Meet the Team

Welcome to The Tortoise Shop. As you can see, we are small team of two, working hard on a daily basis to bring you the highest quality products at the best prices.

We pride ourselves in having a good work ethic that ensures that you get your orders as soon as is humanly possible.

Thanks to our years at college and time working here and in other areas of the animal industry, we have combined experience of 25 years learning about and working with animals.

Hello I am Natalie

Natalie

I joined the company in 2010 after completing my work experience

As well as the daily tasks involved in running the company and getting orders out, I take care of the tortoises, website and Facebook. If you need help out of hours, I am always around to give advice over social media

I have a BTEC National Diploma in Animal Management

I live with my partner Dave, son Vincent, tortoise Alfie and three cats; Malcolm, Jasper and Tobi

I like to change my hair colour regularly

Hello I am Gemma

Gemma

Advice, Office, Despatch dept :I started with the tortoise shop in November 2013

As well as the daily tasks involved in running the company and getting orders out, I put the tortoise tables together, make sure we are always well stocked and I do most of the heavy lifting.

I have a BTEC National Diploma in animal management.

I have three cats; Jack, Kit-Cat and Thomas
I’m totally accident prone and can trip over fresh air!!!

  • 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

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;

  • 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

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

  • Keep them in accommodation of the highest standards
  • Feed them the best possible natural diet
  • Do not hibernate any tortoise under a year old

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

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

Due to high risk of cross contamination and lumping them under the same care, e.g, saying they can live in vivariums

Sells vivariums or tanks as suitable tortoise enclosures

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

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

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

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

Again, young tortoises can do anything an adult can, but their size requires you to be extra vigilant and take precautions to protect your tortoise from predators

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

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

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