r/tortoise • u/Swimming_Gene_9090 • 10d ago

Question(s) Help with electricity

U wanna get a small tortoise Greek or Hermann's, I'm In the UK and energy prices sucks i know they need two lamps but are there any compact one which really saves money i can really afford around 5 pounds monthly which is about 20kwh so drop your tips and advices. Thanks

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u/Full_Traffic_3148 9d ago

I'm UK based.

Tbh, if you are going to struggle with £5 electricity then I don’t think that you're in a good position to have a pet. They cost money to maintain.

They really do have unforeseen ongoing costs not just the initial setup.

This year, we've had vets bills (£120), grass seed for the outside, plants, new bowls, wood hide for them to climb not go in, bedding naterial, replaced the bulbs as have to be done after so much hours usage and if indoors only you'll need to do this more frequently. Vitamins and water additives. Updated the inside run. These ongoing items has cost ieo £320. This is so far and they've only been awake since March!

Plus the weekly food costs are between £7-10.

It's better for them to have outside areas too. Ours was created using untreated sleepers and a carpenter built the sides for me and attached their house. Quotes started at ridiculous ££££ but I managed to get it all done, including the drainage stones, turfing areas, cocoa coir for about £300.

Inside setups depend on what you're choosing!

Remember they need a minimum of 8x4foot space.

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u/Swimming_Gene_9090 9d ago

I have plenty of plants and I can make Thier home my issue is just the on going expenses 😔

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u/Full_Traffic_3148 9d ago

As I said then, I really don't think that right now is the right time.

Pets are expensive.

They need specific plants, they cost money, you cannot jus go to the garden centre! Majority in your garden won't be safe for them!

I urge you to do some serious research.

The electricity cap is going to sky rocket in the autumn. If you cannot manage £5 of electricity now, then you quite honestly won't be able to then moreso. And even if on a set tariff, these are going to increase. If £5 is such a make or break amount, you are barely surviving yourself and it is not fair to then get a pet!

Can you look at improving your income and savings? Then review?

And as I said, my ongoing expenses since March this year has been £300 plus food! That's roughly £130-40 a month!

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u/Swimming_Gene_9090 9d ago

Thank you so much i will think about it again