May 12
15
Building A Tortoise Habitat
There are many ways of building a tortoise habitat, however it is important to know all about your species of tortoise before beginning to build. One of the first things to ask is how big your tortoise is expected to grow. If you have a tortoise that is two feet in length as a fully grown adult, then you will need a habitat that is at least six yards, or eighteen feet, in diameter. This is because tortoises really need a lot of room. They are naturally curious creatures and they like to climb and explore.
Also, your tortoise habitat should try to resemble your pets natural habitat as much as possible. If your pet comes from a dry and arid region, then keeping it in a damp, humid habitat will likely make your tortoise ill. The habitat must match the natural habitat of your pet tortoise. The dry and airy variety will need a lot of dry sand and heat lamps in its habitat to keep it comfortable and warm. The tortoises that live in humid, forested conditions will likely need a little bit of a mud in their habitat and a daily water hose spraying inside to keep the area moist and damp for their comfort and survival.
Tortoises do not like water and they are not aquatic like many turtles are, In fact, tortoises are terrible swimmers and would likely drown if placed in a Koi pond or shallow pool. Make sure your tortoise has a land habitat and is not at risk of drowning.
You can build an indoor habitat for your tortoise, as well, however make sure your tortoises have plenty of room to roam around and plenty of warmth. Tortoises need sunlight to survive and it’s imperative that they get daily sunlight in order to keep strong and be able to properly digest their food. Indoor tortoise habitats require a lot of heat and warmth to make up for the lack of natural sunlight.
You can build your tortoise habitats out of wood or glass, however, keep them safe from injury or predators by making sure they can be fully locked in at night and that the walls are built tall enough to where they cannot climb out. If you have your tortoise in a glass aquarium, remember that they do not realize its glass and they will try to get through it. This can injure them. Give the glass a paper covering so they aren’t tempted to try and get out. Be sure to read up on the requirements of your breed before building a tortoise habitat.
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Apr 12
30
The Greek Tortoise
There are many things you should know about the Greek tortoise. The Greek tortoise is in the same family as the Horsefield tortoise and the Hermann’s tortoise. The greek tortoise is often referred to as the spur-thighed tortoise. These tortoises are naturally found in southern Spain, North Africa, the Middle East, and in parts of Europe and Asia.
The Greek tortoise is relatively small and only gets to be about eight inches long. The males are often a bit smaller than the females of the species and neither the males nor the females are overly brightly colored. In fact, they are usually a basic shade of brown with areas of bright yellow on their shell. The golden Greek tortoise is very beautiful and looks to be a golden yellow color with dark markings and shading. However, their most distinguishing feature is the small spurs that are found on their thighs, which is what distinguishes them form other tortoises.
Greek tortoises are natural herbivores and prefer leafy vegetables and nonpoisonous weeds. For example, you can feed a Greek tortoise grass or hay as well as dandelions. It is important to feed your tortoise a diet that is high in Calcium and Fiber, but very low in protein. They also really like to eat prickly pear cacti.
If you are looking for the proper housing of your Greek tortoise, keep in mind these gorgeous tortoises need plenty of dry hot air. They do not do well with moisture and it can, in fact, cause them certain illnesses as these tortoises are prone to respiratory problems. Make sure to give them an enclosure with plenty of heat and sunlight. High temperatures are good for them and will remind them of their natural habitat. If you are keeping a Greek tortoise indoors, make sure to have a heating lamp for them. Also, make sure their habitat has a lot of dry sand, as that will be very close to what their natural habitat is.
Greek tortoises, although very beautiful, do not make good starter pets. They are actually very shy and can be difficult to take care of because of their need for warm and dry temperatures and their tendency to become ill. If you are going to be keeping the Greek tortoise as a pet, make sure to carefully research their habitat and dietary needs as well as their signs and symptoms of illness.
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Apr 12
15
Choosing Tortoise Names
There are many different ways of choosing tortoise names. Tortoises are excellent pets and they are very gentle and kind creatures to keep. However, just like people, tortoises all have their own little personalities. Sometimes those personalities can be quirky, too. If you’re thinking of purchasing a pet and need help picking a name, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Tortoises all have a scientific name and a common name. This is most likely due to the fact that it’s very difficult to pronounce their scientific names. However, the common name of tortoises usually has something to do with their most distinguishing feature, or their locale. For instance, the Russian tortoise is, in fact, from Russia and other places alone that area. The red foot tortoise has red scales along its limbs and head. The pancake tortoise does actually resemble a pancake in a way.
Choosing a tortoise name for your pet tortoise can be as simple or as complicated as you like. It’s almost like choosing a baby name. One way, in fact, of choosing a name for your tortoise is to check out baby books and find a name you like. There are hundreds of thousands of possible names for your tortoise, it’s simply a matter of finding one you like. Remember, tortoises live a very long time, so give your pet a good name.
Also, you can choose not to name your tortoise right away. If you allow yourself time to ge3t to know your tortoise you might find that they have a special personality trait that you want to name them after. For example, if your tortoise looks like a baby crawling every time it walks, then perhaps “Crawly” is a good name for him after all. If your tortoise tends to run into walls you might consider “Ram” a good name as well.
You can even name your tortoise after your favorite book character or author. “Jules Verne” or “Sir Arthur Conan Doyle” might seem like long names for a tiny tortoise, but they will be little personal names that you and your tortoises share together. Perhaps naming your feisty tortoise “Achilles” is appropriate, or your delicate tortoise “Lady” is better suited. Choosing tortoise names is one of the most exciting parts of owning a pet tortoise and this will add a special bond between you and your new pet.
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Mar 12
31
Tortoise Habitat
Tortoises can be very delicate creatures, particularly when introducing a your pet to a new tortoise habitat. It is important to pay close attention to your pet to see if it is exhibiting any unusual signs or activities, as this may be an indication that your tortoise is sick. There are many diseases that can affect your tortoise, so have a veterinarian check up on your tortoise if you believe its behavior is erratic.
There are two steps that can be taken to prevent disease among tortoises that you already own. First, quarantine any new tortoises for up to eighteen months before bringing them into contact with tortoises you already have. Different species of tortoises have varying tolerance levels to disease, and bringing a new tortoise into your family could expose your other tortoises to these diseases.
Second, different species of tortoises should not be kept in the same pen or habitat. Most tortoises have different environmental and nutritional needs, and so keeping different species in the same environment will inevitably prove harmful to one or all of them. Also, many tortoises have different social behaviors, which could antagonize another species.
Tortoises are animals of habit, and changes in their daily routine, or encounters with other animals, such as dogs or cats, can prove stressful, and will affect the overall health of your tortoise. Because of this, it is important to monitor the daily routine very carefully with your tortoise.
Most commonly, tortoises develop health problems due to issues that develop with their housing or food supply. It is therefore imperative that these elements are constructed specifically to the species of tortoise that you own. The tortoise habitat that you construct will play a key role in keeping your tortoise safe from sickness, although, like any other pet, occasionally you will need to provide care and treatment for your tortoise by consulting a veterinarian.
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Mar 12
22
Tortoise Diet and Nutrition
Tortoise diet and nutrition specifics vary from species to species, but the following are some basic guidelines for feeding your tortoise, along with basics for several of the most common tortoises and their food needs. After you have chosen a specific type of tortoise, please use the additional resources listed at the end of this book to further research the specific types of foods that will best benefit the health of your tortoise.
When choosing food to feed your tortoise, consider where your tortoise’s natural environment is located. What kind of food is naturally available to the tortoise for foraging? Tortoise diets are very specific to the particular species you own, and feeding your tortoise food that is not a part of their naturally occurring environment will lead to deformities in your tortoise, especially noticeable in their shells. If you notice that your tortoise is beginning to form ridges, or pyramids, on their shell, take it to a veterinarian and consult about the diet. These pyramids sometimes are an indication that your tortoise has too much protein in its diet.
Some tortoises, like Leopard, African Spurred, Sulcata, Aldabra and galapagos tortoises rely heavily on a diet of grasses and hay, which constitute up to 75% of their diet. Be cautious, however, not to buy hay that has spurs, or is prickly, as these could pose a danger to your tortoise.
Redfoot, Yellowfoot, and African Hingeback tortoises are omnivores, and can eat one meal per week of moist cat food, or some other source of low-fat animal protein. American Box and Wood turtles are also omnivores, and can eat slugs, snails, earthworms, beetles, and other types of insects. These two types of species are also able to eat green leaf veggies, grasses, and fruit, among other things.
Many tortoises, such as Indian Star and Mediterranean tortoises, are able to eat a wide variety of plants and flowers, such as mulberry leaves, dandelions, petunias, cloves, and others, as part of their diet.
Since wild tortoises are foragers, they do not eat all of the time. Your tortoise should be fed fresh food once a day, and it is important to vary the types of food you give to your tortoise. Food should be placed in a small dish or on a piece of newspaper so that you can easily clean it after your tortoise is finished. Otherwise, the food could mix with grains of sand or dirt, which your tortoise could accidentally digest. It is very important to be aware of the tortoise diet and to monitor nutrition very carefully.
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Mar 12
14
Greek Tortoise Care
The Greek Tortoise is among the more popular types of tortoises that are kept as pets today. If you are considering getting one as a pet, do your research in advance. This way, you will be knowledgeable and prepared for owning one of these magnificent creatures.
Sometimes called the Golden Tortoise, the greek tortoise is a beautiful reptile that ranges greatly in coloring. Some are a golden-yellow color, while others can be dark brown with olive green. They are a smaller type of tortoise, with adults only reaching 6 to 7 inches (15 to 18 cm) in length. They are considered to be intelligent and shy, but with proper handling and time they can be very friendly animals. Having a Greek Tortoise is a lifetime commitment, as they can live over 50 years with proper care. They come from a temperate climate zone, and prefer a dry environment.
The environment in which you keep your Greek Tortoise will greatly determine how healthy she will be. The wrong substrate can be extremely harmful, so be sure to get something that is safe for her. You can make your own sandy substrate that is half Caribbean play sand and half topsoil, which nicely mimics many of the natural habitats of the Greek Tortoise. You can also provide milled coconut fiber and certain types of shredded wood chips. It is also important for your tortoise to have a cave or other type of shelter to hide in, so she can feel safe and hidden when she needs to.
The Greek Tortoise is a strict vegetarian, and must maintain a high fiber, low protein diet. Too much protein can actually lead to renal failure and death, so be careful with what you are feeding your tortoise. The best diet is plenty of dark leafy green, including dandelion leaves, kale, and turnip leaves. You can provide fruits as treats, but too many fruits can cause diarrhea and other intestinal problems.
Some tortoises will need extra calcium in their diet. To provide this for them, you can do one of two things. A pure calcium carbonate can be added to their diet, and you can also give them cuttlebone. Cuttlebone is actually bone from a cuttlefish, and can be found in the bird section of most pet stores. Your tortoise will need to have a steady supply of fresh drinking water to stay hydrated. You can also bathe your Greek Tortoise in lukewarm water, which will keep her clean and help with hydration.
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Mar 12
4
Facts About Tortoise Diet
Having the correct diet could be the difference between having a tortoise that lives a full 50 or more years, or one who only lives to be 10. An improper diet in tortoises can lead to various internal problems, including renal failure and diarrhea. It can also lead to deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals, which can lead to other health problems.
Although all tortoises are going to be slightly different depending on what species they are, most tortoises require a diet which is extremely high in fiber and very low in protein. Do research on your specific type of tortoise to be sure of the exact dietary requirements before choosing foods for your tortoise. Although you can find commercial pellet foods to feed your tortoise, they would mainly survive on fresh greens in the wild, so it’s best to mimic that as much as possible.
Leafy greens are the best for your tortoise, as they are both high in fiber and closely mimic what your tortoise eats in its natural habitat. Some of the various greens you can choose from are: dandelion leaves, romaine lettuce, turnip greens, carrot greens, kale, collard greens, and spinach. The darker the green, the more nutrients it’s going to contain.
If you do not have your tortoise in an outdoor enclosure, you can allow your tortoise to spend time in your backyard grazing. Before you do that, be sure there is no place your tortoise can escape, or go to hide where you can’t easily find it. You also want to make sure that there are no harmful chemicals in the grass that could harm your tortoise. This includes pesticides and fertilizers. If you have a lot of wild animals or even wandering pets, it is best to watch your tortoise while it is grazing to ensure safety.
Many tortoises that come from tropical regions get a lot of fruits in their diet, so you can give those as treats as well. If your tortoise comes from an arid region where there are no fruits, giving your pet even a little fruit could make it very sick, which is why doing research is important, and why one diet does not fit every tortoise. Some tortoises will also occasionally eat slugs or snails, so you can provide those if you have one of those types of tortoise.
The last thing that you need to have in your tortoise diet is minerals, especially calcium, as most tortoises come from regions rich in calcium, which helps greatly with shell development and general health.
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Every tortoise is different, and so is every tortoise habitat. For that reason, it is important to be sure that you have the right habitat for your type of tortoise. Do the research necessary to find out everything you can about the natural habitat of your tortoise. Although tortoises are very adaptive, the less adaptation they have to do, the better they will be. If you can closely mimic their natural environment, they will be much less stressed, which means they will be a lot healthier.
One type of tortoise lives in a climate that has extreme temperatures in the summer and the winter, so it spends most of its time in hibernation, only becoming really active in the spring to breed and feed. This is the Russian tortoise, which can be found in Russia as well as parts of Pakistan and Iran. Because of the amount of hibernation the Russian Tortoise does in the wild, it is important that you be informed of tortoise hibernation habits, and discuss with your veterinarian about when it is best to allow your pet to hibernate, or if you should prevent it from doing so.
This type of tortoise is a burrowing tortoise, and prefers loose soil where they can easily dig burrows. It is the Desert Tortoise, and can be found anywhere from grassy plains to rocky hills. This type of tortoise has plenty of access to water, food, and mineral sources. Because of the amount of mineral sources the Desert Tortoise has in its natural habitat, it is important to be sure that your pet has plenty of minerals in its diet, as well as constant access to food and water.
This type of tortoise is found in Africa, and lives in areas where there is a lot of grass. Although the climate is dry, the Leopard Tortoise is a grazer by nature, and gets plenty of grass in the wild. If you have a Leopard Tortoise, you need to be sure that you provide a lot of greens. You can even allow them to go outside in your yard to graze, which is sure to really make them feel at home.
Whatever type of tortoise you have, you can find plenty of information on what the specific needs are of your tortoise. Because in the wild there is a lot of tortoise habitats being destroyed, it is your responsibility as a tortoise owner to give your pet the best care possible, to ensure the survival of the tortoise species.
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Feb 12
13
Finding Good Tortoise Names
When picking out tortoise names, it is important to remember that tortoises are very long-lived. The name you choose for your tortoise will be her name for many years, possibly even longer than you’ll be around to care for her. For that reason, it is important to put some consideration into the name you choose for you new companion.
If you have children, you should bring them into the naming process. This way, they will feel connected to your new pet. This will ensure that they feel a bond with the tortoise, and means they will be much more willing and even eager to care for her. Although it is possible that children will only come up with names such as “Tortie,” “Pokey,” and “Shelly,” they can sometimes surprise you by coming up with an excellent name.
One of the best ways to come up with a good name for your tortoise is simply to observe her behavior, and look for interesting personality quirks that could lead to a good name. Even if this means waiting a few days or longer, it will be well worth it to come up with an outstanding name that will be perfect for your tortoise.
There are many different websites that have 100,000’s of names available. You can even do meaning searches on some of them to find a clever and fitting name. For example, a tortoise who is very friendly could be named “Mitra,” which is the Sanskrit word for “friend.” Searching for a name this way will give your tortoise a unique name that also has a deep meaning behind it.
The species of your tortoise can also help you find a good name for her. greek tortoises can be given Greek names, and star tortoises can be given names of stars or constellations. “Andromeda” and “Cassiopia” are two well-known constellations that would also make great tortoise names. “Carina” and “Aesop” are Greek names.
You can also look into finding a word in a different language that would also work well as a name. Looking up words like “tortoise,” “slow,” “wise,” “old,” and “earth” are great words to start with and could easily lead you to a name for your tortoise. When picking out tortoise names, there are a lot of options, so be sure to take your time and get lots of input before making a final decision.
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Dec 11
21
Facts About The Greek Tortoise
The greek tortoise is native to many countries in Europe and the surrounding areas, including Spain, France, Greece, Russia, and Morocco. A typical greek tortoise is about 8” (20 cm), though they can occasionally reach 12” (30cm). In color, the greek tortoise is brown to dark tan. They are generally dull in color, but is still quite attractive and changing.
The Greek tortoise is known for being reasonably low-maintenance, but there are many things to consider before bringing one into your home. They need to be bathed frequently. It is recommended that they are given four baths per week. This means both washing and then drying them afterwards. It is important to note here that many Greek tortoises are carriers of salmonella, so it is very important to thoroughly wash your hands after bathing them, as well as everything that came in contact with your tortoise while you were bathing him or her.
Greek tortoises are considered to be wild-caught pets, and many of them are wild-caught. For this reason, it is important to be aware of the bacteria and diseases your Greek tortoise may be carrying. This can also cause stress on the tortoise because of the sudden change in environment. Make sure you research greek tortoises before getting one, and find a good seller who can guarantee the health and sanitation of the tortoises they are selling.
As far as feeding goes, the Greek tortoise is one of the easiest to please. They are herbivorous, which means they only eat plants. Some of their favorite plants are leafy vegetables such as romaine lettuce and kale. They will also sometimes eat carrot peelings. For the most part, they will not eat iceburg lettuce or spinach. If possible, you can let your fully mature tortoise wander in your yard, where he or she will eat all the weeds he or she wants. If you do plan on allowing your tortoise to eat weeds from your yard, you need to be sure that there is nothing there that could be hazardous, in the form of chemicals, animals, or anything that your tortoise could hurt him or herself on.
The Greek tortoise requires a dry environment with a good lining of substances they can use for bedding. They should have the temperature maintained at a steady level, and have access to a heat lamp. They should also be in an environment where they can get good airflow The Greek tortoise also likes to have a place to hide, as it is a shy tortoise.
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