a bit expensive here and not easy to find). For the sick Tortoise I gave them murbei leaf (it's a leaf for worm that made silk - ulet sutra). Why.. well murbei leaf have the ingredient that can make regeneration faster.
I don't gave them food that gassy like capsicum, sawi or cauliflower. Every meal I sparkle it with calsium but not the one that sold in the market.. I use hhmmm what it's call? Well It's call tulang sotong here in indonesia (Calamary bone??? I don't know the name in English.. sorry... but it commonly used for bird)

Hope this info help.

Sorry just reply I've been busy lately hehehhehehe. Fumak/ siomak is a veggie that mostly used in chinesse food, I think I have a picture of it



YesI peel off

Olive oil will moisturized it and it save too (it's natural) my friend use it to his istar. But I don't know if it can cure any wound. But it's fine I guess. But I never heard of aloevera, a natural aloevera will be sticky don't you think? But it's really up to you. hehehehhehe. I will remind you again I'm not expert just love Tortoise and I have to say this I envy your government that take action about endangered animal, when my government will took action like yours?. If you visit my country and go to Pasar Pramuka you will cry like a baby .. sooooo sad seeing a lot endangered species being sold there. Once I wear my WWF shirt and go there and what happen is all the store closed hahahahhaha but still I have no army to do action

Ok one by one, it's been a crazy month.. sorry just reply hehehhe

Lot of crazy ustadz here in Jakarta hahahahahhaha

I love Luna, she's prettier in person, I work with her once. Ariel... hmm well what can I say, he is a rockstar hahahahha. No comment about Dhany , don't really like his personality tho hehehehhe (Just like Dewa music)


I go to make my pet official once and the information I have r kind of crazy. They say Indonesia don't have any mutual relationship with Madagascar government so as long as I took care of my pet well it will be fine. Once police come to my house to see my pets because I'm on TV and magazine for my TTT pets, they just asking a few question checking my pets and that's it. they even congratulate me hahahahhaha, after a month the police come back again bringing me a box of sick radiata, they want me to take care of them, 12 of them are safe 4 of them are dead. what can I say, I'm no expert nor vet. We in Indonesia share our knowledge because there is no vet specializing for TTT nor reptile.

I don't thank the market in Jln Pramuka because they treat animal very bad, most of them are sick and plenty of CITES I list animal are dead because of wrong treatment. you will see, if you come visit. you cry.. trust me the cage all dirty and very small.. I appreciate any pet seller who treat their animal with care, because if they sell it they sell a healthy pet not a sick one. Not all buyers are experience with TTT, imagine how sad they are after a few days or week buying their pet but just end up dead not to mention the price they should pay. I always recommended my friends to buy a reptile or TTT to the right seller so they can enjoy their pet like I did.

I Love TTT and yes I appriciate and thanks to all responsible seller...