[azubah]

Years ago, when there were not such strict laws on pet welfare, I bought a tortoise during my lunch hour at work. It must have been an impulse buy, as I had not thought of how to keep my new pet happy during the afternoon. Walking round the local market, with my tortoise in my shopping bag, I decided to ask a stall holder for some cabbage leaves for it. I was surprised when he kindly stuffed my bag full of leaves, as I had hoped for just one or two. He obviously thought that I was too poor to buy greens for my dinner, and that the tortoise existed only in my imagination. I was too young and inexperienced to explain.
The animal did survive for many years despite having to hibernate each winter in my wardrobe. This was before we had central heating.

Please think before you buy a new pet, especially at Christmas.

[poppies]

This brought back memories my sister used to have tortoises and I can remeber going into the pet shop and there was a box of cheap ones that had cracked shells  with plasters on.

So I for one was glad when they made it harder to import them goodness knows how they must have been "packed" to get in that state.

[richyrich7]

Sad thing is they are still imported in similar conditions just now the importers are licensed with DEFRA ! 

We have one my eldest son bought her a few weeks ago , she has a certificate to say she's 1 year old,and come from Albania ??
 but the forum on Shelled warriors say she is 4-6 years old and probably wild caught.

She is called George and the best thing to feed them on is weeds, I am now actually growing weeds... now there's a 1st !

Anyone considering buying one should really take some time to read up try the Tortoise trust online 

[Casey76]

When my friend bought a tortue for her daughter, she had to have a CITES certificate and an house inspection!

The tortue is now about 8 years old and about a foot long!  When she gets too big to be kept as a house pet, she has a place secured at the zoo (who are happy to take a well cared for female for breeding purposes!)

[sunshineband]

Trouble is it would be so easy to bring them in illegally, and they are very easy to catch too.

Need to really be sure about what we are buying, but how, when even so called 'certified' suppliers can mislead 

[richyrich7]

Trouble is it would be so easy to bring them in illegally, and they are very easy to catch too.

Need to really be sure about what we are buying, but how, when even so called 'certified' suppliers can mislead 

Yes your right it's really difficult, my sons quite keen to get another two, fortunately we have found a very good group on yahoo and there is a breeder near to us, and he's happy for us to go and have a look questions etc before we commit

Tortoise trust is a good website too

[sunshineband]

I think you are right in that local breeders might be the way forward 

[karlooben]

i am jealous of those who have these as pets i would die to have one but i cant  jack will have it for dinner 

[richyrich7]

Shame

This is George
Please note that she's no longer in a vivarium which we found out are bad for them ! £50 down the pan, but she's in a tortoise table now and much happier  

[sunshineband]

What's a tortoise table, Richy?

[richyrich7]

It's literally like an open top box.
Here's a pic of ours I made it for about £12 ! rather than the £50 vivarium which are totaly unsuitable.
It's a bit dark but you get the idea.



or you can buy them !  from places like this
http://www.petzoo.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=274

[sunshineband]

Oh I see -- it's a bit like the way I used to keep giunea pigs in the classroom -- eventually they had more floor area per gp than per child 

Much more interesting for the tortoises 

[richyrich7]

 

yes it's better for the tortoises, mind you they are escape artisits so you have to be careful that they don't climb on a rock to get out !

[Snap Dragon]

Aaah - she's lovely Rich...

My Mum would dearly love a tortoise (we had a blind one when I was young) but they are so difficult to get hold of... unless you pay hundreds for the really tiny ones!!!!!

[karlooben]

shes pretty ,her home looks really nice an cosy  our local bird aviary centre sells them along with all other kinds of creatures an its lethal going in there