The newbie and the tortoise...(basically I have Q's)

[joeyboy]

So there once was a newbie who had only seen seen a tortoise twice in his life. The newbie wanted to learn a thing or two about keeping them but never got round to it...

BUT NOW! Now that will end! BWAHAHAHA!

Ok so seriously although I'm not in the mind-set of "I'm getting a tortoise next week" I'd like to know the basics when it comes to keeping them so I have the following questions.

1) What kind of tortoise is best for a starter? I mean do some have more complex diets then others, are some rather aggressive and quick to bite, etc?

2) What kind of enclosure do you give a tortoise? Do you have it in some kind of indoor pen and then let it roam outside in the summer under your supervision?

3) Do they have a purely vegetarian diet supplemented with calcium and vitamin powders(I assume you give them these) or do they have some kind of protein requirement in the form of meat or egg?

4) What kind of temperatures do they require? Is room temp ok or do you provide a spot lamp, heat mat etc. Also do you need a UV tube in what ever enclosure they have as well?

5) How long do tortioses live for? Obviously it's going to be species dependent but will it out live me!?!

I'm sure many of you could give me an essay of an answer...if so please do!

also if anyone has good links for in depth general care guides that would be great. If I did get one it would not be for a long time yet but it's something I've actually been thinking about for quite a while.

[cookis81]

im no expert only had my tortoise a couple of months

1) not sure which is a better start tortoise, but i have a herman and he has never showed any kind of aggression towards me other than wriggling his legs when i pick him up.

2) my tort has an indoor enclosure, and im currently building my outdoor pen as he will be living outdoors all summer once its done until september. if you build a secure pen so nothing can get or out of it then you wouldnt need to supervise all the time, there are stickys with pics of peoples enclosure have a look theres some good ones

3)my herman eats mainly weeds which i now grow for him

4) they need a basking bulb and uv light indoors, heat mat isnt essential

5) there is a lady on here whos tort is 101

sorry if basic and not much detail but im still learning myself im sure others will be along soon

[incrisis]

1) What kind of tortoise is best for a starter? I mean do some have more complex diets then others, are some rather aggressive and quick to bite, etc?
Almost any type of tortoise can be ok for a new keeper.
It does depend on available space and whether you want to hibernate or not.
Leopards and Sulcatas grow quite large and don't hibernate.
Hermans, Horsfields, Marginated, Spur Thighs etc aren't as large and hibernate.

2) What kind of enclosure do you give a tortoise? Do you have it in some kind of indoor pen and then let it roam outside in the summer under your supervision?
If the weather isn't very good, or you are overwintering then an indoor enclosure is needed, when the weather is better an outdoor enclosure is used.

3) Do they have a purely vegetarian diet supplemented with calcium and vitamin powders(I assume you give them these) or do they have some kind of protein requirement in the form of meat or egg?
Weeds, weeds and more weeds. Some tropical tortoises can have fruit, but most only need weeds and calcium supplements.
As far as I know, there isn't a tortoise that needs protein.

4) What kind of temperatures do they require? Is room temp ok or do you provide a spot lamp, heat mat etc. Also do you need a UV tube in what ever enclosure they have as well?
Most require a basking temperature of 30-34C and a cooler temperature, usually around 20C, but as long as the temp stays above 15C (approx) that is fine.
Prolonged temps at 10C and below will make the tort think it is time to hibernate.

5) How long do tortioses live for? Obviously it's going to be species dependent but will it out live me!?!
Anywhere from 70 years and onwards if kept in the right conditions.

Have a look through the stickies at the top of the section, they have lots of advice on set ups, diet etc etc.

[TEENY]

Originally Posted by joeyboy

So there once was a newbie who had only seen seen a tortoise twice in his life. The newbie wanted to learn a thing or two about keeping them but never got round to it...

BUT NOW! Now that will end! BWAHAHAHA!

Ok so seriously although I'm not in the mind-set of "I'm getting a tortoise next week" I'd like to know the basics when it comes to keeping them so I have the following questions.

1) What kind of tortoise is best for a starter? I mean do some have more complex diets then others, are some rather aggressive and quick to bite, etc?

2) What kind of enclosure do you give a tortoise? Do you have it in some kind of indoor pen and then let it roam outside in the summer under your supervision?

3) Do they have a purely vegetarian diet supplemented with calcium and vitamin powders(I assume you give them these) or do they have some kind of protein requirement in the form of meat or egg?

4) What kind of temperatures do they require? Is room temp ok or do you provide a spot lamp, heat mat etc. Also do you need a UV tube in what ever enclosure they have as well?

5) How long do tortioses live for? Obviously it's going to be species dependent but will it out live me!?!

I'm sure many of you could give me an essay of an answer...if so please do!

also if anyone has good links for in depth general care guides that would be great. If I did get one it would not be for a long time yet but it's something I've actually been thinking about for quite a while.

1 Imo a horsefield or Hermans are prob easiest. I have a horsefield and he is so easy to care for

2. Tortoise table or viv indoors for cold spells or over winter and outdoor enclosure for rest of time.Tort table can be made easily by turning a bookcase on its back and replacing the bottom with a stronger wood. All you need then Is uv strip and heat lamp

3. Henry eats weeds as 90% of his diet but i suppliment with a little watercress and florette salad for a change ( although i rely on tis more in wimter)He has Nutrobal and limestone flour sprinkled on his food and a cuttlefish bone to munch on for vits

4. I use a uv strip and a spot bulb as a basking spot for him.

5. Depends on how they are kept tbh. Some may die early but a normal life span acn be around 70-80 years but there are some that go on to over 100 !!!!

[jahred]

1) What kind of tortoise is best for a starter? I mean do some have more complex diets then others, are some rather aggressive and quick to bite, etc?

The 'easiest' Tortoises to keep are either Herman's or Horsefields due to their small size and easy to create environments. However, Herman's have the advantage of not requiring tables with massive depth of soil since most Horsfields love to burrow and create tunnels.

2) What kind of enclosure do you give a tortoise? Do you have it in some kind of indoor pen and then let it roam outside in the summer under your supervision?

Most people have an indoor enclosure for when the months are really bad, cold and windy whilst having an outdoor enclosure when the months are warm and summery. However, some Tortoises hibernate which greatly reduces the need for indoor tables since they avoid the 'bad' months and stay outside all year.

3) Do they have a purely vegetarian diet supplemented with calcium and vitamin powders(I assume you give them these) or do they have some kind of protein requirement in the form of meat or egg?

Yep, the main Tortoise diet is vegetarian; weeds, some cactus and salad plants. There is a current debate is tropical tortoises such as redfoots require protein but most tortoises don't.

4) What kind of temperatures do they require? Is room temp ok or do you provide a spot lamp, heat mat etc. Also do you need a UV tube in what ever enclosure they have as well?

The most quoted temperature is 32 degrees underneath the the basking lamps and 27 degrees in the cool end. Also, they need a UV tube if they are indoors to help them produce D3.

5) How long do tortioses live for? Obviously it's going to be species dependent but will it out live me!?!

For a long time; decades upon decades!

[Tina]

You've had some great answers already so I won't repeat them. Here's some links you'll find useful though in your research...

Tortoises

edible plants

http://www.tortoisetrust.org/Downloa...toises_web.pdf

http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/shell...nclosures.html

http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/shell...sure-info.html

http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/shell...ders-list.html

http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/shell...oise-care.html

[joeyboy]

thank you very much everyone!

So if you have a tortoise which hibernates over winter outside then how would you give it the right warmth? Obviously if it's in some kind of outdoor pen UV wont be an issue but in Britain temps don't often go above 30c and I mean spring it's usually 15-20. So if your quoting temperatures of 30-34c then what does the tortoise do when it wakes up in say April?

[x.froggy.x]

The answers, are below in pink.

Originally Posted by joeyboy

So there once was a newbie who had only seen seen a tortoise twice in his life. The newbie wanted to learn a thing or two about keeping them but never got round to it...

BUT NOW! Now that will end! BWAHAHAHA!

Ok so seriously although I'm not in the mind-set of "I'm getting a tortoise next week" I'd like to know the basics when it comes to keeping them so I have the following questions.

1) What kind of tortoise is best for a starter? I mean do some have more complex diets then others, are some rather aggressive and quick to bite, etc?

I think the best tortoise as a starter is a horsfield, or hermans.

2) What kind of enclosure do you give a tortoise? Do you have it in some kind of indoor pen and then let it roam outside in the summer under your supervision?

Many people with either recomend, as big a tortoise table as you could possibly get, or a large outdoor enclosure. Also, if you want to put them out in summer you can either get a tortoise pen, or keep them under supervision.

3) Do they have a purely vegetarian diet supplemented with calcium and vitamin powders(I assume you give them these) or do they have some kind of protein requirement in the form of meat or egg?

Nope, they don't require any protien by things like meat or eggs. All they need is their food, dusted with calcium powder. (EG- Nutrobal, Limestone powder.) You can also provide a cuttlefish bone.

4) What kind of temperatures do they require? Is room temp ok or do you provide a spot lamp, heat mat etc. Also do you need a UV tube in what ever enclosure they have as well?

A basking bulb and UVB bulb are a must have.

5) How long do tortioses live for? Obviously it's going to be species dependent but will it out live me!?!

Yes, it could outlive you. Tortoise's can live for VERY long!

I'm sure many of you could give me an essay of an answer...if so please do!

also if anyone has good links for in depth general care guides that would be great. If I did get one it would not be for a long time yet but it's something I've actually been thinking about for quite a while.