New baby horsfield tortoise

[5775brook]

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

[CherryBrandy]

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

[Jan W]

Welcome to the forum.
CB has given you lots of good advice.