Hi, just want to check I have this all right as I am quiet nervous about getting it all wrong so its quiet a lot to say sorry i have 2 torts (testudo greaca) and have only had them since Friday, I am a first time owner, my tank has a uvb light on 14 hours (11 till 1) in the side around the light its about 28-30c, directly under the light its 38-40c and in the cooler side its about 25c, it never seems to drop below 25c on a night time when the light is off and the humidity gage seems to fluctuate anywhere between 60-70 depending on where I place it- not sure what it is measured in though (I use a exo-terra thermometer and hygrometer that is on the floor of the cage) they have bark on one half of the cage and coco substrate the other half, they eat 1 meal a day in the evening and I give them a mix of watercress, rocket, frisse, radicchio and lambs lettuce and gollwoog and a cuttle fish left in they have fresh water and a hide which is a terracotta plant pot half buried, they are soaked everyday for about 15 mins. any advice on what is wrong would be great as this is what the pet shop told me and I have researched but get conflicting information and I want to make sure they are healthy and I am looking after them right, also the pet shop said they could have  fruit 1 a week like a slice of banana? I have noticed when I got them home  that one of my torts sneezes and a few bubbles come out his nose. I weighed and measured them today and 1 is 7cm and weighs 70g and the other is 7.5cm and weighs 99g. any advice would be greatly appreciated

Hi Kelly,

I'm really sorry to say that I would take them and the set-up back. If your tortoise has a runny nose it requires veterinary treatment for RNS an upper-tract respiratory infection. They shouldn't be in a tank at all, but a tortoise-table. They shouldn't be fed fruit. 25 deg C is too high for their area to cool down in. This is one of the problems with a vivarium/tank. The basking area is too hot it should be around 30-32 degrees. 60-70 percent humidity is too high and may well be part of the reason one has respiratory problems. Bark will grow spores in the hot high humidity environment you have which again can cause respiratory problems.
Would you kind posting a photo of the set-up please?
It is really important to get the tortoise with a runny nose veterinary treatment - it won't clear up on its own and may move into the lungs and result in pneumonia.
Pet shops really should be avoided, they are generally just dealers & have no practical experience of tortoise care. May I ask where their licences say they come from please and do they have the name of the pet shop on the license?

Kindest Regards
Darren

Hi Kelly,
The country of origin is in Box 10 on the document you should have been given and the shops name and address should be in Box No 1
Please do get back to us
HTH
Darren

hi thanks ill take some pictures and put them on

I have looked at the paperwork the pet shot in box 1 is a different one to the one we bought them at, I googled it and it says its reptile shop that imports and distributes to other shops in Europe!!! the box 10 states Turkey

Hi Kelly,

Would you please send me a copy of the licence to my e-mail address and the details of the pet shop please?

Kindest Regards
Darren
darren@tortoise-protection-group.org.uk

Hi Darren I have sent an email

Hi Darren, it wont let me send the email it keeps coming back and I an the best with computers lol, ay ideas?