Hello from Cambridge, UK

[Kidfunk83]

Hi everyone, Im Tom from the UK. Joined the site as i want to be part of a community of like minded tortoise lovers.
Its a bit of a long story as to how me, my wife and our children became owners of 2 tortoises so bare with. As a wildlife reptile fanatic over the years and now owning 2 snakes ive always loved animals so, upon a visit to an old friends i was horrified to see 2 juvenile tortoises housed in a 2 foot by 2 foot box, in a cold conservatory, shoved under a chair. There was 1 small clip on lamp (that wasnt even turned on in the middle of the day when i was there) and they were solely being fed on cucumber. Now im not geared up on tortoise husbandry but ive learned enough over my years of reptile keeping that this is some of the lowest grade of husbandry ive seen. The torts were not active and freezing to the touch when i picked them up. I was informed that they were a present for his children that wore off within 3 months of getting them so they had been put out in the conservatory as they didnt know what to do with them. I instantly offered £100, not knowing what i was going to do or where i was going to keep them or even the sex or breed. My main goal was just to get them out of there, which he accepted. Next day i went to my local independent reptile "specialist" and spent a fortune. Roll on 6 month later and we have Mikey and Bowser (we have since been led to believe they are both female but the names just stuck) i will make another post in the appropriate thread stating my own current issues. Just wanted to say hi and give my story. Sorry about the wall of txt.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Tom, and welcome to the Forum!

Thank you for such a nice introduction. It was very generous of you to take in your friend's tortoises. I'm sure your story isn't unique, and I wonder just how many poor tortoises, tortoises that have a very long lifespan, are relegated to live in poor conditions with uncaring people, and living a very short life because of it. Mikey and Bowser are the lucky ones. I'm looking forward to your post with pictures in the correct forum heading.

 

[EppsDynasty]

@Kidfunk83 .... Welcome Home.
I look forward to seeing and hearing about how you are making their lives something worth living. You will find people that LOVE caring for torts here and get honest answers about real issues, great to have you here.

 

[_The_Beast_]

Welcome ☺️

 

[Tim Carlisle]

True definition of "rescuing". I didn't see where u said what kind of torts they are. Any idea? Oh...and Welcome Tom!

 

[JoJosMom]

Hi Tom! Welcome from across the pond~ It is delightful to see you join us here in the world of experience! There is a never ending amount of first hand knowledge that comes from this forum. Everyone is so helpful and great. Bless your heart for taking in these two beauties, it takes a special person to provide a forever home, life long dedication and nourishment to torts. I look forward to your story. Feel confident that any questions you have, you will find the answers here on the forum.

Welcome to the family!

 

[Kidfunk83]

True definition of "rescuing". I didn't see where u said what kind of torts they are. Any idea? Oh...and Welcome Tom!

They are, from my early investigations ive come to the conclusion of Horsefieds. Well, they are, 4 claws on the front feet and they look like a Horsefield 😂 weve had them 6 months now but we think we will be having to rehome one of them as we dont have the space required for 2. Ive built a 6x4 enclosure under my stairs but obvioustly after reading not to keep 2 together, and starting to see the psychological stress with one of them (nothing physical) , which hasnt put hardly any weight on where as the other is far more active and alert has nearly doubled in weight ive built a makeshift table and seperated them. Thats currently in my lounge 🤣
We sont want to rehome any of them as weve grown attached to both but the welfare of the animal comes before any of our selfish needs. I will see if i can pop some pictures up of the pair of them.

 

[Yvonne G]

They are, from my early investigations ive come to the conclusion of Horsefieds. Well, they are, 4 claws on the front feet and they look like a Horsefield 😂 weve had them 6 months now but we think we will be having to rehome one of them as we dont have the space required for 2. Ive built a 6x4 enclosure under my stairs but obvioustly after reading not to keep 2 together, and starting to see the psychological stress with one of them (nothing physical) , which hasnt put hardly any weight on where as the other is far more active and alert has nearly doubled in weight ive built a makeshift table and seperated them. Thats currently in my lounge 🤣
We sont want to rehome any of them as weve grown attached to both but the welfare of the animal comes before any of our selfish needs. I will see if i can pop some pictures up of the pair of them.

I appreciate that you've read our posts with an open mind and taken to heart the well being of the tortoises. Quite often if what new members read doesn't agree with what they want instead of what's good for the tortoises, they will argue. I wish there were a way to keep them both. No chance you could make an addition to the 6x4 enclosure with a separating wall in between?

 

[Kidfunk83]

I appreciate that you've read our posts with an open mind and taken to heart the well being of the tortoises. Quite often if what new members read doesn't agree with what they want instead of what's good for the tortoises, they will argue. I wish there were a way to keep them both. No chance you could make an addition to the 6x4 enclosure with a separating wall in between?

Do you mean place a divider down the middle? My wife did suggest this but i dont think it will be big enough still. Length of 6ft, maybe but a 2ft width i dont think will suffice. Maybe as they are at the minute as they are both smaller than the pal of my hand but once they grow i will be in a similar position. Money isnt the issue which makes a change its just the lack of space. I need a bigger house ir for one of the kids to hurry up and move out then i would make a qhole bedroom it to 2 massive enclosures 😂

 

[zolasmum]

Welcome from Devon, and thank you for taking on these poor little chaps. I think they would be all right in a half-size enclosure each for a while, if you divided it across the middle to be 3ft by 4 ft each - especially if you could give them quite a lot of time outside in the summer. After a few months you could re-think things-maybe even add another floor to the enclosure - and hopefully the smaller one will be healthier by then, if you feel you must give one away.
Angie

 

[Kidfunk83]

Welcome from Devon, and thank you for taking on these poor little chaps. I think they would be all right in a half-size enclosure each for a while, if you divided it across the middle to be 3ft by 4 ft each - especially if you could give them quite a lot of time outside in the summer. After a few months you could re-think things-maybe even add another floor to the enclosure - and hopefully the smaller one will be healthier by then, if you feel you must give one away.
Angie

Checo out the general discussion thread to see pics of my set up. I also thought about splitting it that way too but the issue is, as you see i have 2 basking lights and one of them, due to the slope of the stairs is as far to the left as it will go without being so low that the basking temp goes above 32-34. I put 2 up initially as i wanted to spread the basking area across half the enclosure to 1, give me a better gradient and 2, give a big basking area to eradicate any jostling for the best spot but each bulb individually will give me a 32-34 hotspot (the lower bulb holder has a lower wattage bulb in it) but with them both on the hot spot goes from 32 up to 42. Now i know this is way too hot for this species but there is ample room, shade and gradient to get out of that direct sun. Ive just opted to have 1 on and keep a steady 32 spot. No need for both now anyway as there is only 1 tort in there.