New to the world of tortoises!

[BeccaGeddes]

Hi everyone,
I'm Becca, 20, from Glasgow and I just got my first tort! He's a one year old Hermann's, and is a lively wee fellow.
I'm open to any hints or tips on how to keep him healthy and happy, so feel free to message me!
Thanks!

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

Welcome to TFO!

 

[the_newzie]

Welcome to the Forum! That's an adorable looking tort you have there!

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hello Becca welcome to the TFO from AZ, USA . Hermann's rule . Have a great tort Day !

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Becca, and welcome to the Forum!

I would change out that substrate and get something smaller, easier for a bay to walk on. I don't know if you have coco coir there in Scotland, but that's what a lot of us here use.

 

[BeccaGeddes]

Thanks everyone, very pleased to have him as a part of the family!

Hi Becca, and welcome to the Forum!

I would change out that substrate and get something smaller, easier for a bay to walk on. I don't know if you have coco coir there in Scotland, but that's what a lot of us here use.

Thanks for the advice, I've noticed him struggling a bit to get his footing, I'll do that. What's coco coir?

 

[Yvonne G]

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&ke...vptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_4sj0gbkni3_b

 

[Yvonne G]

You put it into a bucket of hot water and once it is re-hydrated, dump the water out and squeeze the rest of the water out of it. Put in in your habitat then pat it down firmly with the palm of your hand to make it easier to walk on.

 

[BeccaGeddes]

Thank you! I'll give that a shot and see how he gets on. So do I just put that in the bottom, I won't need anything on top of it?

 

[Yvonne G]

Right. I don't know how big your habitat is, or how much one 'brick' would cover, but you want to end up with about 3" of substrate after you've packed it down.

 

[BeccaGeddes]

Also, does anyone have any recommendation on the temperature the water in the tank should be?

 

[Yvonne G]

Room temperature is fine.

 

[BeccaGeddes]

Viv is 3ft by 1.5 ft, I could just get a couple of blocks to be safe, they'll get used eventually. How often should it be changed?

 

[Gillian M]

A very warm welcome to the forum! You'll love it here. Your tortis....gorgeous, take good care of it and good luck.

 

[Momof4]

Welcome!! He is a looker! What's his name? Can we have a pic of your entire enclosure?

 

[BeccaGeddes]

He's camera shy haha! We're trying out Dwight at the moment, only got him yesterday. I prefer Jim (can you tell me and my partner are fans of The Office haha?)

I'd love any feedback on our layout etc. to see if there's anything I could move about to make him more comfortable. Also, do tortoises get bored? I was wondering if there's anything I could get him to keep him entertained.

 

[pam]

Welcome He is soooooooooooooooooooo cute

 

[Yvonne G]

When you get your new substrate in there, have your dishes sitting on the bare floor so the substrate is up to the rim of the dishes. That way he doesn't have to climb to get in, or reach his neck up and over to get a drink. We like the plant saucers for waterers because they have sloping sides and it's easier for them to climb out of without tipping over backwards into the water.

Is that black striped sheet on the wall some sort of heat element? I like that.

 

[BeccaGeddes]

Will do, thanks! Yeah it's a heat mat I keep that on at night when we turn off the light and the UV lamp.