We are in the process of making a new home for our hermans, he is nearly 4. We have bought a deep bookcase (6ft by 2ft) and will be reinfocing the back of it. My concerns are that when I look for advice even if its diet there seems to be so many different ideas and its very confusing!! My concern is the substrate is sterilised soil the best? how many basking lamps will he need or will one suffice for the size of his house?? does he need a heat mat? and should this house be on legs off the floor or does it not make any differnce if it is sat on the floor. Please can you help I want to do it right
Hi and Yes it can be very confusing, and there is some very bad advice out there that sounds quite convincing making it very hard very people trying to do their best. The best sites to learn from are obviously this site the Tortoise Trust, Urban Tortoises, and the Tortoise table, which is a wonderful source of information for you to learn what your tortoise can eat and at what time of the months. Do have a read of the care sheets on the left handside under the "The Tortoise" link. To start with the location of the pen first, where you decide to put it, is really down to where it is safe for the tortoise to be, so on the floor is fine, the only disadvantage I could see with that, is the cleaning out, but that it is from my point of view because I cannot get down very easily. Substrate, the best you can use is Top Soil and play sand a 50-50 mix, the only thing I would suggest is that you check the topsoil as there can be debri in them at times, I buy from B&Q and I have never found anything, they sell the play sand too at a good price. Heat mat is a definate NO, it not only prevents your tort from going to a cool area but can ferment the food inside the gut, and cause excessive growth. The only time I would think about using one, is if I had a very sick tortoise and then I would only put it on the side not on the bottom. Pet shops are famous for recommending these, but I guess these are the accessories that they make their money from, not for the good of the tort. A combination bulb with UVB and heat source is the best, (Arcadia, Exo Terra Solar Glo Sun) 100w or 120w should be about right. I would make sure you have it on a chain or a stand so that you can adjust the distance to get the right temps 30-32c approx. Regarding diet, to help supplement the weeds you could use Floretti Salad, brought from the supermarket just make sure you wash it well, or there is Pre-Alpin which comes highly recommended, more about those if you are interested. Hope this helps, ask away Jane
hi Jane omg you are a fountain of info hun im well pleased i joined this site. i mentioned in a response to your post that we have a heat mat is pinned to the top of the hide away lid is this not good when i check on her in the morning her shell is cold but her basking lamp is on an hour before i put her under it so she warms up dear of her xxx
the Tortoise Trust, Urban Tortoises, and the Tortoise table, which is a wonderful source of information for you to learn what your tortoise can eat and at what time of the months. Do have a read of the care sheets on the left handside under the "The Tortoise" link.
hi Jane omg you are a fountain of info hun im well pleased i joined this site. i mentioned in a response to your post that we have a heat mat is pinned to the top of the hide away lid is this not good when i check on her in the morning her shell is cold but her basking lamp is on an hour before i put her under it so she warms up dear of her xxx 