TORT   SHOP

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• We specialise in UK Captive Bred Tortoises

• All legal Licenses will be provided

• Where applicable tortoises will be microchipped (60mm+)

• 2 Month Guarantee on all tortoises

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When deciding to buy a tortoise for the first time it can be a very confusing and frustrating experience. You will probably find all kinds of conflicting information on their care requirements. Find one source and stick to it. Of course, we recommend using our care booklet (found at the bottom of this page) or The Tortoise Trust.

Here at The Tortoise Shop we have a vast amount of experience and knowledge spanning over two decades, and with the risk of blowing our own trumpet, we can guarantee that our advice and husbandry is the very best that you’ll find. We will not try to sell you unnecessary equipment nor will we push you into buying a tortoise which we don’t think is suitable for you to keep. However, we will give you unlimited amounts of advice whenever you should need it, not just before you buy but also for a lifetime thereafter.

We work very closely with our long term UK Breeders, so we can bring you the best of British Bred Tortoises.
The Tortoise Shop and staff genuinely care about the health and welfare of their tortoises and are not simply out to make a quick profit. However, don’t just take our word for it; see for yourself in our Customer Testimonials page.

 

To give our customers complete peace of mind we;

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• Only sell Captive Bred tortoises, not wild caught

• Give a 2 month guarantee against death from any illness

• Supply the correct legal paperwork (where applicable)

• Supply a comprehensive care guide

• Offer free advice for life, for a tortoise purchased from us

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To ensure that our tortoises are in the very best health possible within our control, we;

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• Keep them in accommodation of the highest standards

• Feed them the best possible natural diet

• Do not hibernate any tortoise under a year old

 

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To limit the possibilities of disease we;

• Never keep different species together

• Only keep a small number of tortoises in each pen

• Use disposable latex gloves between entering each separate pen

• Walk through disinfecting dip trays between pens

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Never purchase a tortoise from a person or company who;

Cannot supply you with legal documentation

 

Certain CITES registered species need licenses. The most common are Hermanns, Marginated and all sub-species of Spur-Thigh

Sells other reptiles

Sells other reptiles

Sells vivariums or tanks as suitable tortoise enclosures

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Vivariums and tanks have been proven to cause ill health for most tortoise species, due to high humidity. This is, of course, unless they originate from a tropical climate, e.g, Red Foot or Yellow Foot

Sells heat mats for tortoises

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Most shops that sell heat mats, tell you to place them at the cool side, which removes the tortoise's freedom to escape the heat, if need be. As mentioned above, this only happens when the uninformed believe tortoises  are like other reptiles

Sells tortoise pellet food

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Pellets are far too high in protein and are extremely addictive to the tortoise. Pellets are the worst culprits for causing Metabolic Bone Disease

Tells you not to hibernate a tortoise until it is a certain age

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Young tortoises can do anything an adult can do, however, we only advise skipping the first hibernation to give you time to get to know your tortoise and ensure it is healthy

Tells you not to put the tortoise outdoors until it is a certain age

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Tells you not to put the tortoise outdoors until it is a certain age

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Tells you it is OK to keep different species of tortoise within the same housing

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A real recipe for disaster. Tortoises originating from different countries will carry different antibodies, therefore, be at risk of passing on disease to each other. This is regardless of where they are bred, be it UK or abroad