im considering on getting a baby tortoise soon but i have a few questions first ,
ive kept reps for about 5 years now so i understand there requirements but as i dont know much about torts so i think id be best sticking with a beginer tortoise so could you recommend one for me ?
i know theyre ment to be kept in a tortoise table but would one be ok in cage that measures 36x18x12 (length x width x height) if i put a desk lamp with a spot bulb for the heat on top and a uv tube along the back
thanks

from the TINY amount i have learned tortoises seem to do better when they can SEE how far they can go so if this cage is wooden around or something in which they know they can't keep walking into they shouldn't get too freaked out.

i don't know about the sizes and i don't know much else; but i'm looking into getting a red foot. Theres a thread a little further down that has a list of three decent beginner species

__________________

it has a plastic bottom

Hi Martin, is it one of the indoor rabbit hutch type cages... is the 12" height the height of the plastic bottom before the cage bit starts?

__________________

Thats very similar to what I use - I have a plastic under bed storage tub that I got from home base. I also use the desk lamp and uvb tube as you suggest. It works very well & I have 2 hatchling tortoises in there. I will have to upgrade their accomodation in the future but not for 18 months or so.

As regards an entry level tortoise species most people go for Hermanns, Horsfields (AKA the russian tortoise) or the Greek Spur Thigh - if you choose the later then I would recommend the Ibera sub species as the other ones are more fragile.

no its the whole thing is it to small ?

It could be... how deep is the plastic bottom? I'm just thinking about how deep you could get the substrate and whether the lights would be far away enough. Could you post us a pic?

The med species gtm mentioned are all good for beginners as long as you're aware you'll need to hibernate. You'll also need an outdoor enclosure for them for when we (if we ever do) get sunny days. Although with hatchlings in a cage type home you can just carry that out.

__________________

i will get some pics but for the heat i was going to use a desk lamp on top of the cage so it wont be to near to the tortoise