101 questions about my tortoise...?

To answer your questions, we really need to know what kind of a tortoise she is, although if she has a soft shell, she's probably not a tortoise. If she has a softer shell due to poor nutrition, a powdered calcium supplement added onto her food will help....as will adding a cuttlebone to her enclosure so she can munch at her own free will. I have a Horsfeld (Russian) tortoise, and he gets the cuttlebone. He eats cactus pads, romaine lettuce, spring mix lettuce, dandelions (greens and flowers), and various other vegetation. I soak him weekly in warm water (in the sink) so he can defecate, but do have a low bowl of fresh water in his pen at all times, so he can soak if he feels like it. Try identifying your new friend and then call around to vets who can help. Or google professional tortoise breeders once you know for sure her species. If her know her type, Yahoo groups is also a great place to find reputable resources. Good luck.