Tortoises are turtles, which live on land and belong to the reptile family of the order Testudines. They too have shell like sea turtles. The top part of the shell is called carapace and the bottom side is named plastron. They have both exoskeleton and endoskeleton. They are active during the day and are very shy animals.
They are very fascinating animals, but their dietary habits are completely different than others. Totally different species have a different diet. They eat huge amounts of food and the calcium and phosphorous stability should be maintained in their diets. The tortoises are also temperature sensitive. Normally it is a good idea to bring the tortoise indoors at night. And when the weather is cold, they should be stored inside totally. But this can be a big problem if the tortoises are big in size. Some species also hibernate during winter. This can be really irritating for the animal as well as the owners. The house owners should provide the pet with special provision for hibernation otherwise the pet will endure with stress.
A pen may be constructed in the yard, where the tortoise can live. The pen should be really sturdy and the fences should be buried deep as some of the tortoises have fascination of digging. They are also very sturdy reptiles. They’ll easily break weaker walls. Also some tortoises are good climbers, so the pen should also be provided with a roof. The roof also saves the tortoise from other dangers such as dog chew, chook attack, etc. The owner must try for possible menace to the pet, also throughout the pen itself. Some vegetation will be harmful if the tortoise feeds on them. So plants that are edible only should be planted or stored in the den.
They should also be provided with water, but the water body should be shallow, so that the tortoise won’t drown in it. Other things which are sharp or which might be chewed and not digested by animal shouldn’t be saved in the pen. Steps also needs to be avoided inside the pen, because while they are climbing they’ll trip and fall over their back, which may be very deadly for them.
Some species grow really big, so this factor must also be thought of while building the pen. In truth, this factor should be considered when buying itself. Different species grow to completely different sizes; have totally different dietary habits, dwelling circumstances, and temperature adaptability. Beginners should definitely go for a captive bred, as they are less troublesome than the ones that come directly from the wild. Also when tortoises are captured from the wild and transported, there are possibilities that they’ll fall unwell and even die due to excessive ranges of stress. Also such kinds of animals carry a wide range of parasites, which can be harmful for the owner as well. When the potential proprietor thinks of buying a tortoise, it should get it completely examined for parasites and other ailments from a vet.
Tortoises prefer to remain alone. They shouldn’t be combined with different pets and no two male tortoises should be kept together as they will struggle and injure each other very seriously. Tortoises have a very long lifespan. They’ll live as much as hundred years. There may be chance of the pet outliving the proprietor, so the owner ought to have everything deliberate and should make a lifetime commitment.
