Buying a Tortoise

When thinking of buying a tortoise research its specific requirements first.  Owning a tortoise should be a lifeterm commitment, and a lot of thought should be given to both the tortoise's immediate and long-term needs.

The Tortoise Protection Group hear many stories of new keepers who buy their tortoise from a commercial outlet, and are given inappropriate advice, but do not discover this until much later on when the tortoise shows signs of ill health.  For that reason we encourage prospective owners to buy their tortoise from experienced tortoise keepers who will give out good information on husbandry and who usually provide ongoing and long-term care advice.

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Tortoise Care – Warning!

This is Lesley's story when she bought her two tortoises from a retail outlet.

In February I purchased two Hermann’s tortoises from a Reptile Centre close to my home as a birthday present to me.

The chap I spoke to on my visit was very helpful and seemed knowledgeable on all things tortoise.  I came away with a “package” which included a double sliding glass door vivarium 3ft long, a bag of alfalfa pellets for substrate, a UV tube with fitting, ceramic heat lamp with plastic cage, separate basking lamp, thermostat, thermometer, food and water dishes, bark tunnel and a tub of Nutrobal supplement.  The advice given with regard to diet was to feed spring greens or pointed cabbage and was shown a very large tortoise eating exactly that on the floor of the shop.  I returned home with great excitement to set up the vivarium. 

My retentive memory is sadly lacking these days so on returning to collect the tortoises and their certificates some hours later I took a notebook with me.  It reads:

Temperature: 90degrees 24/7
Heat lamp: on 24/7 – change lamp annually
Basking bulb: 12 hours a day - change annually
UV lamp: on 12 hours a day – change annually
Diet: spring greens/pointed cabbage
At 10cm shell length – microchip by vet + adult certificate request.

I was thrilled to have the tortoises and really looking forward to taking care of and getting to know the “boys” (or girls?) and in the absence of any other information at that time, quite content that the advice given had been appropriate.  Gosh, how wrong could I have been?

I am a bit of an anorak where animals and record keeping are concerned – the eggs from my hens are weighed, dated and named every day!  So I set about weighing and measuring S&G and their health records were started. 

Observation would be key to their wellbeing and after just 24/48 hours I knew something wasn’t right, the inside of the vivarium was just so hot, they were both lethargic and very sleepy.  I think you can probably guess the rest! 
 
I did a Google search and came up with the Tortoise Protection Group and emailed Elaine immediately with my concerns.  My horror at learning that the “expert” advice given was so wrong haunts me.  Several emails bounced back and forth with helpful suggestions.

Elaine has been hugely supportive of my efforts to rectify everything to do with S&Gs care. 

BEFORE
The vivarium now resides in my greenhouse and will be used as a propagator!

 

AFTER
S&G moved in to their new home yesterday.

 

My ignorance and lack of knowledge could have had a lasting and detrimental effect on my two torties.  Thankfully my gut feeling about tortoise husbandry given originally was incorrect.   My advice having learned my lesson the hard way, choose your “expert” wisely, research thoroughly and go to the people who really know about tortoise care. 

Thank you Tortoise Protection Group for being there when I needed you.

Lesley
Southampton