Hello All

[Finfendy]

Hi, so I have been thinking about getting a tortoise for a couple of years and now it is actually going to happen!! Hopefully!
I have been doing lots of research and probably have 101 questions so as I have been stalking the forum for awhile thought I would sign up.

So first question... as a first tortoise what would be the best breed, Hermanns or Horsfield? I had snakes and lizards when I was a child, now I just have cats (yes the table will have a lid so he cats can't get to them).

Second question - lights?? I'm very confused by these, are there any particular brand I should be looking at? I'm lucky in that my Mr is a chippy so will be making the tortoise table so we can pretty much rig any lighting to it once he has stuck another socket in.

I think I will have the table made by the end of May (he is making me a wardrobe first), I hoping to start getting a few bits in and find a breeder in the meantime... which brings me on to question, can anyone recommend a breeder in the Kent area? I don't mind travelling a bit further.

Thanks everyone.

[Suze65]

Hello and welcome. Both Horsfields and hermanns are good hardy breeds and good for beginners. You will have hermann peeps saying get a Herman , they full of character and so pretty. And you will have the Horsfields peeps saying that horse fields are full of character. So really it's evens �� fantastic that your Mr is a chippy, how wonderful, thinking of all the fantastic things he can make, indoor table, and outdoor enclosure, the sky's the limit ! Lighting for indoor table can depend on the size of the tort and size of the set up. For my tinies in a small set up, I use a uv strip bulb, and an ordinary household spot and bulb for the basking spot. For my adults in a bigger set up I use an Arcadia combined uv heat bulb. Can I just add, don't buy from a pet shop, find a good private breeder. I'm sure someone can point you in the right direction of a good breeder.

[emma_mcraf]

All excellent advice from Suze there. I agree that a breeder is the way to go, so hopefully one on here will contact you if they can provide a hatchling in the Kent area.
Have a browse through our pictures of enclosures threads to give you lots of ideas for inside and out.
Oh and welcome to the forum.

[Finfendy]

Thanks for the replies!
Don't worry wouldn't dream of getting one from a pet shop!
Is it best for me to get a hatchling as my first or should I get an older one?
I'm home most of the time, had to give up work last September due to health issues so now I work freelance from home so able to spend time caring for the tortoise.
I've read about both Hermanns and Horsfields, I don't think I really have a preference or I just haven't set my heart on either just in case I can't find one or the other.

[Jan W]

Welcome!

For your tort table you may need to think about the 'lid'. I haven't had to use anything indoors, but have used plastic netting outside for protection.

Good luck with your choice. A breeder is ideal as you will get so much advice and help.

[CherryBrandy]

welcome to SW. Hermann probably get a lot bigger than Horsfields and boys are smaller than girls usually. both lovely tortoises. I would recommend arcadia D3 which has both uv and heat but there are all sorts of mixes out there, like suze says Tubes also.

Good luck keep us all posted and pickies ! CB

[Finfendy]

Thank you for the replies.
It will definitely need a lid, just some chicken wire or something. I have a BSH that will be 2 in May and he gets in everything so will just be using it for a litter tray and drinking the torts water.
There will be photos when I have something to take photos of.
Still deciding where to out the tortoise table, I was thinking the lounge but we both smoke in there... Would that affect a tortoise? Other option would be the spare room although that room is for his daughters so may have some issues there.

[Suze65]

Have you considered a Marginated or spur thigh , both get quite big.

[Finfendy]

Nope, I hadn't considered Marginated or Spur thighed... how big is quite big? Do they need the same kind of setup as the others table wise?

Still need a moderator to approve my posts, apologies for the triple or quadruple posts when they come through as I can't go back and edit.

[Suze65]

Originally Posted by Finfendy

Nope, I hadn't considered Marginated or Spur thighed... how big is quite big? Do they need the same kind of setup as the others table wise?

Still need a moderator to approve my posts, apologies for the triple or quadruple posts when they come through as I can't go back and edit.

Marginated can grow to 30/40cm so BIG, and spur thighs can be nearly as big ( not quite sure) both have the same husbandry as Hermans and Horsfields, all Meds.