Interesting facts about having tortoises as pets
Tortoises are very interesting creatures, and having tortoises as pets can be an amazing adventure. However, there are even more responsibilities involved with having a pet tortoise as there are with other types of animals like dogs and cats. For one thing, tortoises will grow to be much larger than most dogs, and they tend to have very specific dietary needs that will require constant attention to make sure they are getting adequate nutrition. Also remember that tortoises can live to be 100 years old, so you may end up with a pet that gets passed down a couple of generations.
What to feed tortoises as pets
Tortoises do need a wide variety of foods in their diets, especially fresh vegetables. Even tortoises that can eat specially formulated food from the pet store should also get plenty of fresh veggies.
Housing needs
Probably the most difficult challenge when it comes to keep tortoises as pets is housing. First of all, they tend to be very messy, so keep this in mind before you plan any enclosures for your pet tortoise. The reptile will leave a lot of waste lying around, and it can be very smelly and dirty.
Tortoises also have very specific requirements when it comes to pens. Some tortoises will even need to have a fence buried underground because they burrow, but check with your pet store before you go to extreme lengths. Other varieties of tortoises are very good climbers, so some species will need a roof on their pen. Also don’t be fooled by the slow nature of tortoises. Many of them are very strong, especially the very large ones. This is why the pen you build will have to be extremely sturdy.
It’s also very important that you don’t have any rocks or stairs inside the tortoises pen because climbing can make the reptile tip over. If the tortoise spends too much time on its back, it could die.
Also some species of tortoise need to hibernate, so find out ahead of time if this is the case with your tortoise and provide appropriate shelter.
The need for sunlight
Another important part of housing a tortoise is its need for sunlight. All tortoises need to be exposed to ultraviolet light, which is best achieved through direct sunlight by placing the pen outside. However, this is not always possible, especially for tortoise owners who live in an area that gets cold very easily. If there’s no way for direct sunlight exposure, then make sure to purchase special lights and bulbs that produce ultraviolet light. These bulbs can be purchased at any store that sells supplies for taking care of reptiles.
Other important reminders
One of the most important things to remember about tortoises is that they can carry salmonella, which means you must wash your hands every time you come into contact with the tortoise or spend any time in its pen. This is especially important for children, and it’s one reason many experts recommend that families with young children do not keep tortoises.