New from N. Ireland - Page 2

clanks76 · 27-07-2010, 08:16 AM

Hi and welcome. Good to see another NI newbie on board, there must be a whole handful of us now lol

a11ycat · 27-07-2010, 09:29 AM

Thanks for all the help so far, I'm really glad I asked!
I'll take the sands back to the petshop and get some top soil for him. He does have a basking lamp which we leave on all the time, and he can move away from it if he wants.
I'll check out the grass seed in the tortoise shop too.
Should I be providing straw or not?
How long would he need in the mornings to warm up and how long can he stay outside for?
How much should he be eating per day? He eats more than I expect... but maybe Tortoises eat a lot?

clanks76 · 27-07-2010, 09:57 AM

Hi A11ycat

You should turn your basking light off at night, the temps can cool down to room temps at night and they will be fine.
The readigrass is like hay, you can buy here on SS/petshops/vets etc.
As long as the temp is over around 10 degrees they are ok to go outside all day.
Eating varies, mine is only a baby and doesn't eat that much so someone else would be best to advise on this, but i think it's fine.

eliza · 27-07-2010, 09:58 AM

Hi and welcome.

Zen · 27-07-2010, 10:22 AM

Hi there, welcome to SW

a11ycat · 27-07-2010, 11:34 AM

We have the heat lamp on a timer... 8.30am - 8.30pm. He seems to spend a lot of his time underneath it though, and when it goes off trundles back to his shelter to sleep.

clanks76 · 27-07-2010, 11:40 AM

Sounds about right

a11ycat · 27-07-2010, 12:38 PM

So can I confirm that he should be getting a supply of hay or readigrass to eat?

clanks76 · 27-07-2010, 03:35 PM

I'll check mine tonight to advise what it is called, got from the vet, i think they are something similiar.

TortBabe · 27-07-2010, 04:06 PM

Horsfield torts don't neccesarily need to eat hay/readigrass, most owners just provide some readigrass for their hide for themto bury down into.I tried it with my horsfield, and he hated it

As for how much to feed, most owners measure the amount by the size of the torts shell, ie put a pile in his bowl about the size of his shell. Hope this helps!

27-07-2010, 08:16 AM	#11
clanks76 Member Hatched Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Co Down Northern Ireland Posts: 391	Hi and welcome. Good to see another NI newbie on board, there must be a whole handful of us now lol __________________ Carla 0.0.2 TGI - Sandra & Sadie

27-07-2010, 09:57 AM	#13
clanks76 Member Hatched Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Co Down Northern Ireland Posts: 391	Hi A11ycat You should turn your basking light off at night, the temps can cool down to room temps at night and they will be fine. The readigrass is like hay, you can buy here on SS/petshops/vets etc. As long as the temp is over around 10 degrees they are ok to go outside all day. Eating varies, mine is only a baby and doesn't eat that much so someone else would be best to advise on this, but i think it's fine. __________________ Carla 0.0.2 TGI - Sandra & Sadie

27-07-2010, 10:22 AM	#15
Zen Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Banbury Oxfordshire Posts: 2,623	Hi there, welcome to SW __________________ Rachael & Zen (THB) 'Show gratitude to every living thing'

27-07-2010, 11:40 AM	#17
clanks76 Member Hatched Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Co Down Northern Ireland Posts: 391	Sounds about right __________________ Carla 0.0.2 TGI - Sandra & Sadie

27-07-2010, 03:35 PM	#19
clanks76 Member Hatched Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Co Down Northern Ireland Posts: 391	I'll check mine tonight to advise what it is called, got from the vet, i think they are something similiar. __________________ Carla 0.0.2 TGI - Sandra & Sadie

27-07-2010, 09:29 AM	#12
a11ycat Junior Member Egg Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 9	Thanks for all the help so far, I'm really glad I asked! I'll take the sands back to the petshop and get some top soil for him. He does have a basking lamp which we leave on all the time, and he can move away from it if he wants. I'll check out the grass seed in the tortoise shop too. Should I be providing straw or not? How long would he need in the mornings to warm up and how long can he stay outside for? How much should he be eating per day? He eats more than I expect... but maybe Tortoises eat a lot?

27-07-2010, 09:58 AM	#14
eliza Member Hatched Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Newcastle Tyne and Wear Posts: 364	Hi and welcome.

27-07-2010, 11:34 AM	#16
a11ycat Junior Member Egg Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 9	We have the heat lamp on a timer... 8.30am - 8.30pm. He seems to spend a lot of his time underneath it though, and when it goes off trundles back to his shelter to sleep.

27-07-2010, 12:38 PM	#18
a11ycat Junior Member Egg Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 9	So can I confirm that he should be getting a supply of hay or readigrass to eat?

27-07-2010, 04:06 PM	#20
TortBabe Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 6,919	Horsfield torts don't neccesarily need to eat hay/readigrass, most owners just provide some readigrass for their hide for themto bury down into.I tried it with my horsfield, and he hated it As for how much to feed, most owners measure the amount by the size of the torts shell, ie put a pile in his bowl about the size of his shell. Hope this helps! __________________ Busy Mum to ~ 2 Kids, 2 Yorkies, 1 Horsfield, 6 Hermanns, 2 Iberas, 6 Tunisians, 2 Indian Stars and 2 Pancakes

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