Are Horsefield tortoises good for beginners?

Are Horsefield tortoises good for beginners?

The Horsefield Tortoise makes a great pet for beginners and experienced hobbyists alike. They remain one of the most popular species of pet tortoise in the UK. We think this is due to their great characters and adaptability. They can live for over 100 years and will grow to a shell length of between 8-10 inches.

How long do baby Horsefield tortoises sleep for?

between 19-22 hours a

Tortoises will generally be awake during the day. However babies can sleep for between 19-22 hours a day.

What do you feed a baby horsefield tortoise?

Diet & Water
A Horsfield’s tortoise’s diet consists of vegetation. Good foods include dandelion, clover, honeysuckle, leafy salads, watercress, curly kale, brussel tops, spring greens, coriander, parsley, rocket, carrot, parsnip, courgette and bell peppers. The bulk of the vegetation should be leafy greens.

How can you tell how old a horsefield tortoise is?

There’s no real way of determining a tortoise’s age, other than through record keeping. Contrary to some old wives tales, the growth rings around scutes are not a gauge for age.

How often should I bathe my baby Horsefield tortoise?

Hatchling and young tortoises should be soaked daily decreasing this to every other day as they grow older. Older juvenile tortoises should be bathed 2-3 times a week and adult tortoises bathed weekly, but more frequently if kept indoors under heat lamps.

How often should you handle a Horsefield tortoise?

Do Horsefield Tortoises Like to Be Handled? Horsefields can become overstimulated when they’re handled too often. It’s best to keep playtime to 5-10 minutes or for longer periods every other day. Horsefields can be trained and socialized to tolerate the company of their owners.

Should I wake my baby tortoise up in the morning?

Of course, you shouldn’t need to wake your tortoise in the morning. A healthy tortoise will naturally wake up by itself if the enclosure’s temperature and light levels are optimal. Sometimes, a tortoise may oversleep, miss meals, and not drink enough water. If this happens, wake your tortoise.

Should I leave my tortoise heat lamp on at night?

Does a tortoise need a heat lamp at night? In most cases, overnight heating will not be required for your tortoise, unless the room temperature gets too cold. If this is the case, it may be better to use heating so that a temperature of around 15-18°C (60-65°F) can be maintained overnight.

Do tortoises know their owners?

Do Tortoises and Turtles Recognize Their Owners? Yes, both tortoises and turtles can learn to recognize their caretakers. This does take time, but turtles and tortoises are very smart. They will learn your scent, sounds, and behaviors.

How quickly do Horsefield tortoises grow?

It takes the Horsefield tortoise about 10 years to reach maturity. Male Horsefields tend to grow to their maximum size faster than females. However, the growth rate and final size of these tortoises can vary, depending on the conditions they’re kept, regardless of sex.

Should I spray my tortoise with water?

As well as bathing the tortoise regularly you can provide your tortoise with a suitable microclimate to prevent fluid loss from the body. You can do this by making the substrate deep enough so that the tortoise can dig down, and you can mist it daily using a water sprayer.

Can Horsefield tortoises eat banana?

Registered. Bananas are addictive to tortoises. But fruit shouldnt be fed on a regular basis, its not good for them. Most only use bananas when having to give medication.

What bedding should I use for my tortoise?

Not only must a tortoise be able to burrow into its bedding, but it should hold its shape and provide moisture to hydrate them. Topsoil is the best bedding for tortoises as it’s natural, retains moisture, and has good structural integrity. Coconut husk, sphagnum moss, and straw pellets are quality substrates.

Should I wake my tortoise up in the morning?

Do tortoises like to be stroked?

In the proper care, however, most tortoises appear to enjoy being touched by their caretakers. In some cases, they extend their necks out while being touched or massaged – a sign that the animal wants to be rubbed some more.

Do tortoises like being picked up?

Sufficiently strong to even break the grip of an unwary adult, a tortoise can suffer great trauma or broken limbs and shell from being dropped. A tortoise should only ever be handled with two hands, they hate being picked up, it is not natural to them.

Can Horsefield tortoise eat fruit?

Fruit eating tortoises can eat melon, raspberries, blackberries and grapes. You can also offer sweet desert apple, in sliced small amounts. Mango can also be eaten, although this can be very sticky and attract wasps. Bananas can be eaten, and cherries, in strict moderation.

How often do you feed Horsefield tortoise?

Tortoises must be fed at least either one large meal or two small meals a day. A fresh diet is best but they can also be supplemented with tortoise pellets 1-2 days a week.

Do you dry a tortoise after a bath?

Once you have finished scrubbing your tortoise set them on a dry towel and very gently pat and wipe away the water. This would also be a good chance to let them walk around a warm room to dry off and get exercise.

Can tortoises drink tap water?

Tortoises should be given water that’s free from chlorine, additives, flavorings, sweeteners, and contaminants. They can drink tap water, bottled water, hard water, and soft water. Avoid tap water if it’s heavily chlorinated or distilled, as it can leach minerals from the body.

What is poisonous to tortoises?

Many common plants are toxic, and keepers must make sure that their herbivorous chelonians are kept away from them.
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What can you not feed a horsefield tortoise?

Do not feed your tortoise grapes or spinach. Spinach is a calcium blocker. Dust the salad with a calcium supplement 3 times a week and multivitamins once a week. If calcium is given at irregular intervals, this can result in pyramiding which is sudden growth of the shell.

What do you put in a tortoise table?

Tortoises love to dig and bury so a sand and soil mix is an excellent substrate. Hides, a water dish and other features such as wooden bridges and edible plants such as dandelions can be added to the enclosure. Tortoises do, however, have predators such as large birds, foxes and other pets.

What’s the best bedding for a tortoise?

Topsoil is the best bedding for tortoises as it’s natural, retains moisture, and has good structural integrity. Coconut husk, sphagnum moss, and straw pellets are quality substrates. Tortoises need 2-3 inches of bedding for burrowing.

Can I let my tortoise walk around my house?

Tortoises shouldn’t roam around the house. They could get injured, lost, too cold or too hot, fall or get stuck and be attacked. A tortoise roaming around the house might also spread disease.