[sandy]

Originally Posted by Andy_Hal

Hi all, I'm Andy from West Yorkshire in the UK.
I bought my horsefield tortoise last week and I have so many questions to ask, I've searched the internet and everything just contradicts each other, any advice is much appreciated.

1. Food
So, all it seems to like eating is dandelion leaves at the moment, I've tried it on spinach, thistle leaves, carrot shavings, but it doesn't seem interested. My question is, if I put something in (e.g a random weed i found) that it's not meant to eat will he eat it? Do i need to be careful what I put in its bowl? I'm still trying to find stuff other than dandelion leaves, although I have ordered a seed mix to grow my own.


I have found the tortoise table website, but I don't know the names of many plants and weeds.

2. Enclosure
I bought it from a pet shop, which I've recently discovered reading online is a no no. I bought it together with a vivarium, which I have also learnt isn't great. Although I have read articles which say vivs are better (I think they were just trying to sell their products). Is a vivarium, that bad? Will it be ok in their for a year or so? If it is so bad I will go and make a table for it as soon as possible.
It also came with pellets for a substrate, I have also bought some top soil today as I have heard they like to dig. I'm going to put some in tomorrow, should i put his cave on the soil side so he can dig down?

3. Hides
Should I put multiple hides in? I read somewhere to put it near the basking light, but most people say to put it on the cool side, should i put one on both sides and let it choose for itself?

4. Misting
Do I need to spray water in it's vivarium now and again to keep it humid?

5.
Is it ok to wake it up, or get it out of its cave?
I ask this, as sometimes it can take it ages to get up, but when I do it seems happy enough and goes on a wander around.

I've included some pictures with my post. The guy who sold it me told me it was hatched in 2016 but wasn't sure when. I have added a picture on a ten pound note for size comparison, hopefully he's at the right size.
I have no idea if it's a girl or boy but seem to keep calling it a him.

I posted this on an American website, and I would just like to get some views from a UK based website as I think they have different ways over there.
Also I have now changed the substrate to top soil, which I was told was better but now he just gets covered in it. Also i found little bits of what look like old wrap from something in it which was worrying, I removed all the bits I could find, but may have to change it all again
I have also watered it and sprayed, but I'm a bit frightened that I'll get it too wet.

Thanks in advance!! Sorry for all the questions, I just don't want to get anything wrong.

1/
If your tortoise is eating anything at this stage then thats good, as it can take a couple of weeds for some tortoises to adjust to a new home and setup. You could try www.tortoises.net for a downloadable booklet with pictures of suitable plants:0)
2/
Vivs are really bad for horsfields, as they need a really deep substrate to be able to dig down into, and temps will be far too high. Pellets dont allow for digging and making tunnels for horsfields. Too many petshops make a big profit selling keepers goods they really dont need, or are no good for tortoises:0( Open topped enclosures are far far better for most tortoises from the med and Russia:0)
Hides should be the other end of any heat sorce, as they need the drop in temps at nightime:0)
3/
A couple of hides are always useful as then the tortoise has choice:0)
4/
As long as you have a wide shallow container of water in the enclosure for drinking/bathing that should be enough:0) If you feel you have to spray then do it at nightime and keep to a minimum:0)
5/
Provided the enclosure has a UV heat sorce your tortoise will get up when they are ready. Daylight times have a big influence on when tortoises get up, if its grey outside then they will get up later, if its bright and sunny up earlier:0)
My tortoises are getting up later these days and are normally asleep by five oclock in the afternoon as the days are getting shorter.
Male tortoises have a long tail that curls round the shell, females have short stubby tails:0) But horsfields can be difficult to sex at a young age:0)