Help needed please.
Posted: 21 Sep 2021, 17:36
Hello everyone,
I now have a horsfield tortoise, as he needed someone to take him in. He’s about 6 years old, about 6inches long and very cute.
I haven’t had a tortoise before and I need to quickly learn everything about keeping him. I’m doing my best but have a million questions and just want to do whatever’s best for him.
He’s currently in a vivarium (from his last home). I now know that’s not where he should be and we’re going to get him in a table ASAP, but we’d like to make sure it’s what he needs. I’m reading this forum as fast as I can, but we’d like to get his new home built quickly.Can anyone help answer our questions please?
We’re planning a table at least 2m by 1m and with a small second level.
What sort of wood do we need?
How high should the walls be?
How big should his hide box be?
Will one combined bulb be ok or do we need a uv tube too? I know he needs to be at the correct basking temperature under it. The house has the heating on at a 18-20 degree constant so he should be fine over night.
We’d like to have plants - we don’t have any in the garden but I’ve read shop bought are often sprayed, is there a way to get some safe ones?
We’ve swapped him to a proper substrate and I’ve read that we can used sterilised soil and kiddy sand. How deep should it be and how often should we change it?
Can we embed a tray as a water bath for him to paddle in? If so how big?
Any advice would be gratefully received. We just want a happy, healthy tortoise.
I now have a horsfield tortoise, as he needed someone to take him in. He’s about 6 years old, about 6inches long and very cute.
I haven’t had a tortoise before and I need to quickly learn everything about keeping him. I’m doing my best but have a million questions and just want to do whatever’s best for him.
He’s currently in a vivarium (from his last home). I now know that’s not where he should be and we’re going to get him in a table ASAP, but we’d like to make sure it’s what he needs. I’m reading this forum as fast as I can, but we’d like to get his new home built quickly.Can anyone help answer our questions please?
We’re planning a table at least 2m by 1m and with a small second level.
What sort of wood do we need?
How high should the walls be?
How big should his hide box be?
Will one combined bulb be ok or do we need a uv tube too? I know he needs to be at the correct basking temperature under it. The house has the heating on at a 18-20 degree constant so he should be fine over night.
We’d like to have plants - we don’t have any in the garden but I’ve read shop bought are often sprayed, is there a way to get some safe ones?
We’ve swapped him to a proper substrate and I’ve read that we can used sterilised soil and kiddy sand. How deep should it be and how often should we change it?
Can we embed a tray as a water bath for him to paddle in? If so how big?
Any advice would be gratefully received. We just want a happy, healthy tortoise.