Introduction
Tortoises have been on Earth for over 55 million years, predating the dinosaurs. Tortoises are among the world’s oldest living things, with some examples living for nearly 150 years. A tortoise is a great pet if you will put in the time and effort to maintain it. This article covers every aspect of turtle ownership, from feeding to handling to what kind of habitat they require. If you are concerned about How To Take Care Of Tortoises, continue reading.
Tortoise Natural History
From East Iran, Central Asia, China, and Russia. Russian tortoises thrive in open spaces near flora and water. These regions have extreme weather. Weather limits their activity to three to five months a year. They hibernate in winter and are inactive in summer. They may stay active practically year-round in captivity. Most Russian tortoises are small. They reach maturity at 20-30 years old, with males measuring 5-6 inches and females 7-8 inches. They’re sexually mature at 10. Their captive lifespan is 40-60 years.
African or Sulcata Tortoise: The African Tortoise, the world’s third largest, lives in sub-Saharan Africa’s deserts. They evolved to exist on little food and water as vegetarians. At five to eight years old, sulcata tortoises become sexually mature. The average adult male tortoise is 24-30 inches long and 70-120 pounds. Female tortoises weigh 65-75 pounds and measure 20-24 inches. African tortoises can live 80 years or more in captivity.
Red-footed tortoise: South America is full of these tortoises. Medium-sized tortoises may adapt to numerous situations. Their hues and patterns differ by region. The Argentine “cherry-head” cultivar is by far the most common. The Argentine “cherry-head” variety is the most popular type grown worldwide. Despite international bans, the illegal trade of this turtle continues. Red-footed tortoises develop sexually at 8-12 years. Adults are 8-14″ long. Red-footed tortoises live 55–65 years in captivity.
Tortoise Breeds: The Russian, African or Sulcata, and Red-Footed are three popular pet tortoises. They come from diverse parts of the world, but while they have many similarities, there are crucial variations in how to care for them.
Tortoise Pet Maintenance: A Guide
Your first order of business after bringing home a tortoise should be an appointment with an exotic vet with prior expertise in tortoises. The veterinarian will conduct a physical examination and likely suggest a fecal exam and blood work. Due to their role as known disease vectors, reptiles are of utmost importance, especially those illegally imported from other countries.
When you get your new tortoise home, be on the lookout for these symptoms:
- Muscular and robust legs are ideal. The tortoise needs to be able to get up off the floor by itself.
- Their beak, gills, skin, and scales should all shine.
- A solid and smooth shell is ideal. Check the scutes for any signs of injury, damage, or pyramiding.
- The eyes should look healthy and brilliant without any discharge. There shouldn’t be any discharge or debris in the nostrils either.
- They need to close their mouth when breathing.
- A torpor-free tortoise will be responsive and alert.
The Habitat Of Your Tortoise
What kind of turtle you have will determine what habitat is best for your pet. Adult Sulcata tortoises require enclosures at least 5 feet by 5 feet, preferably considerably larger. Your pet tortoise’s enclosure should be at least three times long as its shell is wide.
Provide a wading dish and a warm spot for the animals to sun themselves. Provide rough-sided paver stones and flat pebbles near eating and basking areas to encourage natural nail and beak wear. Locations of enclosures, indoors or outside, will depend on local climate conditions and should be reviewed with your exotics veterinarian.
Shelter Indoors
Tortoises require a basking area and at least 10-12 hours of daily exposure to sunshine or artificial UVB rays. Indoors, it would help if you avoided these things:
- Free access to the outdoors without supervision.
- Proximity to or contact with heaters.
- Don’t let them near anything that could hurt them, including poisonous insects or cleaning products.
Temporary Shelter
It is possible to house your tortoise outside if the weather conditions are just right. The enclosure needs to be ready ahead of time. If you live in a region that experiences extreme weather, make sure you have a safe indoor space for your tortoise.
Tortoises kept outside need secure enclosures that prevent them from being preyed upon by cats, dogs, foxes, and the like. Tortoises can climb and dig, so keep that in mind. It is essential to prevent water from reaching the substrate (bedding, ground). It would help if you only put tortoise-friendly plants in the cage. The ideal location would protect from the weather while still being warm and dry.
Substrate
The substrate must aid in keeping moisture and air circulation stable. Mold and germs flourishing on a persistently moist substrate increase the risk of disease and infection. Tortoise substrate is available at pet stores, but your exotic veterinarian can advise you on other options.
Caring For Your Tortoise By Creating The Ideal Environment
Humidity And Temperature
A temperature gradient, a basking area, and UVB or, ideally, direct sunshine are essential for the health of any tortoise. To prevent your tortoise from getting too hot, you’ll need to keep an eye on the thermostat. At least two thermometers should be placed inside the cage, one in a warm, sunny spot and the other in a cooler one. They must be at the tortoise’s eye level and not directly over or near the heat source.
Lighting
Basking in the sun or being exposed to UVB radiation is essential for calcium absorption in tortoises. Your tortoise’s outside enclosure should provide both a sunny and shady area. If you keep them inside, you should provide them with a UVB lamp and frequently replace the bulbs.
Nutrition & Diet For Tortoises
Tortoises can benefit from a diet high in greens, with occasional fruit treats (no more than 5% of their total diet). No dietary supplements are required. Before administering to your tortoise, check with your vet.
Water
No matter what kind, your tortoise always needs access to clean water. Tortoises have a nasty habit of defecating in their water, so it’s important to change it daily. To prevent the spread of bacteria and illness, you should regularly disinfect your tortoise’s water dish.
Tortoises need a dish that is big enough to soak in and sufficiently deep to be capable. Salmonella bacteria, which live in the intestines of most reptiles, can be found in the excrement of tortoises. Be sure to keep the cage and your hands clean at all times. Remembering this around young children or those with weakened immune systems is especially important.
How To Take Care Of A Tortoise As A Pet
Most health problems are easily preventable due to unfavorable living conditions and improper care. Visit your veterinarian often to catch any signs of illness or parasites early.
Tortoise health issues often include:
- Parasites
- Trauma
- Affecting the respiratory system, or a cold or the flu
- Moldy shells
- Dehydration
- Disorders of metabolism
- Obesity
- Malnutrition
- Burns and other wounds
Here are some simple dos and don’ts to keep things running smoothly with your tortoise:
Do not
- Get yourself a wild-caught tortoise. Only from a trustworthy breeder can a turtle be purchased.
- Keep your tortoise in a home with other lizards and turtles.
- Don’t remove the sharp corners from your tortoise’s cage. Gravel, walnut shells, and cedar chips are just a few examples to avoid because they can cause serious harm if ingested.
- You should put your tortoise’s heating and lighting sources where it can easily access them.
- Let your tortoise free-range through the house.
- Put your tortoise in the same room as your dog or cat.
- Make sure to let everyone with enough familiarity with reptiles or small children handle your tortoise.
- Enable their access to insecticides.
Do
- The enclosure’s temperature should be checked twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.
- Monitor their calorie intake and provide them with a healthy, balanced diet.
- Keep the bad guys away from them. Shelter them if they must live outside.
- Let in as much sunlight as possible.
Conclusion
Tortoises are special creatures, and their care demands special consideration. A large, secure enclosure should have adequate cover and a comfortable temperature. Serve a varied diet high in calcium-rich vegetables and leafy greens. Providing a small water dish for regular drinking and soaking is essential. Keep things tidy and practice excellent hygiene to reduce the spread of disease. Taking your pet to the vet regularly is a must. Lastly, remember that tortoises can live for a very long time. With the right attention, these extraordinary reptiles can have long, happy lives as pets.
