We Have got a Tortoise Today!!!!

[surreylady]

We have been talking about this for some months now and today popped to the local Garden centre to get bird seed and the reptile centre opposite had just got 3 Horsefields in stock - I have been on the telephone list and the by the time we arrived one was already reserved they seem really popular- just wanted to say we have her and she is lovely - seems very lively and friendly - she is 24 months - no name yet - have shortlisted to Lyra (I think that is how you spell it) Lola, Esmerelda, Hera and possibly Desdemona - but one to suggestions - they are 90% sure it is a lady!

I love tortoises - how lovely ! we had 2 when I was a girl, Harriet and Georgina...

Wow! I dind;t think you could get taortoise at all anymore!

I thought tortoises were a protected species now? I'm sure I saw somewhere that they can't be sold as pets (apart from elderly ones that pre-date the ban and need a new home)?

I didnt' think you could buy tortoises anymore either!

Please call her Speedy. Or Whizz. Or Dame Eleanor McCarthur. Or Christie (as in Linford) You get the idea.

I thought you couldn't keep them as pets too? They are cute

I love it when they eat - their tongues are so pink and lovely

Am SO jealous. Have got an IOU for a tortoise from my mum, who promised us one as a wedding present, but currently our garden is too small. Have to move. Have to move. Have to move.

Edam,

They are only allowed to be bought as pets if bred in captivity in this country. So no sneaking them back from Morocco in your handbag, even tough they sell them in the souk for about 20p, and when we were on honeymoon I nearly bought the lot!

lol at elderly pre-dated homeless tortoise

missblythe are you a teacher?

Oh, I see.

Wandering, they do live a bloody long time, loads of them have outlived their original owners. Wonder what happened to that Blue Peter tortoise - was it Freda?

I have a tortoise i have had since i was small (Fred)she lives with my mum and dad.Fred lost her virginity last year so we are waiting to see if her eggs will be fertile this year.

No! Why?

our one ran away, one ran away locally last year too, it was in the papers, he was called darren

ds's old teacher was called missblythe! just wondered

I hadn't thought that about tortoises, but I can see that could happen.

I was laughing at mner tortoise's I thought she was yearning for a new home.

It's Dame Ellen McArthur, isn't it?

my grandma had one when my dad was a boy and they oiled it's shell with gun oil ( it says in her diary)

No, i have wanted a tortoise since i was little. One day i will get my self one.
Although a new home would be good too!

Miss Blythe is indeed correct - because she is a Horsefield she does not need a licence but does have breeding history - this centre do more specialist tortoise (redfoots etc) and these do need licences. We did try to get a rescue tortoise as always go for rescue animals but couldn't find any as they are in short suplly since the laws changed - apparently she should live 100 years....