Magazines
Reviews of tortoise articles featured in each issue below.
A good reptile magazine aimed at helping people who own repitles as pets.
£3.25 for current monthly edition
August 2009 through to March 2010 issues available on request until they run out. Select the edition you would like from the drop-down menu.
Tortoise Article Reviews
January 2010 Issue - Table Designs, article about tortoise tables.
A general review of why tortoise tables are the way forward for keeping tortoises indoors. Plenty of fresh air being the most important factor. The temperature of the room the table is in should be a safe background temperature for your species with appropriate thermostated heating to provide the required gradient. Height of the table sides are discussed as well as hides, heating and lighting, cleanliness, support and safety. Substrate is mentioned as a way of keeping smells and leaks to a minimum. Cosy Tortoises is not alone in recommending sterilised soil and sand mixtures for most species as an ideal method for controlling humidity. Non-toxic sealants should be used to prevent leaks either around the inside edges of the base or outside edges if worried about ingestion of sealant.
Cosy Tortoises does provide mesh tops to keep your tortoise safe from pets with the option of positioning a heatlamp above the mesh. To protect your more inquisitive pets such as cats or large dogs mesh sides can give the mesh top height to allow the heatlamp to be hung inside. There is a picture at the bottom of the Indoor Tortoise Tables page and contact us for a quote.
Redfoot tortoises and other tropical tortoises need higher humidity indoors than most houses provide so Cosy Tortoises now provide Acrylic plastic tops with vent holes towards one end for all indoor tables. Once again, contact us directly for a quote with your specific set-up requirements.
December 2009 Issue - The Deep Sleep, article about hibernating tortoises.
A clear and thorough guide to hibernation including why certain species need to hibernate, necessary health checks and preparations as well as how to monitor throughout hibernation. It is worth noting that when traditionally hiberating your tortoise in a box using untreated paper that has not been printed should be used. This will prevent your tortoise breathing even small amounts of chemicals such as solvents found in newspaper inks. We would also advise that any sort of plastic should be avoided, especially any bitesize or compressible plastics like polysytrene.
