I'm a newbie to the tortoise loving world :)

[Sylviesoph]

Hey everyone!
To start I am from the South West of England... currently experiencing a rare heat wave.
I have recently been given a tortoise. I do not know its gender though I keep referring to it as a he.
His name is Horatio (the choice of my 89 yr old Nan).
We have made him a large run at least 2 metres by 1 metre, with a covered warm area. I am looking into getting a dish that is easily accessible for him to bathe and drink, though I have been bathing him daily (too much?).
I have been led to believe he is 1 years old.
I am committed to giving Horatio the best possible life and I have joined this forum for advice really from those with so much more experience.
I'll attach a couple of pics, I have put a £1 coin next to Horatio (as a marker) in the hope some of you may be able to confirm/guess his age and breed.

 

[tortadise]

Welcome

 

[sibi]

Hi and welcome! My name is Sylvia, and I noticed part of your name we share! I hope you enjoy this forum. It's amazing

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi, and welcome to the Forum!!

Horatio is a Testudo horsefieldii, or commonly in the UK called Horsefield's tortoise. I think he's a little older than a year. Looks almost full grown. Maybe about 6 or 8 years old. There's no need to soak him daily. If you give him a waterer he will get his own hydration.

We call them Russian tortoises here in the States, and you can find a nice care sheet for Horatio at the top of the Russian tortoise section here on the Forum.

 

[Sylviesoph]

Hi Sylvia!
Yvonne- Thanks so much for the response. Brilliant to know a estimated age and breed. I was really concerned if he was a year old we should be keeping him in a vivarium with heat lamps etc. However, he just seems to love being outside. I let him out of his enclosure today and he chased after our chickens until they were cowering in submission! (I would never let them all be alone without supervision... initially I was concerned for Horatio but I think he's the boss) haha

 

[sibi]

Hi Sylvia!
Yvonne- Thanks so much for the response. Brilliant to know a estimated age and breed. I was really concerned if he was a year old we should be keeping him in a vivarium with heat lamps etc. However, he just seems to love being outside. I let him out of his enclosure today and he chased after our chickens until they were cowering in submission! (I would never let them all be alone without supervision... initially I was concerned for Horatio but I think he's the boss) haha

Hahaha...he's showing his tuff. Please be careful around dogs, though. Dogs and torts don't mix. No matter how placid a dog is, when no one is watching, we have heard time and time again about some horror stories!

 

[Sylviesoph]

Don't worry Sylvia! My mum is allergic to dogs... hence the outdoor pets we seem to be collecting

 

[Yvonne G]

...I let him out of his enclosure today and he chased after our chickens until they were cowering in submission!

This presents quite a funny picture! I love it.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hello and welcome to the TFO from AZ.


Sent from my iPhone using TortForum

 

[Abdulla6169]

Welcome!

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

Welcome!

 

[pam]

Welcome

 

[smarch]

Welcome.
I'm not a sexing expert but it looks to me like he looks like more of a she, because the V under the tail is pretty wider than my franklins. I cant see the tail to help my judgement though... and in all honestly the only reason im so entirely sure Franklin's a male is his super tail lol its HUGE!!

Cute tortoise though! You'll learn the species has quite the attitude and personality, so the chicken story doesn't surprise me at all!

 

[tortdad]

Welcome

 

[mojo]

Welcome . I too have a Horsefield tortoise, they are such lively little characters. Mine is a little boy called Timmy. Usually if turns out to be boy will present bits at some stage, as mine did. Enjoy. Great breed. I am South East and we too are having rare heat wave my3 tortoises are making the most of it. Love it.

 

[sissyofone]

Hello and Welcome to TFO

 

[Diogo4]

Welcome.

 

[Flipper]

Hi I'm enjoying your tales

 

[Kaitlynn]

Welcome!

 

[Stephanie_George]

Hiya, I too have a horsefield tortoise. He's a year old and named George.

We have a large vivarium with both a heat lamp and reptile uv lamp, although we let him out in the garden daily (despite it being a bit colder here in the good old north of England!)

He's fed whenever he's hungry although I'm worried I might be over feeding him so if anybody has any advice that would be lovely!

Thank you

Steph x