hello, all.

i've wanted a tortoise for ages.But never knew where to start.

Can someone point me in the right direction on what i need before i get a tortoise.....which i'm willing to wait till everything is up together

i've seen many threads not to get a vivarium......so for a begginer what would i need?

as much advice needed plz

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Assured Breeders of the Basset Hound- ABS

Scarlet, 6 year old Basset Hound

Dinky, 2 year old Basset Hound

Minnie, 1 year old Basset Hound

Agnes,10 month old Basset Hound

and Joey, the green cheeked conure

heya
1st youll need to decide what kind of tortoise youll want?
whetehr you want a good sized to a small one and whether youll want it to hibernate or not and what itll need to live.
Once youve chosen the species (also look at pics to help choose) google some care sheets (read a few though) and get started on getting some equipment together.

With small med species (which are good starters) like horsefields, greek spur thigh and hermans, mostly need a good sized indoor table, complete with a water bowl (not to deel but big enough to fit in) a feeding slate to put food on, substrate ( most people choose a 60/40 soil sand mixture as its most natural) a hide or 2 and plenty of large rocks.

for lighting you need a basking bulb at one side of the table to get a hot and cold gradient. with horsefields and hermans they need a 30-32c basking spot temp and a 100watt bulb can acheive this. Youll also need a dimming stat to moderate the temps so they dont flucuate. Also a uv bulb 10% is the lowest one but most use 12% and arcadia is a good brand to get.

They will also need and outdoor enclosure so they can get natural uv rays and this needs to be escape proof and covered over with some sort of mesh or netting that will let the suns rays in but no cats/dogs/birds.

Meds are also veges and thrive on our weeds such as dandelions, nasturtiums, panseys, clover, sow thistle, bindeweed, dead nettle, shepards purse (to name a few) no iceberg lettuce should be given and if any a leafy lettuce can be used just as a rocket and water cress. Shouldnt really give them fruit or veges either but some such as apple and strawberries can be given AS A TREAT bout once a month or so but nothing to citrus or acidic and not too often as it will upset their tummys and there poos wont be very pleasant (not that they were before) .

Hope all this helps

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0.1 West Highland Terrier (Molly)
1.0 Grey Cockateil (Perky)
0.3 African Fat Tailed Geckos (Bandit, Oreo, Berry)
0.0.1 Hermans Tortoise (Pandora)

Thank you for the advice


mum used to have a tortoise many moons ago (40 years ago)in Edinburgh.....she found it on a railway track.....don't know what breed??? it was quite large.....
she had it a few years without any lighting/heating etc.....and it survived......any idea of the breed?

She had to re-home the tortoise as she was moving south and nan (her mum) wouldn't let her bring it so it went to a friend

But i want one now

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Assured Breeders of the Basset Hound- ABS

Scarlet, 6 year old Basset Hound

Dinky, 2 year old Basset Hound

Minnie, 1 year old Basset Hound

Agnes,10 month old Basset Hound

and Joey, the green cheeked conure

sorry i havent a clue but i recommend having a cabtive bred one as the ones that are imported can have lots of health problems and although shipping has improved sometmies they arent really that good.

There were many things people used to do with torts aswel in the old days that werent right sich as oiling the shell to make it shiny... this is bad as the oil is absorbed into the shell and not good for the health. Which is why most are not around nowadays.

Definately look up a lot of care sheets though ..

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0.1 West Highland Terrier (Molly)
1.0 Grey Cockateil (Perky)
0.3 African Fat Tailed Geckos (Bandit, Oreo, Berry)
0.0.1 Hermans Tortoise (Pandora)

Hello,

The tortoise you mum found was probably a herman tortoise as they are the most hardy and can acclimatise to living outside in this country overtime, loads of people had them years ago because you didnt need a certificate. I have had tortoises all my live and have a 2 year old herman at the moment, i got her when she was a year old and they do need alot of stuff when they are young and they arent use to the cold and need to be kept inside. I actually have my tortoise in a Vivarium (dont know why some people suggest not?) this is because i have a dog and a cat and dont want them to get her. It has glass doors at the front and the lights attached to the roof, althought tortoises get confused by glass so the glass doesnt start from the floor. she has a heat lamp at one end and a heat mat at the other and a UV light the length of the vivarium. she also has a hide and water dish big enough to bath in. She will not hibernate as she is not big enough yet, you dont have to hibernate your tortoise every year if you dont want to if it is going to be kept in the house. You can only hibernate your tortoise it she is of a good weight and healthy so it a good idea to get her checked by a vet if you were ever thinking of hibernating. She also has an enclosed at the top and bottom run in the garden which i put her in when it is nice hot weather and i never leave her out overnight its too cold. I would recomend that you put chicken wire under any outside run as tortoises love to dig and climb, they dont look like it but they are brilliant climbers. Attached to the lights and heat mat in my vivarium are thermostats to control the temperature. and i also have them on timers so they come on in the morning and go off and turn the heat mat on at night. This is just how im keeping my tortoise, you have the right idea by coming on here and just getting as much advise and as many opions as you can. Im always open to any suggestions anyone can give me to keep my pets happy so if anyone else has any ideas or suggestions share the knowledge with me too

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Champagne Labrador called Lexi
Fluffy cat called Simba
Herman tortoise called Kameko
Panama giant black spider called Winston

hi i hope i can help you.i keep and breed north african /algerian spurthighed tortoises,hermans tortoises and leopard tortoises.when these are indoors i keep them in open topped tables on a soil substrate with combined uv and heatlamps.i try to put them outdoors as often as possible and i find that the hermans in particular are very hardy even when small.
terry

i love the photo of the baby coming out of the egg. Do you breed these yourself?

__________________
Assured Breeders of the Basset Hound- ABS

Scarlet, 6 year old Basset Hound

Dinky, 2 year old Basset Hound

Minnie, 1 year old Basset Hound

Agnes,10 month old Basset Hound

and Joey, the green cheeked conure

thanks for looking im pleased you like the picture.yes i do breed them that is a picture of a hermans tortoise .
terry

there really pretty.....i've been looking at the different breeds (as they say lol). i didn't realize there was so many to choose from in the UK?!

__________________
Assured Breeders of the Basset Hound- ABS

Scarlet, 6 year old Basset Hound

Dinky, 2 year old Basset Hound

Minnie, 1 year old Basset Hound

Agnes,10 month old Basset Hound

and Joey, the green cheeked conure