Advice Please - new to this forum

[Corinne]

Hi there

I wrote a really long message and then found out I wasn't logged in and lost the message!

I have yet to get my two tortoises and am a novice so would love some adice.

Yesterday I took my kids to a Plant Nursery and they had 3 horsefield tortoises which we all loved but seemed expensive {£199 each} they had a very small virarium {£100} which was white wood with a glass front.

I have been offered and very large wooden vivarium which is 1m long x 45cm deep x 45cm high cabinet and two tortoises from someone we know but haven't seen it yet. I really wanted horsefield ones as they don't grow to big but this friend has two which he has had living in there for 12 months. He puts them outside aswell. One is a sulcatas and the other one is a leopard one.

Any advice would be great. Is the virarium large enough for them. It look lovely and they don't look that big.

Best wishes.

Corinne :o}

The vivarium is 1m long x 45cm deep x 45cm high

[peaches]

Hi there,

Here's a few links for you first, from the Tortoise trust.
Tortoise Trust Web - Care f the Russian Tortoise

Tortoise Trust Web - The Horsfields Tortoise

Tortoise Trust Web - Feeding your tortoise

Firstly, I don't have Horsefields torts, have Hermans, But I think their care is simular (although if wrong I shall be corrected soon lol)

Vivariums are not the best for torts because of air flow, also it is not a good idea either for torts to be able to see out their enclosure, they have a grass is greener complex!! Well it can stress them anyway.

Are you thinking of getting all 3, and what age/size were they?

If they are this years hatchlings then maybe you could use that viv for the time being but modified, by this I mean remove the glass completely, and raise the front so that they cannot climb/see out.

What torts need in the long run, is an outside area. But while their kept indoors for whatever reason, a tort table is ideal. This is basically something like a bookcase on it's back.

Tortoises do benefit from space and the more you can give them, IMO the better.

[MissHayho]

Hiya, you will be advised by everyone on here not to get a vivarium for the tortoises as they have been proven that they are not good for them, however, at the end of the day the choice is up to you. The preferred enclosures for tortoises are tortoises tables (these allow the air flow tobe better) or a run in the garden or just let lose in the garden all the time.

Many shops will try to sell you tortoises with a vivarium but this is for their own benefit not yours.

(Was a bit concerned when you mentioned that your friend has a sulcata and a leopard tortoise in a vivarium - are these housed together? These 2 species get perticually large and should have an outdoor enclosure, and differing species must not be mixed as it can spread disease and things.)

As for the viv you have mentioned it doesnt sound big enough to be honest - tortoises are very active (i is a common misconception that they are not!) and therefore need alot of space to roam around in and thing. If you do decide to get a viv it can easily be transformed into a tortoise table by turning it on its back and removing the glass! (this way it will have an open top!)

Hope this helps and good luck!!!!!