Hi my boyfriend has been wanting a tortoise this past few years and Ive decided maybe to get him one for christmas but I have no idea what so ever about them and what all is needed for them or what species would be best to get. I am completely clueless. i have been looking them up and there seems to be alot of hard work involved in caring for them and they seem to need a house that resembles a drawer?
i dont want to just but a tortoise and not the rest of the things the poor thing will need. A list of some type and prices I could expect to pay would be most helpful. Plus food etc.
The smallest species of tortoise i think would be best.

Hi, welcome to the forum

Right, Hermans and horsefield tortoises are generally the smaller species of torts, and usually the most easiest to care for. They are a med species which means they hibernate and cannot eat fruit. If you go to google and search hermans or horsefield care then it should come up with lots of caresheets.

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A google search would most likely bring up a dealers site though in which case the care sheets could be useless. Go to Tortoises and bear in mind that a horsfield is a burrow dwelling species and is not happy to live on the surface like a hermanns. Most important is lighting and heat requirements. UVB is essential as is a hot spot of 30 degrees which needs to be at one end of the enclosure allowing for a cool end. All this along with diet is incuded in the above site

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Take care
Sue

wizzasmum@aol.com

Hi thank you so much for your help! At least now I know what Im looking for. I think I will go with the Hermans. I have read all the care info and will be sure to print a care booklet to give him with the tortoise lol

Does anyone know where I could buy one around the Northern Ireland ireland region as I have read they need to be microchipped etc.

Thanks

There are quite a few good shops in and around Northern Ireland... but maybe it would be an idea to give your bf the material first ie the book etc, and tell him to learn up as much as possible. Some of the gioid shops will allow you to pay off getting an animal over a few weeks.. tell him to use that time for getting everything ready. Get him on this forum, in the hell..sorry tortoise, section, as well as on the other sites.

I know it kinda ruins the whole 'xmas' morning thing, but if looked after, this wee guy will give you many many xmas'.. if it isn't.. well that is just sad and says a lot about its keeper.

I'll PM you a list of good shops if you want? I suppose it depends on where you live, and where you want to travel to.

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Hi LeviathanNI
Im from the newry area but be in belfast all the time and my bf is from Derry so really anywhere in Northern Ireland suits except around eniskillen area lol as that would be to far outta the way.
So if you could let me know what shops would be good id appriciate it alot.

Alot of people from Ireland on my forum have traveled to the UK to get their tortoises, as they have found it hard to find abreeder.

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