New owner - advice please!!

rach.sxo

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Joined
Dec 21, 2014
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Wolverhampton
Hi everyone!
I brought my first tortoise on Friday and named him Norman. He's around 18-24 months old and I love him!!!!

I want some general welfare tips on how to keep him perfect & happy.
Also a list of foods he can eat. Pet Shop said leafy greens and things but other websites say different! Confused!!!!
I don't want to feed him the wrong things and he get ill.
Also pet shop said feed every other day, but would I be able to change that to everyday or would it be best not to?

Help please, thank you!!!! :)
 

rach.sxo

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Joined
Dec 21, 2014
Messages
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Location (City and/or State)
Wolverhampton
I'm using a vivarium which was fully set up with lights and everything at the pet shop. There's a uvb strip light and a red heat lamp (uvb light off atm).
I'm using beech chips for substrate as pet shop were using that and thought I'd give it a try but may give the compressed grass circle things a go next time.

Do you have any help on what foods? I don't want to get it wrong

Thank you :)
 

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rach.sxo

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Location (City and/or State)
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It's the same substrate the pet shop has used since its birth, and it's not been a problem.
How do you check humidity?
 

Yvonne G

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Hi Rach, and welcome to the forum!

Pet stores really don't have a clue how to care for tortoises and keep them healthy. The problems don't show up right away. Read the care sheet shown in the link above.
 

rach.sxo

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Thank you.
The man at the pet store (who I've known for years) has kept tortoises for years and this is how he keeps them.
I know a few people who keep tortoises and follow the same advice I've been given with no problems.
I find it so confusing cause there's so much variation in right from wrong when it comes to caring for them. I don't know what to do!
 

russian/sulcata/tortoise

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Thank you.
The man at the pet store (who I've known for years) has kept tortoises for years and this is how he keeps them.
I know a few people who keep tortoises and follow the same advice I've been given with no problems.
I find it so confusing cause there's so much variation in right from wrong when it comes to caring for them. I don't know what to do!
Yvonne has been keeping tortoises for longer than i have been alive! she knows everything lol!
 

Yvonne G

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Our care sheet (the one in the link above) was written by someone who breeds the Hermanni tortoises. He is very well-respected in the tortoise world. You can read his info and be assured that your tortoise is being well taken care of if you follow his guidelines.
 

rach.sxo

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Location (City and/or State)
Wolverhampton
I just feel so confused and lost with all this. So much different information out there, everybody has their own different ways and I don't know which to follow.

What food would you recommend? Web sites are telling me different things also, I don't want to feed it wrong
 

leigti

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Before and after I got my tortoise I did a lot, I mean a lot of research on the Internet. I probably looked at every site out there. I guarantee you the information on this site is the best. So save all your time messing with those other places and research on this site. check out the different headings, species specific, enclosures, lighting, diet etc. there is a little variants here but not much. Just take a deep breath, I know it can get overwhelming and confusing and frustrating, I Felt the same way. Hang in there.
 

rach.sxo

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Wolverhampton
I'm not criticising anybodies advice on here I'm just so confused.
So many sites say one thing then so many other sites say something else.
 

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