Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for your help with this Tortoise?

34 replies

Tortoisehelp · 01/12/2024 13:24

Very strange situation, can’t go into too much detail about how we’ve ended up here but my friend has come into ownership of a tortoise, I believe a Herman’s tortoise? She got it home yesterday and it is apparently currently in a shoe box in her bedroom. I am going out after work to pick up some supplies for it however I don’t think she will have it in her care for very long the way things are going. Please can someone let me know what I’m going to have to buy for it, and cheaper alternatives if possible to a whole tank? I can’t take it into my care as I’m away often so I’d like to set it up in suitable housing at her house for now.

OP posts:
Snowontheroof · 01/12/2024 14:11

Yes, they do have different needs, but I've had both Hermanns and spur thighed and both sorts happily hibernated.
A local lady used to care for tortoises that had been confiscated at ports and airports - she had over 200. Her whole garden was divided up into enclosures and the non-hibernators lived in her conservatory in the winter. The conservatory had several Leopard tortoises wandering around it when we visited - they were HUGE (they can reach a couple of feet long). She spent a fortune on fruit and veg every week!

Curlygirl06 · 01/12/2024 14:03

Tortoise trust on Facebook, friendly tortoise owners group, Herman's tortoise owners, all are on Facebook.

At a minimum, heat lamp and UVB lamp overhead on for 12 hours a day, heat mat underneath 12 hours at night, that's what mine has but she's a different type of tortoise, they all have different needs.
Suitable substrate that they can dig in, water available all the time, bath them regularly if you can. Don't put them in a glass enclosure, if they can see out they get stressed trying to get out.

Hope that helps

Snowontheroof · 01/12/2024 13:55

It should be encouraged to go into hibernation at this time of the year - then it will be dormant until Febuary at the earliest. Maybe advice is different now but I'd put it in a big cardboard box (about the size bottles of wine come in) surrounded by straw in a very cool place like a shed or unheated garage. Somewhere where it won't be attacked by rats etc. or fall below zero degrees.

That will put off the problem until next year!

Original poster
Tortoisehelp · 01/12/2024 13:41

Part of the issue is that we can’t take it to the vet. Very complicated situation. She is likely to get into legal trouble for this so I am just trying to keep it comfortable until something gets done.

OP posts:
Sloelydoesit · 01/12/2024 13:35

Be wary of some online groups as the people on there can have polarising opinions!
I suggest getting advice from a good exotic vet. One that specialises as opposed to will see exotics if you have one. They will give advice on husbandry and also assess current health.

AloneLike · 01/12/2024 13:33

Tortoises are a very high maintenance pet. I tortoise-sat for my sister for a week and that was enough. They need heat lamps, large indoor and outdoor enclosures, and if you are hibernating them over winter, a separate fridge to put them in maintained at the correct temperature.

If your friend is on Facebook, I would recommend joining some Facebook tortoise groups.

Original poster
Tortoisehelp · 01/12/2024 13:30

Hoppinggreen · 01/12/2024 13:28

It needs a whole enclosure not a tank

That’s what I meant. I can’t buy a whole enclosure for it as I don’t have the funds in the first place, it’s not mine and I also don’t think she will have it for much longer. I am just trying to make its existence a little better while she has it because right now nothing is being done for it.

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 01/12/2024 13:28

It needs a whole enclosure not a tank

Swipe left for the next trending thread