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Original poster

anyone got a tortoise as a pet?

36 replies

cece · 29/01/2006 21:06

I am thinking of getting a pet tortoise.

Has anyone got any advice or experience to share?

Such as which species to get? I fancy one that can go in the garden during the summer..

Thanks

OP posts:

Pixel · 29/01/2006 21:15

I haven't got one but I've always wanted one. My friend has two that she has had since she was a child and they live in the garden but I don't suppose she knows what species they are. In the winter they hibernate in the summer-house inside a box of earth. Even though they are asleep they dig themselves in deeper if it is cold, and if it gets warmer she finds them on the surface. Clever eh? I sometimes look after them if she is on holiday and they will actually come running if they think they are going to get tinned peaches! Very cute.

thewomanwhothoughtshewasahat · 29/01/2006 21:33

the ones people always used to have as pets are endangered now and it's illegal to trade in them. but I believe there are some species that are still ok. I think they're expensive though

starlover · 29/01/2006 21:34

you can only get ones that are bred in the uk now and as such they're v.expensive (prob around £150)

they're very lovely! i used to have one... most of them can go in the garden in summer unless they're very small baby ones. just make sure you tortoise-proof it... they CAN climb and they can escape through holes

spursmum · 29/01/2006 21:36

My nan used to have one in her back garden. It was an adventure to go and find it in her jungle of a garden!

ShaysMummy · 29/01/2006 21:37

i want one!! dh says no. one came up wanting a new home in trade it, he still said no!! my mate was left one in a will- i thought that was the only way you could get one. they live to like 100 years dont they? or more?!

lolliepops · 29/01/2006 21:37

i have one dd loves it so easy to look after

starlover · 29/01/2006 21:40

some good info here

NASWM · 29/01/2006 21:41

If anyone knows where to get one in London please let me know. My mum has wanted one since ours was stolen from our garden in 1980! (Obviously not this time of year though as they'll all be 'asleep'!).

NASWM · 29/01/2006 21:42

Great link starlover thanks.

bramblina · 29/01/2006 22:03

I have one!!! He's called Thomas and is just fab. My husband (what a darling) got him from the tortoise shop (.com) in Hull, for my birthday 2004. I was 8 wks pregnant and already v. hormonal so cried and cried, what a fab pet (had wanted one for ages)..
Thomas is a Horsfeld, the other variety they sell is a Hermann, can't remember why dh bought Horsfeld but there was a good reason. Les and Janine at the t. shop are wonderful and have been great help as there is a lot to know.
He cost about £180, then we also got an indoor pen, outdoor pen, heat lamp, nutients for his food, and hemp for his bed and all in it was about £300. He's expected to live to 100 though so money well spent! Let me know if you want any more details. I say go for it.

magnolia1 · 29/01/2006 22:07

My sister has a baby tortoise from a lovely breeder near Horsham. She is fab and so little
At the moment she is kept indoors and will be over wintered for this winter and maybe next winter.
CAT me if you would like the breeders details or send your email and i will pass it on.

bobbybobbobbingalong · 29/01/2006 22:27

We had 2 when I was a child. They were very cheap and only lived a couple of years. I dread to think the conditions they were imported in. We used to take them on holiday in a box and let them run around the campsite. Make no mistake - they are not slow.

Original poster

cece · 29/01/2006 23:03

wow

so many replies. thanks.

I have always wanted one and years ago our neighbour had two...

great link - given me a lot to think about. we are due to move soon so will definitely look into for after the house move

OP posts:

Oliviab · 30/01/2006 21:07

Might want to get a guinea pig first to try out as they only live to about 4 or 5

CaptainDippy · 30/01/2006 21:22

We've got a Herman Tortoise called Sammy - she is lovely and a great pet - she just basically wanders round the garden all year round (we loose her for a couple of months over winter, but then she reappears as soon as the 1st buds of spring appear.) My DD1 loves her and she is a fab pet - Field any questions you like at me cece!!

SPARKLER1 · 30/01/2006 21:23

No tortoise - but I've got two fish. Does that count???

Original poster

cece · 30/01/2006 21:35

so captain, you don't take it in and carefully chill it for hibernation? Lot of websites make it all sound very technical. I am sure they didn't have heated tanks and so on when I was a child!

OP posts:

bramblina · 30/01/2006 21:41

Mine was in the fridge last year for his hibernation. He doesn't go outside much as we don't have a proper garden yet (new house) and they can dig under fences too so that worries me. The hibernation isn't technical, you just have to starve them for 3 wks to empty the stomache (food would rot) and bathe them lots in these 3 wks to stop them from dehydrating. I was very worried but he was fine. Heat lamp is quite sufficient for heat.

SPARKLER1 · 30/01/2006 21:44

you obviously didn't see my name the fish thread. Had to be there I guess.

CaptainDippy · 30/01/2006 22:02

That's right cece - she just does her own thing out there. I know some people do the whole bringing them in etc thing, which is great, but Sammy just does her own thing - always has done and we've got a BIG garden which is not very secure and she has never escaped yet (she's been in the family for 50 years!!!!)

Original poster

cece · 30/01/2006 22:35

Ahh bless. 50 years is impressive you must be doing something right!

OP posts:

CaptainDippy · 31/01/2006 09:50

Indeed, or she's just a "well 'ard" tortoise!! Not sure what she is going to think about my present "dilemma" though cece - maybe I'll go out there with some lettuce and go and discuss it with her - She is a very good listener (annother bonus to owning a tortoise!!)

Weatherwax · 31/01/2006 10:54

When we moved our torty to my garden from my mums I built a deep compost heap which she seemed very appreciative of! I keep thinking of a fridge but as she has always buried herself under a tree with lots of leaves we thought it might be a bit cruel to the old lady (she is 65+). I must admit to being a bit worried about her because we had such a warm autumn she didn't go to sleep although she had been starving herself for ages. I ended up picking her up and placing her on the compost heap this year.

Captain .Do you spend your life buying curly kale and trying to get wild plants to grow in your garden?

maddiemostmerry · 31/01/2006 16:23

The Petts Wood Pet shop in Petts Wood, Bromley, kent is good. We got our Hermanns tortoise from there because we found the staff were very knowledgeable.

Beware of buying a very young tortoise its chances of survivial will be low, best to pay more and buy and older one.

Original poster

cece · 31/01/2006 18:01

maddiemostmerry

yes I htought I would get an older one and am leaning towrdsa Herman.

Captain - sure he would listen well , we are all waiting to find out your news on the other thread!

OP posts:

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