I have always wanted a tortoise and recently saw some at a pet store. They were under a lamp in a vivarium and were about 10cm diameter. When would they be able to be weaned out of the vivarium to be the outdoor tortoise that I think of as 'normal'?

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www.overthegate.co.uk

my friend used to have one in the garden in the summer time
then it used to hiberate during the winter but can put them back into a viv in winter as well.

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www.carolscaninecare.co.uk

One of the reasons that has put me off getting one is that we have 5 dogs and I can just imagine
a) the labrador retrieving the tortoise every time it tries to walk away
b) the lurcher throwing it up into the air (over and over again) and trying to catch it
and c) the border terriers trying to dig it out of it's shell

Perhaps I'd better stick to dogs

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www.overthegate.co.uk

hee hee lol I think you might be right

Go to the tortoise trust site for information on individual breeds.they have caresheets. Get a rescue rather than buying from a petshop.
I have seen sulcatta tortoises also sold in petshops,not just hermanns and horsfields. They are totally unsuitable, and if you do not know what you are looking at you could be buying the wrong thing.

hello all, get rid of all those things VIVS and horrid glass aquariums.

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any of thsoe will tell you the same.
Do some research guys, and youll see vivs are bad.

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Currently Owning - 1 dog, 2 cats, 2 tortoises, 1 ferret, 1 hamster & coldwater fish

If your thinkin of gettin a tort really look into it first....they need alot more care than you think. They don't just sit in the garden and live on lettuce like many people think and they're not made to live in vivariums. Tort tables are the best bet. Really look into in the tortoise trust can give you lots of advice. There are many types of tort too.

hi
my mum said about 3year old cos ive got one and he's going in the gardan this year and myns 3.

I put my torts out from the day i got then. I have one now thats last years hatch and thats been out this year.Like has been said you dont keep a tort in a viv. I would never buy a tort from a shop there are loads of breeders out there now i know of some good breeders Hermanns are a great first tortoise i have 4 and they are one of the easiest one i own. Horsfields are good but dig for england. All torts need lots of care but these are the best to start withbear in mind befor you get one the upkeep is costly and the vets bills is not to be sniffed at. Also you need to check you have a good tortoise vet within reach of you incase it is needed

no get a turtle turtles are easier tom take care of than dogs. dogs doodoo everywhere they bark at "mailmen" and they attract bugs on tot hem. turtles are quiet harmless sometimes and turtles come with less interruptions and they hunt underwater which is cool