# Tortoise Care in the UK — Quick answer

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/tortoise-care-uk): Tortoise Care in the UK — Quick answer. UK tortoises such as Hermann's need a secure, sunny outdoor enclosure in summer, a heated indoor setup with UVB when housed inside, a weed-based diet, and careful hibernation at 4–8°C — or overwintering if underweight. Register with a tortoise-experienced vet before hibernation season.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/tortoise-care-uk): Tortoise Care in the UK — Common UK species. According to the British Chelonia Group (BCG), the Mediterranean species most often kept in Britain are: | Species | Notes for UK keepers | |---------|---------------------| | Hermann's (Testudo hermanni) | The most popular UK pet tortoise; CITES-listed — the seller must provide the correct certificate | | Spur-thighed (Testudo graeca) | Similar care to Hermann's; also CITES-listed with paperwork required | | Marginated (Testudo marginata) | The largest of the three Mediterranean species; CITES-listed | | Horsfield's / Russian (Testudo horsfieldi) | A keen burrower; trade monitored under CITES | Tortoises can live for many decades — buying one is a lifetime commitment, so check paperwork and plan for the long term.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/tortoise-care-uk): Tortoise Care in the UK — Outdoor enclosures. UK summers let tortoises live outdoors from late spring into early autumn. The BCG recommends: - Space — at least 10 square metres per tortoise - Walls — solid barriers at least 45–50 cm high and buried 10–15 cm, as tortoises climb and dig - Shelter — a waterproof house in a sunny position, raised so the floor stays dry, lined with newspaper or dried leaves - Cover ponds to prevent drowning, and skip pesticides, herbicides and slug pellets anywhere the tortoise grazes - A well-ventilated greenhouse with lawn access is ideal in spring and autumn — but replace a lower pane with a shaded exit, as greenhouses can overheat, and remember glass filters out UV Never tether a tortoise by the leg and never drill or oil the shell.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/tortoise-care-uk): Tortoise Care in the UK — Indoor housing and temperatures. For indoor housing — essential for hatchlings and for overwintering — the RSPCA advises a tortoise table or indoor run of at least 180 × 120 cm for one tortoise: | Requirement | Target | |-------------|--------| | Daytime temperature | 20–25°C | | Night temperature | Around 15°C | | Basking spot | 35°C under a guarded lamp | | UVB | Full-spectrum tube within about 30 cm of the tortoise | | Day length | Roughly 12 hours in winter, 13 in spring/autumn, 14 in summer | Substrate should be a soil and play-sand mix deep enough to dig in — around 5 cm minimum. Avoid gravel, wood shavings and cat litter. Provide rocks for scrambling and a deep area of shredded paper or leaves for burying.

Source: https://pethealth.org.uk/health/tortoise-care-uk