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 known as carapace
and the bottom side is known as 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
different than others. Different species have a different diet.
They consume huge amounts of food and the calcium and
phosphorous balance should be maintained in their diets. The
tortoises are also temperature sensitive. Usually it is a good
idea to bring the tortoise indoors at night. And when the
weather is cold, they should be kept 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
stressful for the animal as well as the owners. The owners
should provide the pet with special provision for hibernation
otherwise the pet will suffer with stress.
A pen can be constructed in the yard, where the tortoise can
live. The pen should be really strong and the fences should be
buried deep as some of the tortoises have fascination of
digging. They are also very strong reptiles. They can 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 bite, bird attack,
etc. The owner must check out for possible threat to the pet,
also within the pen itself. Some plants can be harmful if the
tortoise feeds on them. So plants that are edible only should be
planted or kept 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 can be chewed and not digested
by animal shouldn’t be kept in the pen. Steps should also be
avoided within the pen, because while they are climbing they can
trip and fall over their back, which is very deadly for them.
Some species grow really big, so this factor should also be
considered while building the pen. In fact, this factor should
be considered when buying itself. Different species grow to
different sizes; have different dietary habits, living
conditions, and temperature adaptability. Beginners should
certainly 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
chances that they can fall ill or even die because of high
levels of stress. Also such types of animals carry a wide range
of parasites, which can be harmful for the owner as well. When
the potential owner thinks of buying a tortoise, it should get
it thoroughly examined for parasites and other diseases from a
vet.
Tortoises prefer to stay alone. They shouldn’t be mixed with
other pets and no two male tortoises should be kept together as
they can fight and injure each other very seriously. Tortoises
have a very long lifespan. They can live up to hundred years.
There can be possibility of the pet outliving the owner, so the
owner should have everything planned and should make a lifetime
commitment.