Hi I am new to this site and so delighted to have found it. I will be looking to get a Tortoise in the next few months and would love some advise. My husband is in the middle on building an enclosure out the back at the moment. I live in Rep. Ireland. And as u know the weather is not great. So what type of Tortoise would u recommend and should u keep one or could u keep more. When should u bring them in and should u hibernate them being a first time owner. Any advise would be great

Thank You for visiting our website

The first thing to do is to decide which species to keep. The easiest tortoises to keep in the UK are Iberas, Hermanns & Marginated tortoises. Here are some links that will hopefully help

Care sheets for tortoises:-

http://www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk/site/80.asp

(please click the links on the left hand side of the page for each species)

List of recommended UK Breeders:-

http://www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk/site/70.asp

Just about all tortoises sold by pet shops are imported, which can be very stressful for them and many arrive into the UK with parasitic infestations and other problems; dehydration, hepes etc

Ideas for enclosures:-

http://www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk/site/58.asp?thissection=17

Despite what pet shops promote vivariums are not suitable for tortoises, they offer only one temperature (a tortoise requires a range of temperatures) and they are far too humid for most species of tortoise.

Heating/lighting

http://www.kimbosreptileworld.co.uk/megaray-120w-self-ballasted-p-145.html

There are various lamps on the market, though I tend to use the above

Lamp holder:-

http://www.kimbosreptileworld.co.uk/clamp-lamp-p-34.html

Diet:-

http://www.tlady.clara.net/TortGuide/Diet.htm#plantlist

http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/site/tortoise_home_1.asp

HTH
Kindest Regards

Darren