im getting 2 marginated hatchlings and also have 2 horsefield tortoises and need some advice

i need some advise on how long to have basking lamps and strip lights on for my hatchlings and horsefield by the way horsefields are 3 years old also how mant times do you bath them?

how much do you feed them and how many times a week.?

thanks

Try http://www.russiantortoise.org for general Russian advice. http://www.tortoise.org and http://www.austinsturtlepage.com. for general care ideas.

Lighting simple answer: We use lighing to simulate the sun in the places the animals come from- unless we are trying ot prevent hibernation, in which case we use lighting to trick them into thinkin it is always summer.

Basking lamps are left on either all daytime period if you need the heat, or turned on during the 'hot time' of the day, roughly 11-5 if the pen temps are OK otherwise.

I bath mine about weekly- more often if they appear constipated or dehydrated.

Feeding is simple. Try this recipe: http://www.petdoc.ws/tortdiet.html.

- Serving size is about twice the head size

- Feed babies daily, young every other day, adults every three days

- Try to have 'forage', 'graze' or 'roughage' and plenty of water available 24/7, but get rid of other uneaten food before it stinks.

- Add some good reptile vitamins, in the proper dose, to each serving. Add reptile calcium supplements as directed on the container.

you will learn loads,they have a forum to all about torts ,its great