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New & Confused!
Posted: 27/01/2011 by Griffon

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

Re: New & Confused!
Posted: 27/01/2011 by TPGDarren

Click and drag me down to the editor

Thank You for visiting our website Click and drag me down to the editor

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

 

 

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