Caring for a tortoise

Content

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Part 1 of 5: Choosing your tortoise
Part 2 of 5: Maintaining and handling your tortoise
Part 3 of 5: Caring for a tortoise in an indoor environment
Part 4 of 5: Taking care of your tortoise outside
Part 5 of 5: Keeping your tortoise healthy
Warnings
Necessities

Tortoises have lived on this planet for more than 200 million years, which means that these exciting creatures roamed Earth in tandem with dinosaurs. They are fascinating pets, they are fun to watch and care for. However, since they've been around for a long time, they've had plenty of time to pick up a few preferences and develop an in-depth list of personal care needs. This means that taking care of a tortoise is more of a commitment than you might think and it takes time and dedication to keep your tortoise healthy and strong. If you want to learn how to start taking care of this fantastic creature, go to Step 1 to get started.

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Part 1 of 5: Choosing your tortoise

Choose your tortoise. Tortoises come in many varieties and there are many factors to consider when choosing one. Like what you want your turtle to look like, the environment your turtle prefers, and how much money you want to "dock" for this armored creature. Any type of tortoise you choose will make a fantastic pet for your family, once you commit to taking care of this special species. Some of the more common breeds are the Sulcata, Leopard, Redfoot, Yellowfoot, Greek, Russian, Hermanns, and Indian Star. Here are a few things you should know about choosing a tortoise:
- Measure. While the tortoise you bring home is small and cute at first, tortoises can grow over two feet after 5-10 years of care. If you're really committed to having one for a long time, then you should consider whether you can care for a large-sized tortoise. This depends on whether you plan to keep the turtle indoors or outdoors. If you plan to keep your tortoise indoors, a smaller tortoise is better suited than a larger one.
- Surroundings. Tortoises are generally not very cold-tolerant, so since we live in colder climates, you should be prepared to keep your turtle indoors for part of the year (unless you keep it indoors all year anyway ). If so, your best bet is to choose a tortoise that will thrive indoors, at least part of the year.
- price. Everyone thinks the Star tortoise looks fantastic, but it does cost quite a bit. When it comes to picking out your turtle, you need to consider how much money you want to spend.
Buy your turtle from a seller in good standing. It is important to buy your tortoise from a seller you respect, who has a history of successful sales, and who can promise that the tortoise you buy is in good health. Avoid buying your animal at a reptile show as this makes it likely that you will buy the animal and will not be able to reconnect with the seller. It is best if the seller guarantees that your tortoise will live for at least a few days after the sale, it can be difficult to extend that period as it is impossible for the seller to see how you care for the animal.
- Whether you go to a pet store or find your pet online, find a seller who takes pride in customer service. If your salesperson says he or she is easy to reach after the sale has taken place, it is more likely that you made a good transaction.
- There are some legal restrictions on the keeping or breeding of certain tortoises, especially those from the Mediterranean. If this is the case with the tortoise you want, make sure the seller has a certificate from C.I.T.E.S. (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species).
Make sure you can make a long connection with your turtle. If you can only care for your tortoise for a year or two before you leave the ship, it may not be the best pet for you. Tortoises can live between 50 and 100 years, which means that your cute pet can live longer than you. Don't let this scare you though; just make sure you get a house turtle if you live in a stable environment and know that you can find someone to take care of it if you have to move or leave.
- You don't have to live in one place for 50 years, but you do need to be prepared to take care of your new roommate for many years.

Part 2 of 5: Maintaining and handling your tortoise

Feed your tortoise. The type of food your turtle eats will depend a lot on the type of tortoise you have chosen. It is important to ask the source where you got the turtle about what you should definitely include in its diet. In general, however, most turtles eat mixed leafy vegetables like a typical "spring mix" like you can find in the supermarket. When tortoises are babies, they should eat softer food because their tiny jaws find it difficult to pull apart harder food. Tortoises can eat most vegetables, such as broccoli, green beans or cabbage, especially if you mix them with the mixed leafy greens, but it is important to know what your type of turtle needs.
- Your tortoise will also need a supplement to ensure that it can grow healthy and strong. It needs a calcium supplement about twice a week, a mulitamin two to three times a week, and an addition with D3 if kept indoors and out of sunlight.
- Some tortoises prefer dandelion leaves, celery, lettuce and sometimes fruit. Grapes are a great option to try.
Provide your turtle with water. It is important that your tortoise has enough water to stay hydrated and healthy. You can simply pour some water into a shallow dish and sink it into the bottom of its enclosure to prevent your turtle from knocking it over. It should be shallow enough that your turtle can easily stand in it and lower its head into the water without being completely submerged.
- Replace the water daily. Your turtle should have its own water bowl, whether outside or inside.
Treat your tortoise with care. Never drop a turtle; if their shield breaks, they die. Also, never tap the turtle's shell. The carapace is very tightly connected to the turtle's spine, with a minimal amount of tissue between bone and carapace. Tapping and knocking on the shell is very painful for the tortoise. While you really long to hold your house turtle, try to take it easy with too much holding, and let others hold as little as possible. This can stress your favorite animal and lead to inactivity.
- If there are small children around, explain to them that it is better if they love the turtle from a distance. Too much handling can frighten the tortoise.
Soak your baby turtle in water a few times a week. Tortoises need to stay watered, especially when they are young. When you first bring your turtle home, you should soak it in water a few times a week so that it feels fully hydrated, making sure to keep its head above water.Usually, once the tortoise is well and soaked, it will immediately start drinking water. This will be a sign that everything is going well. Remember that more isn't always better when it comes to watering your turtle. Every other day at most is fine.
Choose the type of habitat you want for your turtle. It is best to create an outdoor area for your turtle. Some people believe it is inhumane to keep a turtle indoors alone. If you are really convinced that you want a turtle, then you should be prepared to have an outdoor enclosure for him as well. If you've decided to keep a turtle indoors on your own, do your research and choose a species that can handle this.
- You can also do both. Keep your tortoise indoors during the winter months, and let it roam outside during the warmer months. You should prepare for both types of enclosure to keep it healthy and happy.
- See the chapters below to learn how to properly care for your tortoise, whether it is an outdoor animal or an indoor animal.

Part 3 of 5: Caring for a tortoise in an indoor environment

Provide good housing indoors. If you want to keep your turtle indoors, you have to consider what kind of housing you want, whether it will be a glass aquarium or a terrarium. Keep in mind that you must have at least 90 cm² available for a baby turtle. A container with a capacity of 38 to 75 liters can work for a baby, but it will grow out of it quickly and you need to make sure your pet has enough room to grow.
- You can use glass, but turtles get frustrated trying to walk through the glass. You can tape paper to the outside of the bin to keep it from getting frustrated.
- You can also use a plastic box or cement box for a baby turtle. They have the advantage of having frosted or opaque sides which does not frustrate the tortoise as much as glass.
- The case doesn't have to be too high - a dozen centimeters will be enough.
Provide your tortoise with good lighting. If your turtle lives outside, you don't have to worry about getting enough light, but if your pet is indoors, you need to make sure it gets enough light, and thus vitamin D, to stay healthy. Here are some things to consider on your search for good lighting for your turtle:
- You should either use a desk lamp, which provides at least 100W for heating, and another UV lamp for your tortoise to bask in, or at least a mercury vapor lamp to provide your animal with both heat and light.
- The temperature of the lamp should be around 30-35 ° C, depending on the type.
- Make sure you place the lamp properly so that your turtle can soak up the heat while also taking a break from time to time.
- Not only is providing your turtle with warmth and light essential to his or her health, it is also good for your animal's happiness. In fact, they love to bathe in the light!
Provide the right bedding for your tortoise. The bedding will cover the floor of your turtle's enclosure and should be of the correct composition to ensure your turtle's health and safety. The most important thing, whether your turtle is kept indoors or out, is to make sure it is not too moist. Otherwise, your tortoise will become susceptible to infections. It should be well drained, but not too dry. The breeding ground depends on the type of turtle you have. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- If your animal needs moderate to high humidity, your breeding ground will need to be able to retain moisture well. It should include coconut fiber, Sphagnum moss or peat moss in this case.
- If your animal needs a drier climate, the breeding ground should contain things like dry coconut fiber, dried grass, or shredded paper. You can also cover with newspaper as an inexpensive solution. Either way, shredded paper is better because it provides a more exciting environment.
- Avoid using sand in the culture medium. The turtle can eat it and cause a lot of damage to itself.
- When your turtle is outside, it matters less what kind of nutrient medium you use, because the natural environment should be suitable. You can add some peat moss to the environment for additional simulation. Just make sure that anything you add to the nutrient medium is free of chemicals or pesticides.

Part 4 of 5: Taking care of your tortoise outside

Make a protective shield for your tortoise. Keeping your tortoise outside during normal temperatures is ideal for your animal. However, you can't just put your turtle out in the garden and let him or her do whatever he wants. Instead, you need an escape-proof barrier so that it stays within its boundaries. You can use concrete blocks, cemented together, or painted or sealed wooden walls.
- Your turtle will try to tunnel or burrow into the corners of its enclosure so that it is tasty and safe. If your turtle is digging, you can add a mesh net under the fence to keep it safe.
Provide shelter for your turtle. You will need some sort of shelter for your tortoise to protect it from the heat, rain, or other elements that get in your way. You want to keep your turtle nice and warm and also prevent it from overheating. It would be best if you create a hiding place for your animal, which will be where it sleeps and braves the changes in the weather. You can make it out of wood and cover it with a few inches of sand, and a cold weather heating pad if needed.
- First dig a large hole. You can place a plywood fence in the floor.
- Add a roof to the hiding place to provide shelter for your turtle.
- Cover the shelter with mud and soil.
Provide plants for your tortoise. You should keep a reasonable number of plants available for your outdoor tortoise so that he or she can eat during the day and feel safe. Look at your turtle's diet to see which plants are and which are not poisonous. In general, many turtles will eat large-leaved weeds such as dandelions, grasses or clover.
Provide encouragement for your turtle. Your turtle must have a challenging environment to keep it active and busy. You can add some pollen of grass to help your turtle dig, and it will provide some shade. You can add a few boulders to give your pet some privacy as long as they are not too steep. You can also add some small trees for shade and shelter and also for the environment to look nice.

Part 5 of 5: Keeping your tortoise healthy

Protect your turtle from other animals. If you keep your turtle outside, you will need to take steps to ensure that it is safe from other predators such as cats. If you have a dog, never leave it near the turtle; even the sweetest dogs have shown themselves to attack turtles without warning. While it's impossible to completely protect your turtle from birds, foxes, or other predators, try to make it as protected as possible by providing plenty of hiding options, keeping its enclosure intact, and keeping an eye on the outdoor enclosure.
- Some people recommend that you line a juvenile tortoise's enclosure with barbed wire to protect it from nuisance animals.
Help keep your tortoise healthy when it closes its eyes. Many people think there is something wrong with a turtle's eyes when it starts to keep them closed. In fact, this is rarely the case. If a turtle keeps its eyes closed, it usually just means that something is not right with it, and generally that means it is not as hydrated as it should be. If this is the case, soak it in a little water and cover its housing slightly to make sure its environment becomes more humid if kept indoors. If this is a chronic problem, consider dampening his bedding or taking him to a vet if something is wrong with your turtle's eyes.
Help your tortoise stay active by providing for its basic needs. While it is normal for baby turtles to sleep most of the day, if your animal is just completely inactive, you should start by looking for the source of the problem. Here are some reasons why your animal might not be as active:
- One of the most common reasons will be that your turtle is too cold. Make sure his enclosure is in a warm place depending on his environment. Cover it with wood or mulch or other materials to make it warmer if needed.
- If you keep your tortoise indoors, make sure he or she gets enough light in general. Brighter light helps to keep it active.
- Make sure your baby turtle is watered regularly throughout the day. One reason he is inactive could be that he is not well hydrated.
- Check if your tortoise has been handled too much. While you want to hold your turtle and let your ten best friends hold it too, that can actually scare your pet. Try to minimize handling, especially in the beginning, so that your turtle can feel comfortable - not intended to be funny - in its own shell.
- Make sure your turtle is fed a balanced diet. Check to see if your mixture of green foods, vegetables and supplements gives your pet everything he or she needs.
Keep your turtle's shell sturdy. If your turtle has a soft shell, it is likely that it is not getting enough light. This is a rare condition for outdoor turtles, but it can occur in turtles kept indoors as it can be more difficult for them to access a stable light source. If your indoor turtle has a soft shell, make sure he or she is no more than 20 to 25 cm from the UV light source, and that the bulb is replaced after 9-12 months at the very least, to stay fresh and active .