New tortoise owner here

[Helazbee]

Hi guys I am now the proud owner of a tortoise I have been contemplating getting one for some time now. Unfortunately somebody couldn't keep their tortoise for some unknown reason and a 3rd party handed her over to me, so I've kind of rescued her. I have got a table and bought the correct equipment (as far as I am aware).I am new to this but I have also done a fair amount of research. Hoping you guys can help me provide a nice comfortable life for Elizabeth

 

[Yvonne G]

We'll need to know Elizabeth's species

 

[Helazbee]

Yes I believe she is a horsfield tortoise and apparently she's 4. She's roughly 5 inches long.
Personally I think she's older and I'm worried her shell isn't in the best shape.

 

[Helazbee]

Pic

 

[Ink]

Is that a red bulb you are using or is the tortoises' she'll pink in color?

 

[Helazbee]

No thats just refraction from the camera I think, its a white bulb and her shell is mainly yellow

 

[Yossarian]

Yep it is a russian, though not quite the prototypical example. Could you show us the rest of the enclosure pls?

It doent look too bad tbh, there is some pyramidding and the beak looks a little overgrown but there is nothing seriously wrong in the pic. As long a you get it right from here on out this tort will be in good shape.

 

[Helazbee]

Thats good then ill try my best. I'm going to move the lamp over to the left hand side of the table and rearrange. I've put 3-4 inches of damp sphagnum moss in her hide

 

[KarenSoCal]

Thats good then ill try my best. I'm going to move the lamp over to the left hand side of the table and rearrange. I've put 3-4 inches of damp sphagnum moss in her hide

Take the moss out. Most torts eat it and it's a huge impaction risk. Just dampen the substrate in her hide.

Also, I think I see white pieces in her substrate. That is limestone, so if she eats it it supplies calcium. But it is also encouraging her to eat the substrate, which is also a huge impaction risk. Whoever came up with this hare-brained idea obviously is clueless about tort health.

Are you in St. Helen's in the USA or the UK? I don't know about availability in the UK, but you want to use coco chip or coir, orchid (fir) bark, or cypress mulch.

 

[Helazbee]

I'm in the UK, I have ordered some coco coir so just waiting on that then ill clean it out and replace substrate. How deep should I make it for her?

 

[Blackdog1714]

I'm in the UK, I have ordered some coco coir so just waiting on that then ill clean it out and replace substrate. How deep should I make it for her?

8-12cm deep will be fine and allow for burrowing.

 

[Helazbee]

Ok great thanks looking forward to sorting it for her

 

[KarenSoCal]

I'm in the UK, I have ordered some coco coir so just waiting on that then ill clean it out and replace substrate. How deep should I make it for her?

Around 4 inches, give or take. You put some in ,wet it, and pack it down hard with your hand. When that's done, put a layer on top that is damp but not packed so he can dig. Measure the 4 inches after you pack it.

 

[Yossarian]

Now for the challenging stuff, that enclosure is not big enough, I am guessing that habitat is about 2ft x 3ft in dimensions? Now is the time to start planning a long term enclosure that is quite a bit bigger. As a bare minimum these smaller torts need 4ft x 8ft, the ability to walk around is important to their metabolism. In a small space like yours the tort will also begin to climb the walls, or try to, and once it starts it will be near constant. Have a look at the enclosure threads here, there are a lot of options and they are not difficult to build either but for your tort long term you need to get it more space.

Have a look at the link below, it is a UK supplier that builds vivariums of a suitable size. I have also linked a grow tent option that uses a hydroponic grow tent for plants.

BIG VIVARIUMS Archives - Southdown Aquatics

Grow Tent Enclosure | Tortoise Forum

 

[Helazbee]

Ok ill look into sorting something bigger later in the year. I'm a carpenter so I can build her something larger. How wet does the wet compacted substrate be? I have been spraying the current substrate every couple of hours with a spraying bottle to keep humidy around 60%

 

[Yossarian]

Ok ill look into sorting something bigger later in the year. I'm a carpenter so I can build her something larger. How wet does the wet compacted substrate be? I have been spraying the current substrate every couple of hours with a spraying bottle to keep humidy around 60%

I keep the whole volume of the substrate damp, like a well drained plant pot. The coco is very absorbant and can hold a lot of moisture, I quite literally use a watering can to wet the substrate. That is why it is important that any enclosure have a waterproof basin at least. I use pond liner in mine.

 

[Helazbee]

Yea I was going to put some visqueen in there when I swap the substrate over

 

[Helazbee]

Also I will ask she hasn't been eating much at all. I've been putting a fresh sod of cress in every other day and giving her kale and rocket and a tiny bit off bell pepper but she doesn't seem to be into it. I've also been sprinkling a small amount of calcium powder on her greens too

 

[Blackdog1714]

No more bell pepper too much sugar. Here is a handy older guide that helps for basics and has photos

 

[Helazbee]

Thank you, are you uk based? Do you find you can grow enough flowers/weeds to fulfill their diet requirements? Or where is the best place to get stuff during winter