Tortoise

[CatsOutTheCudboard]

I've been asked by a family member if I would like to take on another family members tortoise, as elderly relative can no longer care for said tortoise.

Anyone on here have any experience with these are pets?

What do they eat? How much and how often? How are they caged/kept? Do they cause a lot of mess?

He's been in the family for 50+ years. Of course, I will ask current owner how to look after him, but I'm not convinced he's been eating correct diet etc (has been lovingly cared for but I want to make sure he gets the right care).

Also.. how do they cope with other pets? I have cats?

If I decide being a tortoise parent isn't for me, (OH really not keen on the idea, obviously could be committing for a very long time!) can anyone recommend a good tortoise rehoming charity? I wouldn't want him to end up in the wrong hands?. Thank you

Hello

You'll need an appropriate indoor enclosure at least 6x3ft for an old'un with uva/uvb/heating at least 12 hours a day. Bookcase on it's back is good bet with top soil in. A grilled cover as you have cats.

Fresh water everyday in a plant saucer big enough to sit in. Enough food to cover shell each day on a slate: weeds/plants/flowers - The Tortoise Table website or app will help with what is safe to feed

They need baths a couple times a week to help with hydration.

And an outside enclosure with top soil, safe plants growing for self feeding and shelter, a plant pot on it's side and also an old fish tank on it's side it can go in if too chilly. Then there's whether you bring it in at night or have an insulated heated/uvab lit hide for night or if you are keeping it outside permanently.

Then there's hibernation...

Please don't think I'm trying to put you off - I love our old guy but it's not just a case of shoving them in the garden and just get on with it. We want them to thrive and just not exist in our cold/cloudy foreign unnatural environment.

The best independent information on tortoise care is at the Tortoise Trust website www.tortoisetrust.org/ .
Beware of rehoming offers on the Internet, some are just out to make money from a "re-homing fee / donation" when they move a pet to a new owner. An adult tortoise is worth over £100.00 !

A very good re-homing place is the National Centre for reptile Welfare based in Hadlow College near Tonbridge in Kent. www.facebook.com/TheNCRW/

@oldsilver wow. Thank you so much. I had no idea it would be so complicated.
I feel so bad, he's never been under a UV light. He's basically had the run of my nans garden every summer. And hibernated every winter, in his box, in the loft. For the last 50 (maybe even 60) years.

@CoruciaLady thank you. I wouldn't rehome him online or through any add. I'd definitely get a charity involved as I'd hate for him to end up in the wrong hands.

I have two, and once the initial set up is done, they are really easy to keep.

Feed 6 days out of 7 (1 fast day), you can feed them specialist tortoise food, and or dandilion leaves (if which we have many on the back garden at the moment) and fresh water every day. We have a large viv for them which is in the front room and it’s lovely to see them walking around, climbing etc.

I give mine a bath and a scrub once a month, clean the wood clippings out, and they get a stroll around the garden when it’s nice.