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}

[Graham]

No vivarium of any size is suitable for Horsfields, they should be in an open-topped tortoise table, or at this time of year outdoors, vivariums are very bad for torts from temperate regions.

And £199 is very expensive, chances are they are also dodgy imports carrying god knows what diseases! You can get healthy Horsfields from a good UK breeder for around half that price, and you'll get proper care advice from them for free, something you're unlikley to get from any petshop or garden centre.

[kerrypudge]

Graham is right,please DO NOT buy them from a petshop or put them in a viv!
Horsefields love to dig tunnels and are not reccomended to keep inside at all, do you have a garden as thats what tortoises need more than anything else!!!
Go to Tortoise Trust Web - Start Page and have a read up
also Shelled Warriors has a forum plus a breeders list

[tams]

Originally Posted by Corinne

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}

As has already been stated, vivs are really not a suitable environment for tortoises. Please have a look through the TT website and the lists for a UK breeder - they will charge approx £100 per tortoise and they will not be an import, as most shops sell imports.

Have a look through the posts and see 'Viv, pellets & no hibernation' - this is a tortoise that has been housed in a viv and fed the wrong diet.

As for being offered a sulcata and leopard ... ?!?! Both grow into HUGE tortoises, google them and see for yourself. Another reason to steer clear is that I get the impression they have been housed together in the viv - mixing species is not recommended.

Please do not purchase from either of these places, I doubt very much you will get a healthy tortoise.

Tamie

[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!!!!!

[Graham]

A viv turned on its back with the glass removed is a very expensive way of obtaining a wooden box!

[Athravan]

I have never seen a horsefields tortoise as expensive as £199! I usually see them (even in shops) around the £100-120 mark.

[Graham]

These are London prices though don't forget!

Actually I live in Middlesex too and have never seen a Horsfield costing that much anywhere!

[Katiexx]

average price from shops up here is 150


Katie

[Corinne]

It all sounds so confusing as there are so many people selling wrong things. I feel I have learnt a lot in the past couple of days from all of you and thank you.

Ok, the next question is.... does anyone know where I should buy two horsefield tortoises and the equipment to go with them. I don't have anything and am not sure who to contact. I don't want to over spend but would like a large tortoise box so they have room to walk around in and make sure they can't climb out. Some of the boxes are 6" and some look like they are 8".

Love Corinne :o}