First time tortoise owner in NZ!

[Tim McIlroy]

Hi,
I've been looking around lately and have found some breeders in NZ that sell tortoises. In NZ there are only really 3 main breeders to get to our tortoises from and they are hard to find and often quite expensive e.g. $750-$1000 NZ.
So I have come here in the hope that soon I could own a tortoise. Any advice or suggestions would be very helpful
Thanks,
Tim

 

[Tim McIlroy]

Also I am hoping to either get a Greek or Hermanns tortoise. Any suggestions would be great, thanks

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hello there, Tim, and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum.
Nice to have a member from New Zealand, it's very rare due to the scarcity of tortoises in your country.
First one to read is http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
and then http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/greek-tortoise-testudo-graeca-care-sheet-overview.87146/
and http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/sticky-hermanns-tortoise-care-sheet-updated.101410/
I have a Greek, myself because they are indigenous to Morocco, but Hermann's care is very similar.
Nice to have you with us.

 

[SarahChelonoidis]

@Stitchpunk is the one to ask - they've gone through the process in NZ (a country with very few tortoise keepers and breeders, it seems). They created a thread you likely will find helpful: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/index....Tortoise-Keeping,-New-Zealand-edition.134438/

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hi Tim

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome to the Forum, Tim!

We have very good care sheet for both those species. Go to the species specific pages and the care sheets are pinned at the tops of the sections.

 

[BILBO-03]

Hi and Welcome!

 

[FeeBee76]

Hello there. I'm new to this too! Welcome.

 

[Tim McIlroy]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone! I will go and check out those links now.

 

[Tim McIlroy]

What size indoor enclosure would you recommend for a hatchling of either of the two species I mentioned above?

 

[Tim McIlroy]

@Tidgy's Dad

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hello, how are you ?
Hatchlings do best in smaller closed chambers where it is easier to control the temperature and humidity and they don't feel exposed.
I would say 36" x 18" would be a minimum for an absolute hatchling and 2 feet by 3 feet perhaps better.
This is just what I have learned, i don't breed tortoises.

 

[Tim McIlroy]

Hello, how are you ?
Hatchlings do best in smaller closed chambers where it is easier to control the temperature and humidity and they don't feel exposed.
I would say 36" x 18" would be a minimum for an absolute hatchling and 2 feet by 3 feet perhaps better.
This is just what I have learned, i don't breed tortoises.

Ok, thanks that will be helpful and I'm great, thanks for asking

 

[TammyJ]

New Zealand! One of my most wish-to-visit places in the world.

Welcome to the site. You came to a great place!