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Old 11-09-2017, 02:53 PM   #1
5775brook
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Default New baby horsfield tortoise

Hi just joined.

My son went to a reptile specialists with his uncle and cousin and they returned with two turtles for my nephew and a tortoise for my son. Bad I know, we had not discussed this or researched the horsfields before hand yet the shop still sold the tortoise.

Anyway what's done is done and I want to make sure Logan is cared for properly. I have carried out research a nd getting mixed messages.

A quick run down of the setup, it's a glass vivarium they have sold him as part of the package, I have read these are good and Bad, good for temperature control and bad for humidity. If has a wire mess top so I am presuming the humidity won't be an issue. I am to put a boarder around the glass so the little guy doesn't get stressed out thinking it can keep venturing but just hit glass. Any advice on whether that is ok would be great.

They sold him some bark substrate but I have read this isn't great as they like to burrow so I have mixed half and half sand and top soil, he now has bark in his basking area and soil the rest. Do you guys think this ok and again any advice is appreciated. He has been quite active this morning, I have bathed him, he has then had a venture around his enclosure, eaten, basked for about 20 minutes then dug down in the bark in the corner and been there about an hour. Does this sound about right for morning routine? Was probably up an about for 4ish hours before going to the corner.

Thanks in advance for any advice
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Old 11-09-2017, 09:20 PM   #2
CherryBrandy
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*** you have posted same twice so I've copied from your other post duplicated** don't worry there is a delay to check spam when you first join so your posts and responses will be pre read so may even be out of sync - and after 5 posts they will start to appear live time***


welcome 5775 ! congratulations on your little Horsfield. You will groan a little no doubt as it has probably been quite costly obtaining all the equipment because the shop hasn't given you the best advice. Horsfields in particular (because they burrow) won't fair well in a vivarium set up - humidity will be too high and cause bacterial growth.
The wood chip is not best as fungal matter can grown and it can cause respiratory diseases they may never recover. in addition tortoises have been known to eat it and they implode - just add it to water and see it blow up - when that happens inside a tortoise their stomach / gut explodes. not nicest way to go.

So good news is its all retrievable.

1)Temperature needs to be between 29 - 31 (Horsfields fair better I find cooler so I opt fo rthe 29 degrees and they have faired well on less regardless - they are cute little hardy things)
2) cool end is ok at night between 16 - 22 odd during day
3) UVA AND B light - not just UVA Which is attractive sales pitch (need the vit d for their shells so both UV critical)
4)And a heat source basking lamp (the UV requirement and heat source can be combined into one bulb or separate
5) Humidity between 55% -65% - spray substrate once a day with warm mister (and tortoise if can) and leave to dry out again
6) Soil / coco soil/ soil mix / top soil mix - anything as natural as possible without additives - Horsfields burrow - sand will get into eye
7) light / heat on between 7 - 8 hours a day fine
8) he will burrow lots but keep eye that he isn't getting too cold or too hot
9) he musnt be able to see out so high sides - lots to do , crawl over, under into, out of...
10) crispy florette packet of salad if you can not grow or pick natural weeds -
11) water available all the time but make sure bath him daily - heating dries torts out especially your central heating
12) http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/p...0#.Wbbf4pWWzX5 - good web site for what tortoise can thrive on ! check it out if in doubt.

Hope that helps, good luck and keep in touch, would love to see anyphotos too !

Don't be afraid to ask any question no question is stupid
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Old 11-09-2017, 09:33 PM   #3
5775brook
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All that info is great, thank you.

I read to bath once a week but with him being in soil I didn't think that sounded right. Should I get the sand soil mix out asap then? I will get rid of the bark completely then, he seems to burrow under that stuff more than the soil. I thought he had escaped earlier and found his under the bark.

I am amazed at how social he is even though he has only been in his new home for two days.

One thing I noticed when I was bathing him was where his scales stop on his front legs there is a slight flap of what looks like his scales, is this normal?

I am going to get him checked out at the vets asap just so I know he is all good and hasn't picked anything up in the shop.

My son has gone back to his mum's now so the pressure is on me to make sure the little guy is happy and in tip top shape.

Is there anyway I can post pics in here so you guys can see how it is currently set up?
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Old 11-09-2017, 09:42 PM   #4
5775brook
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I have posted the same twice so this post here will no longer be used.

Thanks
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