Hello everyone from Liverpool England

Puyol580 · Oct 21, 2015

Hi I have a 13 month old Horsefield and he's been fit @ well since yesterday.....I keep him In a vivarium.....I know they are not the best enclosures for tortoises but it's wot I got him in from pet shop,I plan to to buy an open tortoise table in the near future....I have him basking at present under a 60w bulb and a uva/uvb bulb.....& his substrate is a calcium soil and have Timothy Hay in his hides...I guess I need a stronger basking bulb summit like a 75w as the cold weather is creeping in and he's hardly eating as much due to being cold??.......I bath him quite regular like every 2 to 3 days and I feed him a variety of lettuces....romaine,chicory,lettuce,courgette,cucumber with a pinch of reptile supplement every other day....
Could any1 please advice me on any other general advice & care as I still class myself a novice. Thanks Anthony

Yvonne G · Oct 21, 2015

Welcome to the Forum, Anthony!

In my opinion, you should scrub everything that you're using and start all over. Please read our russian tortoise care sheets. After you do, you will see that your substrate is wrong, your light is wrong and the hay is wrong. The diet is ok - YEA! You probably received bad info from the pet store. Don't feel bad, we all have gone through this at one time or another.

Once you get your baby set up according to the care sheet, I'm pretty sure you're going to see an improvement in his health and well-being.

Speedy-1 · Oct 21, 2015

Hi and welcome !

Grandpa Turtle 144 · Oct 21, 2015

Hello

ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1445475824.916608.jpg

Pearly · Oct 21, 2015

Hi Anthony and welcome to the Forum. I got our Redfoot babies at the end of June. Thought everything was prepared for their arrival then turned out most of my set up was not going to keep the desired temps and humidity, the UVB lamp was wrong..I redid things and started over with closed chamber, temps and humidity started holding up great but then lost most of my live plants

it's a learning process. I can't offer advice on Horsfield, the species I keep come from forests of South America. I try to imitate the natural conditions for our babies. That goes for everything related to air, terrain/activity, water, diet, native vegetation, allowing them to develop natural behaviors. My babies are tiny and kept in covered 40 gal glass tank, heavily planted with live plants, many places to hide, some hills and caves. They love coming back to their "bedroom" after a daily dose of excercise outside. In those almost 4 months I have gained tons of valuable knowledge, as well as bunch of new great friends. My baby torts are thriving. Hope you have similar experience to mine. Be sure to post some pictures

Jacqui · Oct 21, 2015

Hello and welcome.

ZEROPILOT · Oct 22, 2015

Welcome, Anthony.
From Florida U.S.A.

gg888 · Oct 22, 2015

Puyol580 said:
Hi I have a 13 month old Horsefield and he's been fit @ well since yesterday.....I keep him In a vivarium.....I know they are not the best enclosures for tortoises but it's wot I got him in from pet shop,I plan to to buy an open tortoise table in the near future....I have him basking at present under a 60w bulb and a uva/uvb bulb.....& his substrate is a calcium soil and have Timothy Hay in his hides...I guess I need a stronger basking bulb summit like a 75w as the cold weather is creeping in and he's hardly eating as much due to being cold??.......I bath him quite regular like every 2 to 3 days and I feed him a variety of lettuces....romaine,chicory,lettuce,courgette,cucumber with a pinch of reptile supplement every other day....
Could any1 please advice me on any other general advice & care as I still class myself a novice. Thanks Anthony

View attachment 153292

I'm in Leicester, and I had no idea you could buy tortoises from pet shops in England! I got my horsefield (Bertie, who's about 15 months) straight from a breeder. The breeder I got him from told me that horsefields are a great breed to start off with

gg888 · Oct 22, 2015

Puyol580 said:
Hi I have a 13 month old Horsefield and he's been fit @ well since yesterday.....I keep him In a vivarium.....I know they are not the best enclosures for tortoises but it's wot I got him in from pet shop,I plan to to buy an open tortoise table in the near future....I have him basking at present under a 60w bulb and a uva/uvb bulb.....& his substrate is a calcium soil and have Timothy Hay in his hides...I guess I need a stronger basking bulb summit like a 75w as the cold weather is creeping in and he's hardly eating as much due to being cold??.......I bath him quite regular like every 2 to 3 days and I feed him a variety of lettuces....romaine,chicory,lettuce,courgette,cucumber with a pinch of reptile supplement every other day....
Could any1 please advice me on any other general advice & care as I still class myself a novice. Thanks Anthony

View attachment 153292

Most breeders I have spoken to over here seem to suggest an 80w bulb, that's what I have and Bertie seems to be working out well with it. It's by Arcadia and provides both heat and UV.
As for substrate, I use orchid bark (a recent change) which I keep slightly moist by spraying with water for humidity. I also bath him about three to four times a week. Also, I put a deep layer of substrate in his table, because Bertie LOVES to burrow. This might also help them keep warm

.
They need a constant supply of water, so I have a shallow terracotta dish which he can soak in whenever he likes.
You should also get a cuttlefish bone. They're really cheap from any pet shop; that way your tort can get calcium whenever they like. It also helps keep the beak from overgrowing.
For the diet, Bertie is mostly on weeds which I grow myself. If you look on eBay, there's a place called ShelledWarriors which do a large variety of seeds which are good! He also has kale as a treat. He loves cucumber, but it doesn't really have any nutritional value, so he only gets that as a treat.
He also has a piece of slate in his table, which helps keep his claws short.
I think everybody has their own way of doing things, and we're all constantly learning. Bertie seems happy and lively at the minute though, so hopefully (fingers crossed) I'm doing something right!

Tidgy's Dad · Oct 24, 2015

Hello, Anthony, and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum.
Vivariums can be great homes as long as they are big enough, Russians need a lot of space. A vivarium can be easy to cover or tent around the lights so making keeping in the humidity easy. The tortoise may try to escape through the glass, but this can be fixed by taping around the bottom few inches so he can't see out.
I use an MVB (mercury vapour bulb) as this provides my daytime heat, light and UVB all in one, but you could use a uvb strip light with a basking bulb but not any coiled or compact uvb lamps as these can hurt tortoises eyes.
Coco coir, orchid bark or cypress mulch are all better options as substrate.
Soaking for 15 to twenty minutes every two or three days is good.
Read http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
and http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
for lots of good advice, as well as http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/closed-chambers.32333/
and http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/the-end-of-pyramiding.15137/

Lyn W · Oct 24, 2015

Hi Anthony and welcome to the best place for up to date info on everything to do with torts.
It may not be what you want to hear but forget what the pet shop told you - they are in it for profit and few store assistants know about tort care whereas everyone here only wants the best for torts. If you can follow the advice here you will have a happy health tort the rest of your life - hopefully!
I am also in the UK and I use an Arcadia Mini D3 mv bulb (80w) which gives heat, light and the essential uv rays in one bulb
I bought that from Pets at Home for £39. For night heat I use a ceramic heat emitter (CHE) on a thermostat, this gives just heat as torts need darkness to sleep and switches on and off to keep thr temps even. I bought both from The Range £21 and £35 .
I use ceramic lamp holders with a wide domes fir both - £25 also at The Range. Don't use the clamps as they can fail and be a fire hazard, hang them over the enclosure if you can and adjust the temp by raising or lowering.
Sound expensive but worth it because if a tort gets cold it can't digest its food etc and can become ill, which means vets bills so prevention is better than cure!
Read the caresheet for great advice, I also found Beginners Mistakes useful and the Enclosures thread will give you lots of ideas.
Ask as many questions as you like - there are some very experienced keepers here to help.

pam · Nov 6, 2015

Welcome

Russians are awesome

Ricardo Arispe · Nov 6, 2015

A hearty welcome to another tortoise enthusiast!

Puyol580 · Nov 7, 2015

gg888 said:
Most breeders I have spoken to over here seem to suggest an 80w bulb, that's what I have and Bertie seems to be working out well with it. It's by Arcadia and provides both heat and UV.
As for substrate, I use orchid bark (a recent change) which I keep slightly moist by spraying with water for humidity. I also bath him about three to four times a week. Also, I put a deep layer of substrate in his table, because Bertie LOVES to burrow. This might also help them keep warm .
They need a constant supply of water, so I have a shallow terracotta dish which he can soak in whenever he likes.
You should also get a cuttlefish bone. They're really cheap from any pet shop; that way your tort can get calcium whenever they like. It also helps keep the beak from overgrowing.
For the diet, Bertie is mostly on weeds which I grow myself. If you look on eBay, there's a place called ShelledWarriors which do a large variety of seeds which are good! He also has kale as a treat. He loves cucumber, but it doesn't really have any nutritional value, so he only gets that as a treat.
He also has a piece of slate in his table, which helps keep his claws short.
I think everybody has their own way of doing things, and we're all constantly learning. Bertie seems happy and lively at the minute though, so hopefully (fingers crossed) I'm doing something right![/QUOT
It's sounds like ya know what your doing and have the best interest & support for bertie....I totally agree too with everyone has their own way of doing things like....I already have a cuttlefish bone....give him 3-4 baths a wk so he's well hydrated.....I don't have a bowl of water in vivirium though coz it apparently can give your tortoise parasites as they urinate etc in there. Yes I too grown my own weeds which I bought off ebay....(Shelled Warriors).....Its a Brill website isn't it;-)....,I bought " Pig" a hide off there. He's only eating British chicory lettuce at mo and snubbing everthing else???.........am putting a bit of reptavite supplement on his lettuce though every other day so he's still getting his source of vitamins he needs.....he has been a bit constepated lately???..& will only poo in his baths....:-( any suggestions??.....think I might be applying a bit too much on his food.
Anyway your advice and concern has been really helpful and am gonna try that orchid bark for him coz he enjoys burrowing too in his calcium soil.....so that bark is deffo on my list next to buy....it might be warmer for him this time of month coz the soil I get is really moist and can become probs too cold for him in the night when lights are all switched off.

Puyol580 · Nov 7, 2015

ZEROPILOT said:
Welcome, Anthony.
From Florida U.S.A.

Where do you buy your Orchid Bark from??.....

Puyol580 · Nov 7, 2015

Lyn W said:
Hi Anthony and welcome to the best place for up to date info on everything to do with torts.
It may not be what you want to hear but forget what the pet shop told you - they are in it for profit and few store assistants know about tort care whereas everyone here only wants the best for torts. If you can follow the advice here you will have a happy health tort the rest of your life - hopefully!
I am also in the UK and I use an Arcadia Mini D3 mv bulb (80w) which gives heat, light and the essential uv rays in one bulb
I bought that from Pets at Home for £39. For night heat I use a ceramic heat emitter (CHE) on a thermostat, this gives just heat as torts need darkness to sleep and switches on and off to keep thr temps even. I bought both from The Range £21 and £35 .
I use ceramic lamp holders with a wide domes fir both - £25 also at The Range. Don't use the clamps as they can fail and be a fire hazard, hang them over the enclosure if you can and adjust the temp by raising or lowering.
Sound expensive but worth it because if a tort gets cold it can't digest its food etc and can become ill, which means vets bills so prevention is better than cure!
Read the caresheet for great advice, I also found Beginners Mistakes useful and the Enclosures thread will give you lots of ideas.
Ask as many questions as you like - there are some very experienced keepers here to help.

Hi,Lyn could you please help me...I am desperate...;-( need a website or summit/someone who would keep good care of my tortoise as its only cruel if I am to continue to care for him.....I have jumped in far too soon in the deep end and not researched and relised of how difficult it is to care for these lovely reptiles. I work far to many hours and having got enough time and money to carry on looking after him;-(

gg888 · Nov 7, 2015

I think you're best having a shallow water dish in his enclosure. It doesn't matter if he urinates in there, just change it two or three times a day to keep it fresh

I put Bertie's water dish underneath his lamp (not directly, just to the side) and he sits in it all day and basks - he loves it! The orchid bark is great. You can get it from pets at home (two bags for £14 at the minute) or you can buy it in bulk - look on eBay. As for his eating, I think of torts like humans. If you put a cheeseburger and a big pile of salad in front of them, most people would choose the burger. If he's subbing every thing else, then leave out the lettuce. Eventually he'll get hungry and will eat what he's given (perhaps more weed and romain and stuff). If he's pooinfg in his baths then I shouldn't worry - Bertie isn't much of a pooer, he never has been. My sulcata on the other hand poops for England! Also, if you're worried about it getting too cool at night, try covering his enclosure with something to keep heat in. That works for Bertie fine, but we keep the room quite warm anyway. If not, try a ceramic heat emitter (again look on eBay) as they give off heat and no light, so their sleeping pattern isn't disturbed.

Lyn W · Nov 7, 2015

I'm so sorry you feel that you have to find a new home but you are doing the right thing if you really feel you can't care for him.
I will tag @Anyfoot (Craig) who is in Sheffield who may be able to help you out.
I am too far away and I work all day too so can't take on any more - I wasn't planning on having any until Lola was found and we couldn't find her owners so I was in the deep end too. It can be very overwhelming.
Meanwhile don't panic - just make sure your tort is warm to stop him trying to hibernate and has a decent diet and is hydrated, try to follow the caresheet as best you can for the time being and lets see if Craig can help.

Lyn W · Nov 7, 2015

Puyol580 said:
Where do you buy your Orchid Bark from??.....

Pets at Home sell Orchid bark - they were doing 2 bags for £14 last time I bought mine

gg888 · Nov 7, 2015

Puyol580 said:
Hi,Lyn could you please help me...I am desperate...;-( need a website or summit/someone who would keep good care of my tortoise as its only cruel if I am to continue to care for him.....I have jumped in far too soon in the deep end and not researched and relised of how difficult it is to care for these lovely reptiles. I work far to many hours and having got enough time and money to carry on looking after him;-(

Don't give up! What are you struggling with? Everybody on the forum makes up an amazing source of information about torts (I wouldn't go anywhere else). There are lots of money saving options, such as growing your own food and making your own enclosures

I know it seems difficult now, but once you've got everything set up, you'll wonder why you ever struggled!

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