British tortoise owners

leigti

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2013
Messages
7,026
Location (City and/or State)
southeast Washington
Very cute little tortoise. We usually recommend no sand because it may cause impaction if it gets on the food and they eat it. soil, coconut coir or cypress mulch is easier to keep moisture in.
 

AlbusB

Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2014
Messages
43
Location (City and/or State)
Uk
I think that's fine, 50/50 is recommended a lot. Apparently it's supposed to be damp to the touch, so maybe get a little spray bottle to keep the top moist; it also helps to keep the humidity up which is important when they're young.

I keep getting confused on temperatures, especially as US use Fahrenheit, I know basking is supposed to be around 20-30*C maybe higher if your bulb is warmer, cooler I think can be around 10*C (although I'm more confident with basking than cool areas)

I love your setup, I've never seen blue cuttlebone before!


I think it's flavoured stuff, came with the set up.

Fahrenheit confused me too, but I think the temp is about right.

Think I'm driving my other half mad with my worrying and going on here lol
 

AlbusB

Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2014
Messages
43
Location (City and/or State)
Uk
Very cute little tortoise. We usually recommend no sand because it may cause impaction if it gets on the food and they eat it. soil, coconut coir or cypress mulch is easier to keep moisture in.

Thank you :) I couldn't find coconut coir anywhere today and no soil without added stuff!
 

HotdogKnight

Active Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2014
Messages
129
Location (City and/or State)
Southampton, UK
Thank you :) I couldn't find coconut coir anywhere today and no soil without added stuff!

I haven't had a proper look yet but I seem to have noticed that coir is much harder to come across in the UK other than online. I was considering just going to Homebase and getting a bag of top soil, but I have to make sure it's organic and I don't know whether they treat it with anything.
 

tillybuddha

New Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2014
Messages
10
This is Bud my one year old ibera spur thighed, we live in Manchester, and I love 'him' to bits! I've had him for a week now and I am still worrying about doing everything right :D
 

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Smartie123

Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2014
Messages
71
Hi guys

I got donny from the reptile shop in southampton and their great, very friendly and knowledgeable. I am always popping in for advise and their really good at putting my concerns to rest.
I keep donny in a dog bed, it sounds weird but the tort tables of similar sizes were very expensive and the dip in the front of the bed makes it easy for me to watch him.
It is open so keeping the moisture in is a constant battle and I spray it down every day. At the moment I'm using a sand/soil mix which he seems to like but have tried coco coir ( very messy) and a sawdust type substrate not sure what it's called though but this is the best so far.
I have a local vet where I live and although he is not a reptile specialist he is a tort owner and has had one for years so he has been great. I think the closet specialist reptile vet is in Salisbury though.

Here are a couple of picks of Donny during his xmas card photo shoot! Yes I said it! Xmas cards lol! ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1419176924.321470.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1419176955.755056.jpg
 

HotdogKnight

Active Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2014
Messages
129
Location (City and/or State)
Southampton, UK
Smartie, he's so cute! I'm also around the Southampton area and was considering getting my tort from the reptile shop, yet have never been there. How would you recommend it? Also where is the vet you are going to as I'm also having trouble locating an exotic specialist!
 

FLINTUS

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2012
Messages
1,402
Location (City and/or State)
Watery Wiltshire in the UK
Smartie, he's so cute! I'm also around the Southampton area and was considering getting my tort from the reptile shop, yet have never been there. How would you recommend it? Also where is the vet you are going to as I'm also having trouble locating an exotic specialist!
I would personally go to a breeder-cheaper, and probably a healthier tortoise.
 

HotdogKnight

Active Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2014
Messages
129
Location (City and/or State)
Southampton, UK
I would personally go to a breeder-cheaper, and probably a healthier tortoise.

I've heard that, I keep reading up on the differences between Captive and Wild bred torts, there just doesn't seem to be any hatchlings/youngens around my area atm. North London is the closest I've found and even then a few people I've contacted are reluctant to give them up without first inspecting my home (which I understand but is a very long trip for everyone)
 

rach.sxo

Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2014
Messages
65
Location (City and/or State)
Wolverhampton
I live in Wolverhampton and got my first tortoise two days ago.
I've got a hermans called Norman. I love him!!!
 

Smartie123

Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2014
Messages
71
Hi hotdogknight

I found the reptile shop really good, like I say they guys all new their stuff and Donny was health and happy when I got him. I had been to lots of different reptile shops but the southampton centre in bittern was definitely the best. The vet I take Donny to for general check ups is the harrier vet in Hamble. Like I say he's not a reptile specialist but as a owner who breeds from his torts I am happy he knows what he was talking about. Although if Donny got sick I would probably take him to the specialist in Salisbury, I can't remember what there called but you can find them on the web.

I also find the reptile centre very reasonably priced for kit, I regularly price check against the range which is just down the road from the reptile centre and on line and their often the cheapest. The other day I bought a two sensor digital thermometer for less than £10 and it works very well.
 

AlbusB

Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2014
Messages
43
Location (City and/or State)
Uk
Does anyone know of any UK breeders of horsefield or hermans tortoises? Really missing having a tort after my little one passed but don't want the pet shop horror I had last time??
 

4chester

New Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2014
Messages
3
There is a tort guy in Wiltshire with young Hermann's, Horsfields and Spur Thighs. If that's any good let me know and I will get you his details

Mark
 

AlbusB

Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2014
Messages
43
Location (City and/or State)
Uk
There is a tort guy in Wiltshire with young Hermann's, Horsfields and Spur Thighs. If that's any good let me know and I will get you his details

Mark

Think that might be to far for my other half, he didn't sound pleased with the suggestion. Thank you though
 

4chester

New Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2014
Messages
3
No worries - but unless your re-homing try to buy from a breeder or someone who will help support you through the first few months
 
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