Thank you so much! That is why I have done more videos of Sheldon recently. I searched tortoise videos on TH-cam and there isn't very many, also some of the videos were advising dangerous things for tortoises so I thought I would make my own :) Even if it helps a couple of people, there are a couple happier torts in the world :D
Thank you thesmallpetshop for all the advice and useful tips! I am getting my Horsefields tortoise today and am very excited:) Thank you for being my tortoise helpline!!
It's funny because that also really put it in to perspective just how itty bitty he is! And that's how I feel about the bunnies! Hubby says it's time to cut the grass and I'm like, no wait let me put the bunnies out for a bit haha.
I love your videos and find them so helpful. I am getting a Hermanns tortoise in a few weeks hopefully and your videos have helped me so much with getting ready☺
Very good - it's nice to see someone who is well researched and passing that knowledge on. I love people who are kind to their pets by providing the most natural and healthy environment possible. Pets are not toys and yours looks really cute and properly looked after = a happy tortoise :). Great video.
I think this has to be the best all round tortoise care video on youtube. You give so much accurate information. An absolute must see for any newbies or people who need to improve their husbandary. Well done!!!!! you should totally make it a video response to any other video you see with a poorly kept torty. P.S. your tortoise seems as full of beans as mine. Cute!! x
I do lots of research in my free time on all of my animals :) I think it is important because I have taken on the responsibility of looking after them and I want to make sure I look after them to the best of my ability :)
Great video, very informative and you have a really straight to the point way of explaining things. Some of the pet channels on here confuse the hell out of me and often get off topic. Subscribed! Looking forward to your other videos.
Thank you so much for the lovely comment :) I'm so glad you like it, I make sure to put a lot of reading and information into my care videos. Sheldon is definitely a feisty little man :) I have just found your diet video and I love how your tort came to you when you called him XD His outdoor enclosure is fab too, I am part way through building one for Sheldon :) x
they have been shown to cause/contribute to respiratory infection (a good reason to never use pine bark chips for substrate too). Side wall height depends on tortoise size and substrate. That's what I've found from research so I think all in all it just depends what the wood is treated and/or sealed with :)
Thankyou :) I have done ALOT of research and I am pretty confident that I have what it takes to look after a tort! I will defenetly check that out! Thanks! :)
Thank you :) I got mine from Pet's Corner for £60 I think. I haven't hibernated him yet because I brought him home at the beginning of last winter and when I got him he was on a poor diet. I didn't want to hibernate him while I was changing him onto a healthy diet because hibernation can be dangerous and I wanted to make absolutely sure he was the right size and weight...
I have watched your videos which have really helped me - thank you so much. I bought two Horsfield tortoises ten days ago from Basildon, and did no research prior to buying them, thinking I knew all there was to know as I had two when I was growing up who lived for 20 + years - in shoe boxes in the garage!!!! Unfortunately, I fell for the "You need the entire starter kit, vivarium, strip UVB lamp, red heat bulb etc..." So I am now stuck with a £139 Vivarium.... Since watching your video, I have purchased a lovely tortoise table and an outside run. We have named them Indie : Indiana Jones as he likes to explore, and the other is Timmy as he is very timid and spends 99% of the time with his head in the soil/sand mix. Timmy shows no interest in food, but Indie has a healthy appetite. Lollo Rosso, cucumber, radish, broccoli, dandelion leaves, daisies etc. I have a cuttle fish for their beaks which they seem to enjoy. I have placed flat slates under the heat lamp for them to bask in and also have a couple of tunnels, the same as Sheldon's. :) I keep the strip lamp on for approx. 12 hours per day. How long should I keep the basking lamp on for? The table is set up in my son's bedroom, so the temperature is a steady household temperature. I bathe them each morning in the bath and they are both having regular motions. I suppose I am just feeling a little out of my depth and just need some reassurance that I am doing the right thing. I think I might change the bulbs for 1 x D3 Arcadia - what do you suggest. I look forward to hearing from you. Kindest Hilary
people recommend 6 foot X 6 foot so space is definitely important. I have come across a few websites that will custom build tortoise tables but they are usually very expensive. It might be worth giving building one a go :) I bought my table from a shop called Pets Corner for £60 but I have also seen them on ebay and amazon. I have been really pleased with mine, it's super easy to clean but it will need an upgrade soon. Hope this helps x
Did you know that they no longer advice using play sand? Feeding of a slate tile helps keep beak trim. The largest log roll is very close to the side your tort could climb up and over the side.
Ill keep the Tortoise house in your video in mind.. I am trying to find an indoor enclosure for a tortoise, I am looking for something big and nice.. but seems to be hard to find tanks/enclosures for them.
We used to have three large tortoises living in the garden and when we would hang the clothes they would slowly come up to us and try eat our toes! We fed them ground beef though so perhaps we turned them into flesh-loving killers haha. Yours is so cute :)
Thank you, I am planning to once I get a new camera I'm saving up for. I put a lot of research into my tortoise ones so I want them to be great quality :) Are there any you want me to add to the list?
Very cute setup..I have a pair of red eared sliders. They don't like to be in the water except their mealtime... all other time they love roaming in the house only. Running behind each other, fighting, climbing on the stuff lying on ground. Even at night they literally beg of me to take them in my bed while sleeping.
Most Mediterranean species do well on a 50:50 mix as they come from dry, arid and often sandy environments in the wild. I'm trying to keep it as natural and safe as I can for him and this is also recommended by all the top tortoise organisations. There is more information on the Tortoise Trust website :)
I believe it is about 2 foot by 4 foot which is great for a baby tort but as they grow they would need a bigger table, I am going to have to upgrade Sheldon's as he gets older :)
I am getting a Herman's tortoise and I was wondering what lighting and heating you use for Sheldon? I am researching but cannot seem to find much. I want to make sure I have the best things my tortoise will need!
Hi Jen, he lives inside and I just brought his enclosure outside to clean it, it makes such a mess inside. He goes out to play in the garden and much on weeds on nice days and comes in at night, this way I know he is safe and can keep an eye on the temperatures in his enclosure. Providing he is the right weight and size for his age I am planning to hibernate him this winter so I will be making videos on that soon :)
Great video which will help lots of beginners. 1 thing I disagree with you on is using bark. Bark is great for them. It keeps the heat down. I understand if we are talking about baby's but 1+ is fine. Mine is nearly 2 and he's fantastic with bark. Never had an issue but it's everyone to the own I guess haha. Great video though 👍
Thank you for watching :) I made a substrate video explaining a bit more about why I don't recommend other beddings but it also depends on species and all the research I have done is aimed at med species, specifically Hermanns. I use a lot of information from the tortoise trust and they have a good article here about substrates: www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/substrates.html Feel free to send me any links so I can look into it further, I try to research all my videos well before uploading. I'd hate to think I was putting across poor information. x
Thank you for your reply. That website really helped me out a lot. I have a Hermann tortoise and recently he's been put on dirt. The bark was getting stuck between his legs and shell xx
I would personally avoid using anything that has been treated with any chemicals. I'm not sure in what way it would affect them but the soil gets heated up under the light and I don't know if it could give off fumes and sometimes tortoises accidentally eat some of the substrate and it can't be good for them if the happened to ingest some. I can't back any of this up with research because I've never come across any but better to be safe than sorry :)
Hmmm that's a good question, this is what I have read: The wood used should not be treated with arsenic or other hazardous chemicals - beware of outdoor ready treated lumber (some will use such woods but seal them first with epoxy) Use only finishes sealants that dry to be completely non-toxic. stay away from cedar - really any aromatic woods are dangerous to tortoises...
Ahhh more Sheldon! Heehee. I love his habitat, very cool! I also liked when you were cleaning it out and in the far corner you could see Sheldon sneaking up and destroying those weeds haha.
I went to a reptile specialist and he told me to get a vivarium, the tortoise im getting is a Horsefield, and because reltiles dont understand the concept of glass im going to put some black tape along the bottem of the glass so not to course snout damage, plus im spending around £400 for the reltile specialist to set the vivarium up properly plus me and mum will be building a safe outside enclosure for sunlight, also even though my tortoise is smaller than the size of my hand I'm buying a 4ft vivarium, so I think as long as you take the proper precausions Vivariums are fine, also a vivarium would be better because it will fit in my room properly. xx
+lauurennx It is a beak, not a snout. You are not getting a dog. Be aware of that fact. They can sometimes be way harder to have (dog's go out on their own, eat on their own), but Turtles and Tortoises rely on us to give them a bath soak every day so they can go to the bathroom, they rely on us to feed them the proper nutrition (and believe me, it is not cheap), and they rely on us to keep them healthy, strong, and to also have outdoor enclosures. I hope you pick a pet that is right for you :) PS, They live for over 50 years (if taken care of).
im new to tortoises and was wondering if I could keep a 2year old hermanns outside permanently and if so, what would I have to do to make it a suitable living area.
Check out this care sheet, it has a section on housing torts outside: www.tortoisetrust.org/Downloads/Taking_care_of_pet_tortoises_web.pdf I'm also hoping to make a video about it soon :)
have a Mediterranean baby rescued, as we live in Bulgaria, very tropical in the summer, but extreme cold in winter, only about 2 or 3 months old I think, weighs in a at very hefty 13 grams, problem we have NO reptile centre to take him/her to, and we know little or nothing about it all, little bit like foods they like and bathing daily for 10 mins or so, we keep in a a baby plant incubator no light just a paper towel floor we put down for him and a little water basin at one end, we have had it for about 6 to 8 weeks now and he is still going quite strong, active. Big problem is he/she has like a white milky film over his eyes areas and his nose like a membrane or skin, I use colloidal silver drops daily to drip over the eyes Incas there is any infections, also kill all known bad Bactria, also a little goes in his bath to. ( we do note he seems to use his front legs to try and scratch off this membrane and skin quite often) We are not touching it as he so small, and that area would be very delicate, so do not interfere with nature as it were). So I am wandering if he is completely bind or something else. Quite concerned about that. Can't let him go as he would probably not survive in the wild being blind. Any advise or help would be good from anyone who knows. Also If we were to keep him long term, I need info on how to settle him down for the winter, we don't have a fancy mini fridges to do this, what could I use to keep in a cold part of the house say, so he was tucked up for the winter when it comes. Maybe a cardboard box filled with something, I don't know, again any advise or help. Thanks.
Hi, I know large enclosures can be really expensive to buy but you can always make your own, I have a handy friend who built me this one: th-cam.com/video/oRPDLC2B4Lk/w-d-xo.html but it doesn't need to be as complicated if like me, you are a bit pants at DIY. Some people use an old bookcase, turn it on its back and take out the shelves. You can adapt all kinds of furniture, there are loads of ideas on Google and tortoise forums for inspiration :)
I sprinkle calcium and vit D3 supplements on the food I give him, he can also chew on a cuttle fish if he wants which provides him calcium and keeps his beak down :)
I'm getting a baby Horsefeild tortoise in 2 weeks, I was wondering if you had any recommendations on what bedding to use? I know what I can and cannot use but is their any other beddings except sand and soil you find very good?
It's not all expensive, it was where I bought it from this time, it can be found cheaply and top soil and play sand is the best for Mediterranean torts :)
Hi, I got the top soil from The Range but it was really expensive, you can get bags of top soil from most garden centres and also from Wilkinsons :) I get the play sand online. I got his water dish from a shop called Pets Corner, but any pet shops with a reptile section should sell water dishes :) Thank you so much, I think I am getting better too, I watched my first video the other day and I sounded so nervous and the camera was shaky and pants :D
I have a Greek tortoise that my mum got when she was young, he's 46 years old and lives permanently in our garden when he isn't hibernating and has a 'house' he goes in when it gets too cold, to sleep. He's able to free roam our lawn and eats any vegetables we plant for him like lettuce, so I wouldn't say an enclosure is necessary but if you cant 'tortoise proof' your garden then obviously don't let them out to free roam. He used to climb up ivy on one of our flower beds and escaped under our back gate a few times but hes micro-chipped now and can't get out! ~Jack
It depends on the climate and species as to whether they can live indoors or out. Where I live is too rainy to have my tortoise live outside all the time. The ground is always damp and I would be worried she would get shell rot or respiratory issues. She lives mostly indoors and goes out in the garden on nice days. I have an outside enclosure too as predators can be an issue and I want to make sure she is safe. Then I can also make sure she only has access to tortoise safe plants and can't end up in trouble. The tortoise trust does recommend having an enclosure to ensure safety but as long as your garden is tortoise proof and there is nothing that can hurt him, great :)
Thanks for looking at my videos. I am just in the process of upgrading his outdor enclosure and adding a large heated hut to the side of it so he can spend even more time out there. I will make a video of it sometime in the next couple of months hopefully. Good luck with your new enclosure and all the best to Sheldon x
How to make a perfect habitat for a red eared slider turtle? Please help. Do they need to bask under uvb lights too? I've got a basking platform where it sits and dries up under the fan and sometimes under sunlight. Is drying out under the fan bad?
I don't have any experience with keeping red eared slider turtles so I am not the best person to give you advice on their care. They will need both heat and UVB lights though, without uv they can develop metabolic bone disease which is a horrible condition. You can look at websites online, there are turtle forums too so you can take a look at other peoples set ups and ask other keepers questions.
Russian's loooove to burrow, it doesn't seem like they have that luxury here, and it's a bit small for grazing animals (which Russians are) but otherwise beautiful, and certainly much better than many of the other enclosures I see on the internet. Thumbs up.
He isn't a Russian, I know some Hermanns also like to burrow so I used to make his substrate really deep but he really doesn't care for it so eventually I made it shallower, I still think it's deep enough that he could if he wanted to though. I know it is on the small side and will be upgraded in the future but he also spends time outside grazing and inside playing so I don't think it's a huge issue while he is still so tiny :) Of course he has both heat and UV-B bulbs, one is just much easier to un attach so I didn't have to carry that one outside too just for the sake of cleaning him out.
Hey! I have been thinking of cleaning my tortoise enclosure myself. (I've been taking my enclosure to the reptile shop I bought my tortoise from to clean it because they can clean it for you.) But the downside is that it costs a lot of money for something I can do myself now that I have watched this video. 👍 My one question is what do you use to sanitize or spray the enclosure with before you put the new substrate in? Thanks!!
Hi. We have just acquired a tortoise, amd are very new to them. We put her out in the garden this morning to bask in the sun. While out there i noticed she kept opening and closing her month, like a big yawn. Is this normal practise for them?
Love the video!! I just adopted a greek tortoise and your explanation really helps me understand their nature. Thanks Becky!
I like seeing the tort chilling in the grassed in fence area hehe
Thank you so much! That is why I have done more videos of Sheldon recently. I searched tortoise videos on TH-cam and there isn't very many, also some of the videos were advising dangerous things for tortoises so I thought I would make my own :) Even if it helps a couple of people, there are a couple happier torts in the world :D
Thank you so much 🥰💗 god bless
Thank you thesmallpetshop for all the advice and useful tips! I am getting my Horsefields tortoise today and am very excited:) Thank you for being my tortoise helpline!!
You're very welcome, good luck with the new addition to the family :)
It's funny because that also really put it in to perspective just how itty bitty he is! And that's how I feel about the bunnies! Hubby says it's time to cut the grass and I'm like, no wait let me put the bunnies out for a bit haha.
I couldn't help but stare at the little tortoise walking around on the left side at 2:32
I love your videos and find them so helpful. I am getting a Hermanns tortoise in a few weeks hopefully and your videos have helped me so much with getting ready☺
Very good - it's nice to see someone who is well researched and passing that knowledge on. I love people who are kind to their pets by providing the most natural and healthy environment possible. Pets are not toys and yours looks really cute and properly looked after = a happy tortoise :). Great video.
Thank you so much, this comment means so much to me! I try really hard to provide the best for all my animals and it's so lovely to hear nice feedback
Love the tortoise eating in background as you filled the top soil. I have a Russian and a Leopard Tortoise and I love them.
I think this has to be the best all round tortoise care video on youtube. You give so much accurate information. An absolute must see for any newbies or people who need to improve their husbandary. Well done!!!!! you should totally make it a video response to any other video you see with a poorly kept torty. P.S. your tortoise seems as full of beans as mine. Cute!! x
What a lucky and happy guy : D
I do lots of research in my free time on all of my animals :) I think it is important because I have taken on the responsibility of looking after them and I want to make sure I look after them to the best of my ability :)
Great video, very informative and you have a really straight to the point way of explaining things. Some of the pet channels on here confuse the hell out of me and often get off topic. Subscribed! Looking forward to your other videos.
Thank you so much, I'm so glad you found it useful :)
Thank you so much for the lovely comment :) I'm so glad you like it, I make sure to put a lot of reading and information into my care videos. Sheldon is definitely a feisty little man :) I have just found your diet video and I love how your tort came to you when you called him XD His outdoor enclosure is fab too, I am part way through building one for Sheldon :) x
I love the beware of tortoise sign . I'll see if they sell them on Amazon. My herman tortoise burrows in her cave by her heat mat 👍🤣
He was having a lovely time munching all the clover :)
I like this home idea
Thank you so much I’ve been thinking of getting a tortoise!
they have been shown to cause/contribute to respiratory infection (a good reason to never use pine bark chips for substrate too).
Side wall height depends on tortoise size and substrate.
That's what I've found from research so I think all in all it just depends what the wood is treated and/or sealed with :)
Nice areangment...
Impressed from your love for aminals...
I have also pet a turtle and like to do lot and more for him...
Thankyou :) I have done ALOT of research and I am pretty confident that I have what it takes to look after a tort! I will defenetly check that out! Thanks! :)
He is tiny, I forget how small he is because his personality is huge XD Hahaha we haven't got a lawn mower yet so I am relying on the pets for now :D
I have a Hermann tortoise called Sheldon too! He's only just over 1 year :-) looks like mine has a similar set up to yours x
Thank you :) I got mine from Pet's Corner for £60 I think. I haven't hibernated him yet because I brought him home at the beginning of last winter and when I got him he was on a poor diet. I didn't want to hibernate him while I was changing him onto a healthy diet because hibernation can be dangerous and I wanted to make absolutely sure he was the right size and weight...
I love your animals so much
I have watched your videos which have really helped me - thank you so much. I bought two Horsfield tortoises ten days ago from Basildon, and did no research prior to buying them, thinking I knew all there was to know as I had two when I was growing up who lived for 20 + years - in shoe boxes in the garage!!!!
Unfortunately, I fell for the "You need the entire starter kit, vivarium, strip UVB lamp, red heat bulb etc..." So I am now stuck with a £139 Vivarium.... Since watching your video, I have purchased a lovely tortoise table and an outside run. We have named them Indie : Indiana Jones as he likes to explore, and the other is Timmy as he is very timid and spends 99% of the time with his head in the soil/sand mix. Timmy shows no interest in food, but Indie has a healthy appetite. Lollo Rosso, cucumber, radish, broccoli, dandelion leaves, daisies etc. I have a cuttle fish for their beaks which they seem to enjoy. I have placed flat slates under the heat lamp for them to bask in and also have a couple of tunnels, the same as Sheldon's. :)
I keep the strip lamp on for approx. 12 hours per day. How long should I keep the basking lamp on for? The table is set up in my son's bedroom, so the temperature is a steady household temperature.
I bathe them each morning in the bath and they are both having regular motions.
I suppose I am just feeling a little out of my depth and just need some reassurance that I am doing the right thing. I think I might change the bulbs for 1 x D3 Arcadia - what do you suggest.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kindest
Hilary
Very nice. Useful information
I think he is :) He's going outside most days, I can't get over how much he eats :D
people recommend 6 foot X 6 foot so space is definitely important. I have come across a few websites that will custom build tortoise tables but they are usually very expensive. It might be worth giving building one a go :) I bought my table from a shop called Pets Corner for £60 but I have also seen them on ebay and amazon. I have been really pleased with mine, it's super easy to clean but it will need an upgrade soon. Hope this helps x
Did you know that they no longer advice using play sand?
Feeding of a slate tile helps keep beak trim. The largest log roll is very close to the side your tort could climb up and over the side.
Thank you so much and VERY informative video.Getting one for my daughter, You have offered sound advice.
You're very welcome :) I'm so glad you found it useful x
Ill keep the Tortoise house in your video in mind.. I am trying to find an indoor enclosure for a tortoise, I am looking for something big and nice.. but seems to be hard to find tanks/enclosures for them.
Wonderful home👌
We used to have three large tortoises living in the garden and when we would hang the clothes they would slowly come up to us and try eat our toes! We fed them ground beef though so perhaps we turned them into flesh-loving killers haha. Yours is so cute :)
i absolutely love your tortoise videos .please make more
Thank you, I am planning to once I get a new camera I'm saving up for. I put a lot of research into my tortoise ones so I want them to be great quality :)
Are there any you want me to add to the list?
Great setup! :D he is such a cutie pie and he is very lucky!!
Wow, you made it so good 👍
I think that this video was really useful
Very cute setup..I have a pair of red eared sliders. They don't like to be in the water except their mealtime... all other time they love roaming in the house only. Running behind each other, fighting, climbing on the stuff lying on ground. Even at night they literally beg of me to take them in my bed while sleeping.
Most Mediterranean species do well on a 50:50 mix as they come from dry, arid and often sandy environments in the wild. I'm trying to keep it as natural and safe as I can for him and this is also recommended by all the top tortoise organisations. There is more information on the Tortoise Trust website :)
TheSmallPetShop would you say loose coconut fiber is healthy for a Russian tortoise
I've decided to do my tortoise table the same as yours so thanks for the ideas
You're welcome :)
I believe it is about 2 foot by 4 foot which is great for a baby tort but as they grow they would need a bigger table, I am going to have to upgrade Sheldon's as he gets older :)
I am getting a Herman's tortoise and I was wondering what lighting and heating you use for Sheldon? I am researching but cannot seem to find much. I want to make sure I have the best things my tortoise will need!
Sooo cute seeing Shelldon sped up :D
Thank you so much +Zoo Keeper, he is such a cutie and he knows it XD
Do Greek tortoises count?
Yes, they are one of the Mediterranean species :)
Thanks
No problem :)
We're did you get your tortoise table??
Amazing looking
i love how u see sheldon coming in his pen its zoo cute :)
Hi Jen, he lives inside and I just brought his enclosure outside to clean it, it makes such a mess inside. He goes out to play in the garden and much on weeds on nice days and comes in at night, this way I know he is safe and can keep an eye on the temperatures in his enclosure. Providing he is the right weight and size for his age I am planning to hibernate him this winter so I will be making videos on that soon :)
Great video which will help lots of beginners. 1 thing I disagree with you on is using bark. Bark is great for them. It keeps the heat down. I understand if we are talking about baby's but 1+ is fine. Mine is nearly 2 and he's fantastic with bark. Never had an issue but it's everyone to the own I guess haha. Great video though 👍
Thank you for watching :) I made a substrate video explaining a bit more about why I don't recommend other beddings but it also depends on species and all the research I have done is aimed at med species, specifically Hermanns. I use a lot of information from the tortoise trust and they have a good article here about substrates: www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/substrates.html
Feel free to send me any links so I can look into it further, I try to research all my videos well before uploading. I'd hate to think I was putting across poor information. x
Thank you for your reply. That website really helped me out a lot. I have a Hermann tortoise and recently he's been put on dirt. The bark was getting stuck between his legs and shell xx
Hello. Where did you get your tortoise table. I have two horsefields and from seeing your video their home might not be as big as I thought it was 😳
I would personally avoid using anything that has been treated with any chemicals. I'm not sure in what way it would affect them but the soil gets heated up under the light and I don't know if it could give off fumes and sometimes tortoises accidentally eat some of the substrate and it can't be good for them if the happened to ingest some. I can't back any of this up with research because I've never come across any but better to be safe than sorry :)
Hmmm that's a good question, this is what I have read: The wood used should not be treated with arsenic or other hazardous chemicals - beware of outdoor ready treated lumber (some will use such woods but seal them first with epoxy) Use only finishes sealants that dry to be completely non-toxic.
stay away from cedar - really any aromatic woods are dangerous to tortoises...
I am from Greece 😊😊😊
I just talked my dad into getting me one for my birthday next month! We have to make the table though, as they are too expensive XD
BEAUTIFUL VIDEO LIKE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR
your tortoise is soooooo cute
How do you know all this stuff? Free-time research or school or how, haha?
Ahhh more Sheldon! Heehee. I love his habitat, very cool! I also liked when you were cleaning it out and in the far corner you could see Sheldon sneaking up and destroying those weeds haha.
I went to a reptile specialist and he told me to get a vivarium, the tortoise im getting is a Horsefield, and because reltiles dont understand the concept of glass im going to put some black tape along the bottem of the glass so not to course snout damage, plus im spending around £400 for the reltile specialist to set the vivarium up properly plus me and mum will be building a safe outside enclosure for sunlight, also even though my tortoise is smaller than the size of my hand I'm buying a 4ft vivarium, so I think as long as you take the proper precausions Vivariums are fine, also a vivarium would be better because it will fit in my room properly. xx
£400 to setup the vivarium for you??? Jesus, that's daylight robbery!
+lauurennx It is a beak, not a snout. You are not getting a dog. Be aware of that fact. They can sometimes be way harder to have (dog's go out on their own, eat on their own), but Turtles and Tortoises rely on us to give them a bath soak every day so they can go to the bathroom, they rely on us to feed them the proper nutrition (and believe me, it is not cheap), and they rely on us to keep them healthy, strong, and to also have outdoor enclosures. I hope you pick a pet that is right for you :) PS, They live for over 50 years (if taken care of).
***** agreed
im new to tortoises and was wondering if I could keep a 2year old hermanns outside permanently and if so, what would I have to do to make it a suitable living area.
Check out this care sheet, it has a section on housing torts outside: www.tortoisetrust.org/Downloads/Taking_care_of_pet_tortoises_web.pdf I'm also hoping to make a video about it soon :)
have a Mediterranean baby rescued, as we live in Bulgaria, very tropical in the summer, but extreme cold in winter, only about 2 or 3 months old I think, weighs in a at very hefty 13 grams, problem we have NO reptile centre to take him/her to, and we know little or nothing about it all, little bit like foods they like and bathing daily for 10 mins or so, we keep in a a baby plant incubator no light just a paper towel floor we put down for him and a little water basin at one end, we have had it for about 6 to 8 weeks now and he is still going quite strong, active. Big problem is he/she has like a white milky film over his eyes areas and his nose like a membrane or skin, I use colloidal silver drops daily to drip over the eyes Incas there is any infections, also kill all known bad Bactria, also a little goes in his bath to. ( we do note he seems to use his front legs to try and scratch off this membrane and skin quite often) We are not touching it as he so small, and that area would be very delicate, so do not interfere with nature as it were). So I am wandering if he is completely bind or something else. Quite concerned about that. Can't let him go as he would probably not survive in the wild being blind. Any advise or help would be good from anyone who knows. Also If we were to keep him long term, I need info on how to settle him down for the winter, we don't have a fancy mini fridges to do this, what could I use to keep in a cold part of the house say, so he was tucked up for the winter when it comes. Maybe a cardboard box filled with something, I don't know, again any advise or help. Thanks.
Thank you, he loves weeds! He is in his element outside, who needs a lawn mower when you have a tiny tortoise? haha XD
TheSmallPetShop jjjshsbaja
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My tortoise has gotten huge since I got him. He still has the same enclosure as when he got it because they are soooo expensive! Any recommendations?
Hi, I know large enclosures can be really expensive to buy but you can always make your own, I have a handy friend who built me this one: th-cam.com/video/oRPDLC2B4Lk/w-d-xo.html but it doesn't need to be as complicated if like me, you are a bit pants at DIY. Some people use an old bookcase, turn it on its back and take out the shelves. You can adapt all kinds of furniture, there are loads of ideas on Google and tortoise forums for inspiration :)
I sprinkle calcium and vit D3 supplements on the food I give him, he can also chew on a cuttle fish if he wants which provides him calcium and keeps his beak down :)
Could you do a video on different tortoise breeds?
I'm getting a baby Horsefeild tortoise in 2 weeks, I was wondering if you had any recommendations on what bedding to use? I know what I can and cannot use but is their any other beddings except sand and soil you find very good?
I use a 50/50 mix of top soil (loam) and children's play sand as advised by the tortoise trust :)
It's not all expensive, it was where I bought it from this time, it can be found cheaply and top soil and play sand is the best for Mediterranean torts :)
looks like the tortoise in the pen just snorted a bag full of coke
Hi, I got the top soil from The Range but it was really expensive, you can get bags of top soil from most garden centres and also from Wilkinsons :) I get the play sand online.
I got his water dish from a shop called Pets Corner, but any pet shops with a reptile section should sell water dishes :)
Thank you so much, I think I am getting better too, I watched my first video the other day and I sounded so nervous and the camera was shaky and pants :D
Some more video regarding the baby tortise food
Hi, I have a few videos on tortoise diets. My most recent one is here: th-cam.com/video/ANwwPyYdSL4/w-d-xo.html
Thank you so much :) Being me involves a lot of cleaning and poop scooping hahaha XD
2:37 the background
What??
I believe so, Greek tortoises are one of five species of Mediterranean tortoise. You might want to check on the tortoise trust website though :)
Thank you :)
this video is very informative and Sheldon is adorable. I love how you take care of your animals :D what are the two names of substrates you use?
Thank you so much :) I use top soil and children's play sand :)
cute set up :D
I have a Greek tortoise that my mum got when she was young, he's 46 years old and lives permanently in our garden when he isn't hibernating and has a 'house' he goes in when it gets too cold, to sleep. He's able to free roam our lawn and eats any vegetables we plant for him like lettuce, so I wouldn't say an enclosure is necessary but if you cant 'tortoise proof' your garden then obviously don't let them out to free roam. He used to climb up ivy on one of our flower beds and escaped under our back gate a few times but hes micro-chipped now and can't get out!
~Jack
It depends on the climate and species as to whether they can live indoors or out. Where I live is too rainy to have my tortoise live outside all the time. The ground is always damp and I would be worried she would get shell rot or respiratory issues. She lives mostly indoors and goes out in the garden on nice days. I have an outside enclosure too as predators can be an issue and I want to make sure she is safe. Then I can also make sure she only has access to tortoise safe plants and can't end up in trouble. The tortoise trust does recommend having an enclosure to ensure safety but as long as your garden is tortoise proof and there is nothing that can hurt him, great :)
Thankx for your video we get a big help from you😁😁😁😁
Yay! So glad you find them useful, thank you for watching :) I have just uploaded a video on making her an outdoor enclosure too x
This video was helpful btw 😊 I subscribed!
Thanks for looking at my videos. I am just in the process of upgrading his outdor enclosure and adding a large heated hut to the side of it so he can spend even more time out there. I will make a video of it sometime in the next couple of months hopefully. Good luck with your new enclosure and all the best to Sheldon x
Thanks Beck
Ok! xx Thank you! I Love watching your videos so much! xx =D Very helpful video! xx
How often do you change the terrarium? Also, did you build the terrarium? And what was that thing that you poured into the terrarium after the soil?
Nice Video. Thanks
I wish to be you, I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS!!!!
How to make a perfect habitat for a red eared slider turtle? Please help.
Do they need to bask under uvb lights too? I've got a basking platform where it sits and dries up under the fan and sometimes under sunlight. Is drying out under the fan bad?
I don't have any experience with keeping red eared slider turtles so I am not the best person to give you advice on their care. They will need both heat and UVB lights though, without uv they can develop metabolic bone disease which is a horrible condition. You can look at websites online, there are turtle forums too so you can take a look at other peoples set ups and ask other keepers questions.
TheSmallPetShop thank you so much. And yes, your tortoise is super cute and so are you! ;)
Hi, yes their natural diet is edible flowers, weeds and grasses, just check whatever you feed your tort is edible :) Timothy grass is a hit with mine.
Russian's loooove to burrow, it doesn't seem like they have that luxury here, and it's a bit small for grazing animals (which Russians are) but otherwise beautiful, and certainly much better than many of the other enclosures I see on the internet. Thumbs up.
Also I only saw one lamp, so I'm hoping you have both a heat lamp and a UVB lamp!
He isn't a Russian, I know some Hermanns also like to burrow so I used to make his substrate really deep but he really doesn't care for it so eventually I made it shallower, I still think it's deep enough that he could if he wanted to though. I know it is on the small side and will be upgraded in the future but he also spends time outside grazing and inside playing so I don't think it's a huge issue while he is still so tiny :) Of course he has both heat and UV-B bulbs, one is just much easier to un attach so I didn't have to carry that one outside too just for the sake of cleaning him out.
Hi, I got his table from a shop called Pet's Corner for £60 I think. You can find them on-line at ebay or amazon, just search 'tortoise table' :)
I got his table from a shop called Pet's Corner for £60 I think. You can find them on-line at ebay or amazon, just search 'tortoise table' :)
Do you know if treated wood is safe to use when building a tortoise table, your advice is really helpful:) thanks
Hey! I was wondering if you could do some more videos on your tortoise. I'm looking into getting one.
It gave me me great info
I'm so glad :)
Hey! I have been thinking of cleaning my tortoise enclosure myself. (I've been taking my enclosure to the reptile shop I bought my tortoise from to clean it because they can clean it for you.) But the downside is that it costs a lot of money for something I can do myself now that I have watched this video. 👍 My one question is what do you use to sanitize or spray the enclosure with before you put the new substrate in? Thanks!!
Hi. We have just acquired a tortoise, amd are very new to them. We put her out in the garden this morning to bask in the sun. While out there i noticed she kept opening and closing her month, like a big yawn. Is this normal practise for them?
Awesome, thought I would just check XD a lot of people think they are a cheap easy pet.
thanks dood
Woooooow! That would be a ridiculous amount of cleaning, how did you keep up? I struggle with 10 :D
Thank you I know what to do with my tortoise now 😊 thanks
Princess 99 4 Great :) You're welcome!