Hello from cold rainy Lincolnshire

[Wendy Douce]

Hi I have just taken over the care of my sons two horsefield Tortoises both about 8 years old. I'm new to this and trying to find out as much as i can about the care they need. They are housed indoors at the moment but i will look to out doors in the spring/summer depending on the British weather. For in door living I am getting them two new Vivariums (they fight and don't get on so have to be housed separately) as big as i can fit in to my room 48"x24"x 20" and a looking for the best lighting and heating for them. They have a uvb tube 0.5 and basking spot light 60w at the moment I have read that these are not the best living conditions for tortoises but with space and cold weather i am trying to make them as good as they can be. Thanks for any advice you can give me and the girls Pebble and Bubble

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

welcome to the forum! can you post some pics of the tortoises and there enclosure? also here is a really good Russian also know has a horsefield, care sheet. http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Wendy, and welcome to the Forum!

 

[Wendy Douce]

THis This Is Bubble and Pebble In their old houses, small and boring. I want to make a better home with a a ramp shelter and a soil substrate

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

both of there beaks look over grown, add a cuttle bone to there cage and place there food on a rock, that will help slowly trim there beaks back to normal. also i would replace the substrate to cyprus mulch or shaved coconut fibers. what is there diet? how often do you soak them?

 

[bouaboua]

Hello and Welcome. Good to have you here.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Wendy:

Are you using a UVB light with them? They sort of look like maybe the shells are not growing as they should be. UVB and more humidity in there.

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

Welcome to TFO!

 

[pam]

Welcome Russians are awesome

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hello Wendy welcome to the TFO from AZ, USA . You've had the Russian torts for 8 years how old are the bulbs cause they last a couple of years but only give UV Rays for about 6months ?


Sent from my iPhone using TortForum

 

[lismar79]

I would switch the substrate (bedding) out asap. It looks like pine or cedar which is toxic to tortoises. Its good you are here, you will learn a bunch of info to help care for these guys

 

[Wendy Douce]

Hello yes the beaks do look over grown and i have already put in some cuttle bone and got some slate to eat off. So far one just sits on it!. I am going to change the substrate to top soil and sand mix either 50/50 or 60/40 or 70/30 but some one on your sits said no to sand The more i look in to it the more confused i get. The bulbs get change each year one just last week.But is the strip light best or a Mercury Vapor Bulbs better? As i set the new homes up i can change things.

 

[Tyanna]

No sand. It can cause impaction if ingested.