What the heck do I do with a tortoise? PLEASE HELP

[UmSami]

My MIL very kindly bought my 2 year old a tortoise...I have no idea what to do with it...
She says all I need do is leave it in a box filled with sand and give it a lettuce leaf a day...no water, no anything, just a lettuce leaf?!
She has kept it alive like this for approx 8 weeks but there must be more to it that...
What about hibernation? I'm sure that they used to pack the blue peter tortoise away in a box filled with shreaded paper...we do live in a very warm climate but from mid nov temps will go down to 3 degrees for a couple of months...also my mil has said to place the tortoise below the ac...as temps can get to 50 degrees at their height, I don't want to cook him, but as he's cold blooded I don't want to freeze him either!
Any advice PLEASE! I can't stand the idea of him/her suffering cos of my ignorance!

I found these

www.tortoisesoutheast.co.uk/

www.slowcoach.org.uk/

i would think it would need more than a lettuce leaf
my friend has one that loves strawberries
i will ask her what else it eats

i thought that tortoises now needed special tanks and everything? my had one that used to live in cardboard box in her garden when she was a kid. she fed it lettuce leaves and water. it dissapeared one day and came back two years later. she knew it was hers as she had wrote her name on its back with permanent marker.

Tortoises need quite a bit of special care- I'd advise getting a proper book. They are cold blooded, so Def NOT below the ac! In fact, they usually need a heat lamp. Their dietary needs will not be met with just lettuce leaves- there are proprietary tortoise feeds, and any good pet shop should be able to fill you in further.

Tortoises also benefit from being bathed and having their shell cleaned. the rules on hibernation seem to vary, depending who you talk to, but at last mention I believe the general consensus was not to hibernate them until they are a certain weight (can't remember exact weight now), to ensure they have sufficient stores. The build up to hibernation and the coming out of it at the other side is quite important, so definitely get some expert advice. Your vet will be able to give you more info.

When I was a kid tortoises DID live in cardboard boxes and thrived on neglect, but that was when tortoises were imported into this country already adult and a bit more robust. Now importation is banned, so they are bred here, and need far more care to see them into adulthood.

they are great wee guys, though! My oldest patient was 84, so if you treat yours right he may well be around longer than you!

Thanks all for the great advice...not had chance to look at web pages in depth yet but will do so asap...ac is now off and we are finding a warmer spot for the little poppet, he really is a littley, his shell is no more than 8cm in length...(i've never seen one so small before)...I am at a bit of a dilemma as we are currenly located in the Gulf, joolyjoolyjoo...'my vet'...i'm sad to say that the mentality towards animals here is somewhat different to in the UK...vets tend to be located in 'pet stores' where it is considered acceptable to house cats in what amount to fish tanks, leave dogs with conjunctivitis type symptoms and starve them until their rib cages can be used as xylophones! And house monkeys in empty cages providing them only with a luggage cart as a climbing frame...I'm not sure I could trust any 'vet' who associates him/herself with such an establishment...
I'm wondering if the tortoise will be better off in a shady place outside...temps are currently about 30-35 degrees C during the day and 25-30 at night...is that too hot?
Please keep the advice coming...I will try to find a book and check out the sites...
thanks again all.

They DO need water thats a myth!
They do not need expensive vivariums, a plastic tub with sand, a hidey place etc will surfice as long as they have an ultraviolet lamps especially in the winter. Some will live quite happily outside if its warm but they are escape artists believe it or not!

I'm happy to report that the tortoise has perked up immensely...he loves his weekly baths, and is particularly cute when washing his face,he merily potters around the patio...and just seems to come to life when he knows he's heading outside...
Had a look at sites now but still struggling with his diet a bit...not found books here, so still looking for ideas...thanks.

If you don't mind my asking, where did she get it from? I would love one but they are very difficult to obtain now.