I'll up the amount it is getting then thanks for everyones advice thats why i have joined the forum as advice i have received from different sources contradict eachother. So i decided to get in touch with keepers themselves. The tort is the one in my profile pic if you need it bigger let me know and i'll try and post it. Many thanks to you all again all advice is gratefully received.

The tortoise needs plenty of uv everyday and heat too.How long have you had him and how big is he (sorry if I missed this info).

Have you got more pics?

I'm not at home now but when i am will take some more pics to put on and also some up to date weight and size info. I've had it just over 2 years had it as a hatchling, it was born October 2005 and i had it early December of the same year.

You mean to say that for 2 years this tortoise has only had uv a couple of hours every other day? What have you been feeding him on ?

In winter months when not going outside thats what its been having, its diet is on the first entry of the thread.

Well before you go looking for more of these huge tortoises I suggest you make sure you already have an enclosure built with all the correct heat and uv requirements and make sure the one you have gets the proper care.You have had the tort 2 years and you still call the poor thing IT.They arent objects you know they are creatures with feelings and needs.I am sorry if this sounds harsh but it is true fact.You have come to the right place and not before time.Hopefully now you can provide the correct care to the tort you have already before even thinking about getting more.

I don't call it it i refer to it as that as i do not know if it is male or female as the vet was unable to sex it when we went for the last checkup but it will be sexed when/if i get it micro-chipped, as i said in one of my entries before the reason i have joined the forum is so i can find out what others do as the advice i have got previously is often conflicting. Which is why i am now making the effort to get information off other people that keep them and have knowledge gained from experience.

It is excellent that you have come here for the sake of your tortoise and I am sorry if what I said was harsh I just let my emotions take over instead of thinking first but please don't even think about getting more until you are sure that you are providing the correct care to the one you have.

I understand what you are saying don't worry about it I didn't take what you said harshly, I have kept reptiles for years but this is my first tortoise and the breeder I had it off is nigh on useless. We are all here because we love animals and have there best interests at heart. I was just that fed up with being told one thing by one person and one thing by another then reading something different somewhere else if i had known about this site before would of joined a long time ago i only stumbled on it accidently while looking for information. I have learnt more since i joined the site than in the previous 2 years, so thank you too everyone who has contributed so far and who does in the future on any of my posts.

Thankyou for understanding and I am glad you are here,by the way WELCOME to you and I look forward to seeing pics later