Hello. Thank you for letting me join

Hi everyone. My name is Rachel and I am married with three children 12, 10 & 4.

With my 40th birthday looming I have decided to ask for something I have wanted for years and years ...... a tortoise. I am not sure where everyone is from but I am in the UK. I remember having a tortoise as a child but he sadly died during his first hibernation and after reading lots about tortoises since I realise the care and knowledge was simply not good enough 35years ago and I feel heartbroken over that. I am therefore determined to do everything properly this time round. Obviously the weather here is not always good and from what I have read I am better to have a European tortoise that has both indoor and outdoor accommodation depending on the weather so I have ordered a tortoise table with starter kit including heat lamp, UV lamp, heat pad and calcium supplements. We also have a large garden and my husband is going to build a secure outside run with roof and an area set up with a small greenhouse effect on a mixture of slabs, wood and gravel which will have a water tray sunk into it, he/she will definitely be inside at night and during the colder months. I am half way through reading several books that I have bought and I won'y be getting my friend until I am satisfied I can care for him/her to the best of my ability. Any help and advice will however be gratefully received. Thanks

Welcome to the forum

Thank you

Welcome Rachel.
FYI some of the items sold in those "kits" are not entirely suitable for a tortoise. For example most of them come with a type of spiral bulb that is known to cause eye issues and some of the food and water bowls and half log items are dangerous for a small tortoise. The heat pad will not be needed at all, etc.
Are you thinking about a Russian tortoise? The species will help us help you and your tortoise both get what you need.

Hello Rachel

Welcome to the Forum, Rachel.

Here's a good thread for you to read prior to getting your tortoise:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

ZEROPILOT said:

Welcome Rachel.
FYI some of the items sold in those "kits" are not entirely suitable for a tortoise. For example most of them come with a type of spiral bulb that is known to cause eye issues and some of the food and water bowls and half log items are dangerous for a small tortoise. The heat pad will not be needed at all, etc.
Are you thinking about a Russian tortoise? The species will help us help you and your tortoise both get what you need.

Click to expand...

Hello,
This is what I was looking at for the starter pack, would be grateful for your thoughts. I was going to get the additional extension kit with it and my hubby is going to build a hinged mesh lid as we have cats and don't want them being able to access it at all. I was thinking of a Hermann tortoise.


The tortoise table starter kit includes:
Tortoise table, Arcadia combined heat and U.V light, clamp lamp fitting, calcium and vitamin supplement, thermometer, bedding and small heat mat

The Vivexotic Tortoise Table is an easy to clean, complete home for a pet tortoise.

- Available in modern oak finish.
- Table features an enclosed sleeping area with hinged lid for access. This area can also accommodate a standard seed tray which can be filled with soil.
- Optional heat mat may be positioned behind the protective glass panel in the sleeping area.
- A separate stand is also available to create a free standing table (PT4031)
- Optional extension pack increases the space for your tortoise (PT4030).
- NOTE - if a stand is used for the table, an additional stand set is also required with the extension.
- Removeable, decorative glass panel makes access for cleaning simple and easy.

Dimensions (mm)
Table: Width 900, Depth 450, Height 215

Flat packedTORTOISE TABLES ARE NOT ALWAYS SUITABLE FOR LEOPARD TORTOISES, SULCATAS AND REDFOOTS

RachP said:

Hello,
This is what I was looking at for the starter pack, would be grateful for your thoughts. I was going to get the additional extension kit with it and my hubby is going to build a hinged mesh lid as we have cats and don't want them being able to access it at all. I was thinking of a Hermann tortoise.


The tortoise table starter kit includes:
Tortoise table, Arcadia combined heat and U.V light, clamp lamp fitting, calcium and vitamin supplement, thermometer, bedding and small heat mat

The Vivexotic Tortoise Table is an easy to clean, complete home for a pet tortoise.

- Available in modern oak finish.
- Table features an enclosed sleeping area with hinged lid for access. This area can also accommodate a standard seed tray which can be filled with soil.
- Optional heat mat may be positioned behind the protective glass panel in the sleeping area.
- A separate stand is also available to create a free standing table (PT4031)
- Optional extension pack increases the space for your tortoise (PT4030).
- NOTE - if a stand is used for the table, an additional stand set is also required with the extension.
- Removeable, decorative glass panel makes access for cleaning simple and easy.

Dimensions (mm)
Table: Width 900, Depth 450, Height 215

Flat packedTORTOISE TABLES ARE NOT ALWAYS SUITABLE FOR LEOPARD TORTOISES, SULCATAS AND REDFOOTS

Click to expand...

The glass area is painted green at the bottom so isnt see through

Yvonne G said:

Welcome to the Forum, Rachel.

Here's a good thread for you to read prior to getting your tortoise:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Click to expand...

Thank you

In my opinion, this might be suitable for a hatchling tortoise if it were covered to keep in the humidity, but it's not big enough for an adult tortoise.

Yvonne G said:

In my opinion, this might be suitable for a hatchling tortoise if it were covered to keep in the humidity, but it's not big enough for an adult tortoise.

Click to expand...

My husband is very practical and for instance is going to build the outdoor house and run. Could he add to this to give further space as mr/mrs tort grows? The ones I have been looking at are still very small, a few inches. What would be the best thing to cover it with that will allow ventilation but also keep the humidity constant? Thanks again

RachP said:

View attachment 167053

My husband is very practical and for instance is going to build the outdoor house and run. Could he add to this to give further space as mr/mrs tort grows? The ones I have been looking at are still very small, a few inches. What would be the best thing to cover it with that will allow ventilation but also keep the humidity constant? Thanks again

Click to expand...

Is a vivarium better then for young torts with the humidity. I had intially looked at one but our tortoise trust said they were very unsuitable. Is that wrong? Thank you

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Welcome