I have owned "Dave" for nearly 2 years he is a herman. I did a lot of research on tortoises before getting Dave so didn't go into buying him on a whim. Since I have owned Dave he lives in a  tortoise table with soil/ sand substrate, I only ever feed weeds, flowers, herbs occasional mixed leaf salad, and dried flower mix. He has calcium supplement 3/4 times a week, plus a cuttlefish in his enclosure. He has a heat lamp and a uv light, uv light is changed every 6 months. He is bathed at least once a week often more.

When weather is fine Dave spends his time in an outdoor enclosure, coldframe and an outdoor area, substrate is again soil/sand mix, he has weeds/plants growing in this area all tortoise friendly.

I am just making a new enclosure for him which is going to be larger and incorporate a poly (uvb) tunnel as I know the effects of basking lamps are so bad . I was under the impression that I was doing everything right and I was giving Dave the best care that I could do.

We re-homed a tortoise 6 weeks ago who has had a bad start in life, he has a deformed shell from incorrect husbandry. "Steve" has been kept in a tortoise table with pellet substrate, he has only had a uv light for the last year, he was fed on tortoise pellets for most of his life. He went outdoor in warmer weather but only on to grass enclosed area. All this before he came to me I have not kept him like this, I re-homed him thinking I could offer him a better life convinced that I was giving my own tort the very best of care. I realise that Steve's damage can not be undone but thought I could at least improve the future for him.

Anyway I posted a picture of Dave and Steve on Tortoise trust last night I was well aware that Steve has Metabolic bone disease due to his poor past (bearing in mind we have only had him for 6 weeks and wanted some advice on how to best improve his future but was shocked to discover that Dave also has severe MBD. I am soooo upset, How can I possibly take on Steve hoping to give him a better life when I can't even look after my own properly. I really thought that what I was doing was correct, where am I going wrong? Everything I have researched seemed to point me in this direction of looking after them so how could it have gone so terribly wrong?

Its that bad they thought he had been kept in a viv with wooden pellet substrate and has been grown far to fast. They have given links on advice pages but they all say to do what I am already doing, I am sooo confused, sad, and upset. Not sure how I can go on looking after them if I am that incompetent. Thing is what do I need to change, what am i doing so terribly wrong. I am devastated that Dave is so poorly, I didn't think he was this bad. I don't want to part with them as I do love them to bits but feel that I am not capable of giving them the care they should be getting.

I attach some pictures of Dave although I feel ashamed to post them but please remember I thought I was doing the right thing.

Really value any help and advice that you guys can offer.

Many Thanks

I have owned "Dave" for nearly 2 years he is a herman. I did a lot of research on tortoises before getting Dave so didn't go into buying him on a whim. Since I have owned Dave he lives in a  tortoise table with soil/ sand substrate, I only ever feed weeds, flowers, herbs occasional mixed leaf salad, and dried flower mix. He has calcium supplement 3/4 times a week, plus a cuttlefish in his enclosure. He has a heat lamp and a uv light, uv light is changed every 6 months. He is bathed at least once a week often more.

When weather is fine Dave spends his time in an outdoor enclosure, coldframe and an outdoor area, substrate is again soil/sand mix, he has weeds/plants growing in this area all tortoise friendly.

I am just making a new enclosure for him which is going to be larger and incorporate a poly (uvb) tunnel as I know the effects of basking lamps are so bad . I was under the impression that I was doing everything right and I was giving Dave the best care that I could do.

We re-homed a tortoise 6 weeks ago who has had a bad start in life, he has a deformed shell from incorrect husbandry. "Steve" has been kept in a tortoise table with pellet substrate, he has only had a uv light for the last year, he was fed on tortoise pellets for most of his life. He went outdoor in warmer weather but only on to grass enclosed area. All this before he came to me I have not kept him like this, I re-homed him thinking I could offer him a better life convinced that I was giving my own tort the very best of care. I realise that Steve's damage can not be undone but thought I could at least improve the future for him.

Anyway I posted a picture of Dave and Steve on Tortoise trust last night I was well aware that Steve has Metabolic bone disease due to his poor past (bearing in mind we have only had him for 6 weeks and wanted some advice on how to best improve his future but was shocked to discover that Dave also has severe MBD. I am soooo upset, How can I possibly take on Steve hoping to give him a better life when I can't even look after my own properly. I really thought that what I was doing was correct, where am I going wrong? Everything I have researched seemed to point me in this direction of looking after them so how could it have gone so terribly wrong?

Its that bad they thought he had been kept in a viv with wooden pellet substrate and has been grown far to fast. They have given links on advice pages but they all say to do what I am already doing, I am sooo confused, sad, and upset. Not sure how I can go on looking after them if I am that incompetent. Thing is what do I need to change, what am i doing so terribly wrong. I am devastated that Dave is so poorly, I didn't think he was this bad. I don't want to part with them as I do love them to bits but feel that I am not capable of giving them the care they should be getting.

I attach some pictures of Dave although I feel ashamed to post them but please remember I thought I was doing the right thing.

Really value any help and advice that you guys can offer.

Many Thanks