Ok new to this site and Hermann’s altogether. I saw an ad on gumtree abt. a Hermann’s tortoise (I think it’s a she and abt. 18mths old) for sale w/ a 36” width, 12” length and 13” deepth Viv and 12” UVB light and seperate heat lamp. I wish I would have read all of this BEFORE I got it. So here I am in this situation wanting to make a wrong a right. I do not have an outside area so it has to be indoors. So here are my questions for now:
1. Is it going to be bad in the long run to have her live indoors?
2. I’ve taken the glass out of the Viv is that ok? Or do I need to just build a whole new box?
3. Should I replace the 2 lights w/ the dual UVB and heatlamp?
4. If I’m picking her weeds from the park do I still need to give her suppliments?
5. Is there multi suppliments that she needs or can I just give one that covers it all?
6. When does she stop being a hatchling/juvinile?
7. I never got a certificate and the kid I got her from said that he has no idea where it is. Is there some way to find out if she’s from a UK breeder or does it even matter?
8. I would like to take her back to the states with me do you know anything about the rules and regulations on that?
9. How do I attach the pictures?

you will get alot more help if you post this in the shelled section

i cant see you being allowed to take the tortoise from the country at all. the whole point of cites is to stop trafficing of animals that dont have any certificates. unless you can get the original certificate then it does not look good.

Anyway, as long as the viv has the glass out so it is well ventilated then it should be fine. if itis all glass you may want to tape over the bottom half as they dont understand glass at all! if they can see through it, they will spend all day trying to get out. If he is gonna be indoors all the time then it may be worth you investing in a uvb heat lamp, yes. they are the best artificial uv source on the market but make sure you follow the instructions and get one suited to the size of the viv.
weeds from the playing fields and parks are normally fine (and free!), just give them a rinse to make sure. If he is only small then you should add nutrobal once or twice a week and add a cuttlefish bone for him to nibble on. i hope that this will give you a start, plenty of people on here that will help with advice, just ask!

do not get your weeds from the park - imagine whats been on them! grow your own its easy enough and you can get seeds from various online tortoise shops

First of all to the forum.


1. It is best for them to have access to the outdoors but if it's something you really can't do then a nice, big tortoise table would be the best way to go. You can use something as simple as an underbed box and fill it with half sand/soil (60% topsoil, 40% childrens playsand), half with hemp, put in some bridges, rocks, plants etc for interest.

2. The only thing I'd say on the viv is it will need modifying if there isn't enough ventilation and your tort may get stressed trying to get through the glass at the front. You need to make sure it's big enough to get a good temp gradient too... 30-35 under the basking light and around 20 in the cool end.

3. A separate uvb and basking light is fine.

4. Yes... her food needs a light scattering of calcium every day... nutrobal/limestone flour.

5. Answered above... just make sure she gets a good variety of weeds/plants and be very careful that you're not collecting them from anywhere they could have been sprayed with pesticides!

6. They're not really fully grown until about 10 years of age.

7 and 8... Contact these people, they will advise you:

CITES LEGISLATION

9. This tells you how:

How To - Post pictures using Photobucket.

If you go into the Newbies section at the top of the forum there's a sticky with lots of links to useful information about Med tortoises... housing, feeding etc.

Good luck with your new tort.

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I have now posted this on the shelled section. Thank you for all of your help. I'm off to a good start.

no idea

Yes. I certainly wouldn't reccomend keeping a tortoise indoors for all of its life. I've seen tortoises kept indoors and tortoises with access to outdoors, and the outdoor ones look 100% happier. I wouldn't feel right keeping a tortoise indoors.
Yes, it should be fine. I would be inclined to turn the vivarium on its back too and hang the lights from above, that way it will have higher sides.
They are reccomended, but I'd wait till your tube has been used for 6 months, as otherwise you've wasted alot of money. If you can buy a reflector for your tube or place some tinfoil reflectors over the top, they will give more UVB.
I would stop picking weeds from the park. Contact your council to find out if they use weed spray, but I'd be shocked if a public park didn't user weed spray. However, if they are pesticide free, they will be fine, just make sure you wash them/soak them before feeding. Yes, she still needs supplements
Nutrobal is a calcium binder, I sprinkle nutobal on my tortoises food and gie access to a dish of limestone flour (Which you can buy from horse suppliers) be sure not to give her garden lime, as this is completely toxic.
When she is around 8, which is when I start describing my tortoises as sub-adults. Although people differ.
If you payed money for this tortoise, then both you and the seller have made an illegal transaction. It is illegal to buy and sell tortoises without the correct Cites certificates.
I wouldn't say it was allowed, especially without Cites certificates.
Upload them to a site like image shack:
ImageShack® - Image Hosting

then find the link which says "Direct URL" highlight it, right click and select copy, then click the image button when you write your post (next to the speech bubble- its a yellow button with a mountain range on) and then paste the link in the pop-up window.

For more information on med tortoises, visit:
tortoise-world.com The home of the UK tortoise breeders list


HTH

Josh

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Josh
www.tortoise-world.com