Hey guys,

I am in the process of getting a Horsfield this month and will have it in a Tortoise Table please can someone advise me on when to turn the lights on and off please?

Many thanks

Hi there

Personally I have a timer on my combined bulb which turns on at 7 am and switches off at 7pm but I have my torts out for as long as possible everyday aslong as the weather permits. So the light is switched off whilst they are outside.

By the way you couldn't meet a nicer bunch of people on here, friendly and knowlegable. Any questions you have will be happily answered, so just ask away. This is the only tortoise forum I check into everyday.

Rachel

Welcome again Lou:-)

Thanks for contributing Rachel. It's nice when members help one another out with advice and share tortoise-keeping experiences.

Glad to have you as a regular checker-in:-)

TC
Darren

Thanks a lot guys. I have now received my Tortoise Table and have fallen in love with it already. I have set it up but am having difficulty trying to work out what light is used for what. There are two light bld and holders, one is blue and one is clear. I'm trying to work out which light to use and when and also when?

Hi Lou,

Someone else recently contacted me about a table that sounds similar to this one. If it is the same it doesn't actually have a UVB bulb???
Only a heat lamp and a night light - which isn't required.

Would you please advise whether there is a UVB light at all Lou?

Kindest Regards
Darren

Hello Darren,

Sorry, I was uploading the picture, hopefully you can see it. It hasn't got a UV Bulb :( Is that bad?

Sorry Darren,

it has a basking bulb.

Hi Lou

Tortoises need both heat and uv, it is good that you have a basking lamp, your tortoise needs to be able to warm himself up to be active and want to look for food, and also to be able to properly digest his food.  It is really important though that he also has a uv light, he needs to be exposed to uv to be able to convert the calcium in his diet into healthy shell and internal bone (skeleton)

I would recommend getting a tube light, you can get the Reptisun 10.00 tubes from Kimbos Reptile World, you need to get the longest length you can to fit your enclosure, and will also need a starter unit and reflector for the tube -- if you email Darren at Kimbos, he will be happy to advise exactly what you need.

This time of year, the best place for your tortoise is outside, the uv from the sun is far superior to even the best bulb on the market, please have a look in the gallery for some ideas on outdoor enclosures, they do need to be very secure, and we are always happy to help with any advice you may need.

all the best

Arlene

Sorry, me again!

Just had another look at the photo you posted, what is the substrate in the base?  Russian tortoises love to dig, so the best substrate for your new torotise will be a 50/50 mix of kids play sand and plain top soil (you can get both of these from B&Q and other DIY superstores), this needs to be 2 - 3 " deep for a small tortoise to allow him to dig down,

Hope this helps

Arlene TPG

Thanks Arlene

The sustrate that I have is a mixture of chippings that i got with the tortoise table. I prepared the box this afternoon then realised not to long ago that it has animal manure in it and flies started coming out. I'm very angry as I spent money on the toroise box and the statement was 'Everything you need for a tortoise!!' I'm doing to email Darren and see if he can help me as I was going to buy my tortoise early next week. Doesn't seem like this will happen now as I'm having so much trouble with the table:(

Hi Lou,

You're right to feel angry. May I ask where you got the tortoise table from please?

TC
Darren

It was from a lady called Lisa, on ebay. She seemed like a lady who does this all the time & had plenty more tables on the site.

I really believed her!!

Hi Lou,

Maybe she does:-(

Would you mail me the item no. or an item she's selling please?

TC
Darren
darren@tortoise-protection-group.org.uk

Ok, emailing u now.

Thanks

Thanks Lou,

Will let you know how I get on.

May I ask what advice the "keeping your tortoise healthy and happy guide sheet" gave?

TC
Darren

Thank u,

It said the following:
Temperature range, 68 to 86 degrees f
DIET, Herbivour, requires good variety of foords in te following proportions.

75% Greens, grasses and flowers
WHEN FEEDING YOUR TORTOISE FROM THE GARDEN BE SURE THAT THE PLANTS HAVE NOT BEEN TREATED WITH WEEDKILLERS.

15% Vegetables, i.e brocolli, carrot, parsnip, cauliflower, sprouts

10% Fruit, i.e tomato, melon, apple, cucumber, peach, strawberry.

FOODS TO AVOID ARE RHUBARB, POTATO, BUTTERCUP, YEW, DAFFODILLS, CAT FOOD, DOG FOOD, BREAD, MILK

Housing, The ideal accommodation for your tortoise is a tortoise table. They should always be kept warm with a basking area of about 85 degrees.

Outside sunshine and dayloght are essential and the tortoise should be allowed out whenever possible if temperatures are above 68 degrees. The daylight bulb does not give off uv rays which come from natural sunshine. It is essential that your tortoise receives at least one hour per day. In winter when it isnot possible to let your tortoise outside it is reccommended that you substitute the daylight bulb wih a uvb bulb.

THANKS FOR BUYING.

Thanks Lou

Just sticking my nose in to agree with Rachel about getting the tortoise outside if at all possible at least part of the time during the summer months.  I can't explain exactly how but i just know mine are so much more contented when they are outdoors. And in many ways I find it easier to look after them when they are ouside although it can be quite an effort and time taken to make a suitable place.

Sometimes it's made out that its all perfectly easy and straightforward to look after tortoises but I've not found that to be the case at all.  Mind you, my partner is always saying I make it more complicted than it needs to be!

I agree, if mine dont go outdoors they are literally 'climbing the walls' trying to get out of the tables, they want to be out no matter what the weather!

Vivienne