Had to urgently re-home our friends tortoise today due to owner being in hospital. Had to do a read up on foods etc, bought a large cage with lamps etc.
Know we have to have an area of warmth and a cool area. Thing is, we're trying to set everything up (no instructions to show layout of items).
Any help or pics would be greatly appreciated.

We have a tortoise table for ours but its pretty much the same layout. We had the UVB strip light & heat lamp at one end of the cage, we used a thermostat to control the heat lamp temperature. The other end of the tank with no lights is the cool end, we put the water dish, food dish and a house in the cooler end of the tank for them.

just uploading some pics... give me 5 mins.

Same previous poster really,
We have his heatlamp all the time at one end, nothing at the other end so he has a cool space to go, we have his food and water in smae place everyday too so he knows where to go. UV light has to be on for 12 hours every day. We have shredded newspaper for him to dig / sleep in. If he's a Horsfield tortie, he's a prolific digger!!
Have you got some of the vit / calcium powder to sprinkle on his food?
Anything else, just ring us, i'll PM you my number.http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee96/wondertec/Picture316.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee96/wondertec/Picture315.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee96/wondertec/Picture314.jpg

Oh, can't PM you, doesn't have the option on. You can always Pm us.

mine looks roughly the same as Wondertecs. The shelter should be near to the heat (bulb) so that the toise can get out of heat if he wants to. put food and water at otherside of box and thats that really. They don't take a big amount of looking after
I don't know if you have already looked at the site but you could try googlin "tortoise lady" (don't know her website), I have been told that she has some good info on there.

http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/Welcome.html


Try this site ... my colleague at work breeds tortoises and she says this site is extremely helpful.

Thanks Clairo, Wondertec, the peggsta and Saffy - all info much appreciated.
It's taken all day to set bulbs,lamps etc up and lots of reading up to do.
We've put a shallow tub with water in for 'Terry' as my son calls him/her, and seems content enough to 'empty' itself, much to my sons amusement!
The pics and website have been very useful.
By the way-don't laugh-how do you know if it is male/female?:confused:

lol .. I can't help you with the sexing .. (will ask Tracey tomorrow if no one else answers before hand).

Glad she/he, is settling in ... some pics at some point maybe?

Not sure on that one, apparently to the untrained eye, it can be quite difficult to do!!

Very hard to tell the sex of a tortoise .. certainly not until they are a good 15 - 20 years old and even then that can be iffy, apparently.

Thanks everyone,tried to mail last night but site being updated.
Sometimes think i've got the wrong username cos i'm certainly 'clue-less' on issues of tortoises! To prove,read on.....
I've now realised that i have a red footed tortoise!!!:roll: Panic stricken, the whole cage i'd bought was returned and exchanged for a tank for the tropical environment it needs. I was worried sick and have been reading up everything
(although never realised so many websites are so conflicting). Well up to now,he/she seems VERY content having a wonder around.:)
I'll take some piccys to show off!