Dear tortoise friends, we are very keen to look after my new 1 yr old herman tortoise the best way possible but there seems to be so much conflicting advice it's difficult to make the right decisions. We purchased the little fella from Wilton's Pet Shop (respectable dealers) but it's not been easy winkling information out of them since the purchase. I think they may be more interested in making a sale :-)

There are a couple of things we'd like to sort out. We have bought a vivarium and heat map (internal). heat and infrared lamps. The Vivarium seems to get quite hot at times and the tortoise seems to scratch and dig at the floor and we're worried he might be distressed.

Any assistance with the following would be appreciated:

1. Do we need to attach a heat-lamp thermostat with night-time setting?
2. Are wood chippings OK for the interior? The Vivarium is obviously kept indoors and use of soil & sand seems impractical. Is just sand an acceptable alternative and does this need to be any specific sort of sand (we are no-where near the coast)?
3. Is the Heat Mat necessary? We have an internal one but have seen others which are external to the Vivarium. Is one better than the other?
4. Do the Vet-free worming treatments work? How often should Kevin go to the vet for a check-up?
5. What's the best source for dried tortoise food and is this essential in their diet?
6. We give him a daily bath in warm water - should we leave a small 'bath' for him inside the Vivarium?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Best regards....

Jos Bennett - aged 11.

Hello Jos,

Thank you for taking the time to post on here. I'm a bit concerned at the content of your e-mail as the advice you have been given from where to purchase and the aftercare is more than a little off the mark.

May I suggest you please read our care sheet first:-

http://www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk/site/88.asp

Dump the viv, they are not suitable for Hermanns tortoises at all. Here are ideas for a set-up for your tortoise:-

http://www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk/site/58.asp

Dump the tortoise pellets and feed a natural low protein diet. Here are some links that will hopefully help:-

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

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

HTH
Darren

Hi Jos, I think We may have both brought our tortoises from the same pet shop, If its the one with lots of noisy parrots, It is a lovely shop but unfortunately the advice you seem to have been given was probably not the best. But not to worry its not too late to help him. You really need to get Kevin out of the vivarium and you will see a huge difference in his behaviour. We have Trevor in a large plastic tray (I found it at a car boot for £5), It is one of those indoor rabbit cages, If you get one with the wire top Kevin could go outside whilst the sun is shining and be safe from birds,cats etc. Fill the bottom with half sand and half top soil and get rid of the heat mat ( maybe you could sell it all on ebay and buy the new cage with the money you make. Also have a look at "the tortoise table" web site they will be able to tell you what to feed him. Meanwhile pick him some dandelion (flowers and leafs) and some clover and that sticky stuff that you throw at people he will love that! also bramble from the blackberry bushes and nettles but be careful not to hurt yourself (I will let you into a secret-the nettles with the white flowers on don't sting!) and you can trick your friends when you pick them. You will also need a new heatlamp for when he is indoors, have a look on this site and the other sites you will soon be an expert tortoise owner with a very happy tortoise. Look at it as a long term project, but get him out of his viv asap and give him some natural treats, you will find he is much happier. (Keep up the daily baths and yes a shallow bath in his new cage would be fab)
Good luck Kerry :-)