If you have a tortoise or are thinking about buying one, you will probably be wondering if they can live outside or whether you should keep them indoors? Fortunately, at least for some part of the year your tortoise should be very happy to live outside as long as you pay attention to the important details for them.
As members of the Chelonian reptile family, turtles, tortoises and terrapins are related. The difference between tortoises and turtles is that tortoises are herbivores that live on land while turtles are omnivores that live in the sea. Terrapins are one type of small turtle that lives in brackish water.
A pet tortoise is not likely to survive in the wild because it is difficult to adapt to the new environment. Many tortoises released into the wild may catch a disease, get attacked by a predator, starve to death, or freeze to death. Even if they survived, a new tortoise may cause problems to the local ecosystem.
It’s worth having tortoise insurance if you don’t have large savings that can cover an emergency. Vet bills and medicine can quickly add up. However, you’re likely to spend more money on the insurance policy over the lifetime of your tortoise than you get back in benefits so if you can set some money aside, tortoise insurance is not worth it.
Tortoises should not live in an aquarium. Aquariums lack proper ventilation and they don’t have enough space for a tortoise to pace and explore. Tortoises find aquariums, or any glass enclosures, very stressful because they can see through and will feel trapped.
Tortoises are excellent pets and it’s only right to feel a little concern if you find your tortoise might not be in perfect health, but is it a natural process when a tortoise’s shell peels or is something more sinister going on? “My tortoise shell is peeling” – Should I be worried? A tortoise regularly …
“My Tortoise Shell Is Peeling” – Should You Worry? Read More »
The safest kinds of pest control around pet tortoises are organic methods such as worms, bacteria, oil sprays, insecticidal soaps, pheromones and floating covers. Chemical pest control methods are dangerous to tortoises and other pets. They can get them sick, or worse, be fatal.
The common reasons for your tortoise’s shell to go soft are vitamin deficiencies, metabolic bone disease, and shell rot. Some tortoise species, as well as very young tortoises, have naturally softer shells so it is not caused by any illness or disease.
Tortoises need to soak twice a week or so to help them stay hydrated and clean. This keeps them strong and healthy, avoiding getting sick from dehydration or bacteria that can build up on their body. Tortoises also need to soak so that the shell and the skin do not crack from dryness.
During hibernation inspect your tortoise for signs of illness, signs of urination (in which case she needs to be soaked to avoid dehydration), monitor the temperature and humidity in the hibernation space every day, and monitor the weight of the tortoise on a weekly basis.