For a first UK setup with a juvenile Hermann’s or another Mediterranean tortoise, an open-top tortoise table is a better choice than an enclosed vivarium. The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) advises well-ventilated open-top enclosures such as a tortoise table,[1] and the Tortoise Protection Group (TPG) says glass or wooden vivariums are not a good idea because humidity builds up, the floor space is too small and the temperature is similar throughout.[2] To set a table up properly:
- Housing: Choose solid sides and an open top, with as much floor space as you can fit.
- Heat: Aim for about 30°C under the lamp and about 20°C at the far end, and check both with thermometers.[2][3]
- Humidity: Keep it low to moderate.[1] The Tortoise Table gives around 45% to 55% for Mediterranean species.[4]
- Hide and basking zone: Hang the lamp overhead at one end, keep it on for about 12 hours a day, and place a hide at both the warm and cool ends.[1]
Why Does an Open Table Suit a Mediterranean Tortoise Better Than a Closed Box?
A Hermann’s tortoise is a Mediterranean species, so the setup has to let it move between a warm basking spot and a cooler area while humidity stays low. A closed vivarium works against that in three ways, according to TPG.[2]
- Humidity: The design leads to a build-up of humidity.
- Floor space: There is not enough room to exercise as the tortoise grows.
- Temperature: It is much the same all through the box, so the tortoise cannot choose its own temperature.
The Tortoise Table says vivariums, meaning enclosed boxes made of glass or glass and wood, are not suitable for Mediterranean species such as Hermann’s, and calls a table the best indoor home.[3]
What Are the Key Factors for a First UK Setup?
- Floor space: TPG gives a table of about 1 m x 600 mm for a hatchling and 2 m x 600 mm for a juvenile.[2]
- A real gradient: The tortoise needs a hot end and a cool end, so a longer table works better than a small box.
- Dry air: An open top lets air move, which helps keep humidity down.[3]
- Hides and a basking zone: These give the tortoise a place to warm up and a place to retreat from the lamp.
How Do You Configure an Open Table With a Hide and Basking Zone?
- Size and sides: Use solid sides at least 20 cm above the substrate and an open top.[3]
- Basking lamp: Hang it directly overhead at one end, about 300 mm from the tortoise. TPG does not recommend clamping it to the side of the table.[2]
- Temperatures: Aim for about 30°C at shell height under the lamp and about 20°C at the cool end.[2][3]
- Hides: Place one at the warm end and one at the cool end.[1] Keep items out from directly under the lamp in case they cause the tortoise to tip onto its back, so the warm-end hide sits beside the basking spot, not under it.[3]
- Measuring: Check the temperature under the lamp and at the cool end, and check humidity with a hygrometer.[2][1]
- Humidity: Use a substrate deep enough for the tortoise to dig down.[4]
- Light cycle: Keep the lamp on for about 12 hours and off overnight.[1]
- UVB: RVC advises a high-output UVB lamp, for example 10% to 12%, kept on for about 12 hours a day.[1]
What Do UK Sources Say About Heat and Humidity?
The sources agree on an open-top table but differ on temperatures, most clearly overnight (TPG about 10°C to 12°C, RVC about 18°C to 20°C) and at the hot end (about 30°C against about 35°C). TPG’s guide dates from about 2008, The Tortoise Table from 2017 and RVC from 2022, so check your own readings and ask an exotics vet which targets suit your tortoise.
| Source | Hot end | Cool end | Night | Humidity |
| TPG | About 30°C[2] | About 20°C[2] | No heating or lighting needed; overnight temperature should not fall below about 10°C to 12°C[2][5] | No figure given; says vivariums build up humidity[2] |
| The Tortoise Table | About 30°C at shell height[4] | About 20°C[4] | No extra heat in a modern centrally heated home; use a ceramic heat emitter if it falls below 12°C to 14°C[4] | Around 45% to 55%[4] |
| RVC | About 35°C[1] | About 20°C to 25°C[1] | Not below about 18°C to 20°C[1] | Low to moderate, checked with a hygrometer[1] |
Worked Example: Checking a Ready-Made Tortoise Table Against These Steps
A ready-made table can be checked against the steps above using only its listing. The PawHut Tortoise Table With Adjustable Lamp Holder (D40-033V00GY) is a worked example, not a recommendation.[6]
- Floor space: Its overall size is 81 x 48 cm, under TPG’s hatchling figure, with a 30 x 44 cm main house and a 44.5 x 44 cm run cage.[6][2]
- Hide and basking zone: The listing describes a built-in hide box and a basking area with metal grating, and an adjustable lamp holder listed at 80 to 100 cm high.[6]
- Airflow: It lists mesh wire for air circulation and two openable lids with locks, so it is a lidded design rather than fully open-top.[6]
- Gradient: At 81 cm long, the distance between the lamp and the far end is short, so measure both ends before you rely on it.
- Fit against the steps: Its size and lids fall short of TPG’s floor-space figure and an open top, which is why it works as a checking exercise rather than a recommendation.[2][6]
- Not in the package: The package lists the house and a manual only, so the lamp, thermometers and substrate are bought separately.[6]
- Price and delivery: Priced at £63.99 at time of writing, with free UK mainland delivery. Contact us within 30 calendar days of delivery to return it. Return shipping may be charged on non-warranty returns.[6]
What Mistakes Do First-Time Owners Make?
- Choosing a starter-kit vivarium: TPG says the type often sold in pet shops, sometimes in starter kits, is not a good idea.[2]
- Using a heat mat without advice: TPG says heating from underneath is not normally recommended and can lead to thermal burns,[2] while RVC lists a back-wall heat mat among background heat options, so ask your vet which suits your setup.[1]
- Letting the tortoise walk the floor: TPG says it is colder and more draughty at floor level, and dangerous.[5]
- Skipping thermometers: Without them you cannot tell whether the gradient exists.[2]
Bottom Line
For a first UK setup, choose an open-top table with solid sides and as much floor space as you can fit, rather than an enclosed vivarium. Hang the lamp overhead at one end, put a hide at the warm end and the cool end, and check both ends with thermometers. Keep humidity low to moderate, and add UVB for about 12 hours a day. Treat the heat and humidity targets as a range and confirm them with your vet, because UK sources differ most on the night temperature.
FAQs
1. Where should a tortoise table go in the room?
2. How often should an indoor tortoise table be cleaned?
3. Does a juvenile tortoise need bathing?
4. What thermometer does a tortoise table need?
References
[1] Mediterranean Tortoise Care (reviewed December 2022) – RVC Exotics Service, Royal Veterinary College.
https://www.rvc.ac.uk/Media/Default/Beaumont%20Sainsbury%20Animal%20Hospital/EXOTICS/Animal%20Care%20Factsheets/Mediterranean-tortoise%20care-and-advice-Dec-2022-jh.pdf
[2] Buying & setting up for a baby tortoise – Tortoise Protection Group.
https://www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk/site/164.asp
[3] Indoor Housing – The Tortoise Table.
https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/tortoise-care/enclosures/indoor-housing
[4] Routine Care – The Tortoise Table.
https://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/tortoise-care/routine-care/
[5] Tortoise Frequently Asked Questions – Tortoise Protection Group.
https://www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk/site/63.asp
[6] PawHut Tortoise Table with Adjustable Lamp Holder, Wooden Tortoise House with Openable Lids Pull-out Trays – Grey | Aosom UK.
https://www.aosom.co.uk/item/pawhut-tortoise-table-with-adjustable-lamp-holder-wooden-tortoise-house-with-openable-lids-pull-out-trays-grey~1KU17J4D07801.html