Help (Where to buy indoor enclosure?)

[John Alford]

Hello, I’m looking to get a Mediterranean spur thighed tortoise and I was wondering if anyone could give me some tips and information as to which cage I should buy it

I know they aren’t kept in a cage but I do not know what to keep it in

 

[Gillian M]

Hi @John Alford and a very warm welcome to the forum!

Sorry I'm no tort expert and won't be able to help you. Apologies.

@Tom
@Yvonne G

please help here. Thank you both!

 

[John Alford]

Thank you

 

[JoesMum]

Ooh another from Paisley like @johnandjade

Welcome from me in Kent

It’s normal to get babies here in the UK. Mediterranean Sour thighs are better known as Greeks - Testudo graeca like my Joe.

I recommend you read the TFO care guides as they explain everything.

They're written by species experts working hard to correct the outdated information widely available on the internet and from pet stores and, sadly, from some breeders and vets too.

Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Baby Testudo Care - written about Russians but applies to Greeks
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/

 

[John Alford]

Ok thank you

 

[John Alford]

Very helpful! But could anyone please send me a link to a suitable cage for a Greek tortoise

 

[johnandjade]

awright mukka!!! im john from paisley as well!! i am no expert but i am more than happy to meet you for a beer and share what knowledge i have. welcome and happy tortin’

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hello, John, and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum.
A baby will obviously be able to be kept in a smaller and different enclosure to an adult.
An adult needs four feet by eight as an absolute minimum.
Also it depends if you mean indoor or outdoor enclosures or both.
https://tortoiseforum.org/forums/tortoise-enclosures.7/
has a million good ideas.

 

[John Alford]

I ment indoors and do you have any links as to where I could buy one? Thanks

 

[John Alford]

awright mukka!!! im john from paisley as well!! i am no expert but i am more than happy to meet you for a beer and share what knowledge i have. welcome and happy tortin’

Thanks sounds like a plan

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

I ment indoors and do you have any links as to where I could buy one? Thanks

Not really, no, I made mine.
Many people make their own, it can be much cheaper and better just getting a big bookcase or two, knocking out the shelves, lining them with pond liner and so on. Just an example. Many of the ones for sale are too small or frankly nasty and expensive. Some large glass fish tanks and such are excellent but very expensive.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Thanks sounds like a plan

John is a great guy.
We met up in Spain and he's just amazing.
Love him to bits.

 

[Yvonne G]

Go to a home improvement or hardware store and buy the biggest plastic bin you can find. Here's what I use:

You can look for it online and the shipping isn't too much because it's light weight. Here's what mine looks like occupied:

 

[Tom]

Hello, I’m looking to get a Mediterranean spur thighed tortoise and I was wondering if anyone could give me some tips and information as to which cage I should buy it

I know they aren’t kept in a cage but I do not know what to keep it in

Hi John. Where in the world is Paisley? Knowing your climate, will influence the advice we give.

Nobody is posting a link for where to buy one, because there really isn't any place to go buy one. You have to build one, or have one built for you. None of the ones that are made and marketed for tortoises are suitable for tortoises. They are usually way too small and very poorly designed, and do not meet the needs of a tortoise.

There is a place here in the states that sells ready made closed chambers: http://www.apcages.com/home/terrestrial/terrestrial.htm
But if you are getting and adult, you'll need something bigger. 4x8' should be the minimum.

Also, we need to know if you are getting a hatchling or an adult. Different advice for each one.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hi John. Where in the world is Paisley? Knowing your climate, will influence the advice we give.

Nobody is posting a link for where to buy one, because there really isn't any place to go buy one. You have to build one, or have one built for you. None of the ones that are made and marketed for tortoises are suitable for tortoises. They are usually way too small and very poorly designed, and do not meet the needs of a tortoise.

There is a place here in the states that sells ready made closed chambers: http://www.apcages.com/home/terrestrial/terrestrial.htm
But if you are getting and adult, you'll need something bigger. 4x8' should be the minimum.

Also, we need to know if you are getting a hatchling or an adult. Different advice for each one.

Paisley.
Usually pretty cold place in Scotland which is currently bidding to be the UK's city of culture for 2021.
John as in @johnandjade is from there.

 

[JoesMum]

Hi John. Where in the world is Paisley? Knowing your climate, will influence the advice we give.

Scotland - near Glasgow Opposite end of the UK to me

Nobody is posting a link for where to buy one, because there really isn't any place to go buy one. You have to build one, or have one built for you. None of the ones that are made and marketed for tortoises are suitable for tortoises. They are usually way too small and very poorly designed, and do not meet the needs of a tortoise.

There is a place here in the states that sells ready made closed chambers: http://www.apcages.com/home/terrestrial/terrestrial.htm
But if you are getting and adult, you'll need something bigger. 4x8' should be the minimum. Assume cold... and wet.

Also, we need to know if you are getting a hatchling or an adult. Different advice for each one.

More than likely he will be getting a very young animal here in the UK. So we are talking closed chamber.

 

[Tom]

Scotland - near Glasgow Opposite end of the UK to me


More than likely he will be getting a very young animal here in the UK. So we are talking closed chamber.

Thank you for the education! Does anyone in the UK or Scotland sell ready made closed chambers that are large enough? I frequently see pics from over in that part of the world of "vivariums" that look suitable for starting a baby.

 

[Yvonne G]

What was wrong with my answer? Plastic bins have served me and my baby tortoises well for many, many years. No need to build something.

 

[JoesMum]

What was wrong with my answer? Plastic bins have served me and my baby tortoises well for many, many years. No need to build something.

These are available from the B&Q Hardware store @Yvonne G
3’11”x 11”:
http://www.diy.com/departments/really-useful-christmas-tree-storage-box/172222_BQ.prd

2’8” x 1’11”: http://www.diy.com/departments/form-flexi-store-140l-plastic-storage-box-with-wheels/1144776_BQ.prd

3’7”x 1’6”: http://www.diy.com/departments/bq-black-grey-189l-plastic-storage-box/255195_BQ.prd
Any preference?

 

[John Alford]

Thanks sounds like a plan

These are available from the B&Q Hardware store @Yvonne G
3’11”x 11”:
http://www.diy.com/departments/really-useful-christmas-tree-storage-box/172222_BQ.prd

2’8” x 1’11”: http://www.diy.com/departments/form-flexi-store-140l-plastic-storage-box-with-wheels/1144776_BQ.prd

3’7”x 1’6”: http://www.diy.com/departments/bq-black-grey-189l-plastic-storage-box/255195_BQ.prd
Any preference?

As big as possible