Just Recieved Tortoise from Friend and Need Advice

Hi everyone,

Today I recieved a tortoise from a family member who no longer wants their tort. I am going into this blind and have already built a tortoise table which I hope is suitable (I should have researched before!). They have given me one heat lamp, a water bowl, a log, some slate and a very small amount of compressed grass pellets.

I have dug up some soil from my garden, sieved it and placed it in the bedding area so he can burrow as I think this is what these tortoises like to do.

I am looking for your advice on how to set up and layout its enclosure best. All ideas are welcome. I hope that it will be okay for a day or two walking around on the hard surface. What substrate would be best?

I think it is a Russian Tortoise and it is roughly 5" I havent had chance to measure it properly yet because it is sleeping currently.

While it was awake it climbed up the ramp and explored, ate a petunia flower, sat in the log before going to sleep.

Here is the enclosure I built:

Oh and the plant up at the top is a boston fern (which I think is safe) for decoration while I figure out the layout.

Hello there, and welcome to the forum! I'm glad you found this place just as you recieved your tortoise. I think almost all of your questions can be answered with this care sheet (Written by Tom). It includes substrate options, lighting, diet info, and more. I think you could make good use of all the information! Please read it through ?

Thread 'The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise'
https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threa...ise-any-temperate-species-of-tortoise.183131/

If you have any other questions, need help buying something, or want some advice, we'll be glad to help you out.

I agree read the caresheet.
The substrate needs to be on all flooring.

Congrats on your cute acquisition and all the best! Great advice is always obtained here.

I would personally recommend that you cover the transparent side. The tort will most likely try to escape all day and that makes a lot of noise. I would recommend a big water dish that can also be used for soaking. Good luck on this very exciting adventure!

Hello -Congratulations on your new tortoise -what is his name,and do you know how old he is? If he is a Russian tortoise, you may not know this, but they are very good climbers, and I think he would very soon find a way out of his table. (they climb up, but tend to plummet down -possibly upside down on your floor !) There is lots of information on the forum about ways of making their environment safer.
I have a Hermanns tortoise called Zola, and live in Devon too (near Holsworthy)
Best wishes from Angie