Hi. My wife recently come home with a horsefield tortoise that she brought from a pet shop. It was a bit of an impulse buy on her behalf as a pet for our two daughters. They both totally adore him/her already. I have been doing lots of research on the best way of looking after Dennis (the girls choice of name) asa tortoise was not a pet I had thought about before but I want to provide the best possible environment so he is happy and comfortable as he is now part of our family. He was born in September  and the pet shop provided us with a vivarium to keep him in which I have soon discovered is inappropriate so I'm in the process of building a table for him. Will he be ok in the  vivarium for the time being as he is still very young and only about 2.5inches big? I am feeding him mixed leaves and weeds  from the garden at the moment but my girls like to feed him every day and I'm worried this is to often. He doesn't Seem to drink much unless we put him in his water to bath him which the girls do twice a week is this normal? I am going to build an out door living area for him when the weather improves but not sure if he's to small to live outside during this summer. Will I need to bring him in at night? I won't to provide as close to his natural habitat as possible but want him to be happy and comfortable. Any advise gratefully received. 

Hello,

Thanks Tom. Just a couple more questions if that's ok? My table is finished, I've copied a design off the internet. I've put a basking light bracket at one end but I'm now a bit confused about lighting. The vivarium had a heat bulb and a UVB bulb in it so which one do I need in the basking light as I know UVB is very important but don't think they give off much heat. Also what's the best to use to cover the base, it's marine ply. I thought of using sand mixed with the chippings that are in the vivarium. Is this suitable or do you recommend something better?