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Raising a tortoise as a pet can be a unique and rewarding experience. These ancient reptiles offer a fascinating glimpse into the world of slow-paced and long-lived creatures. However, ensuring that your tortoise thrives in captivity requires careful consideration of their specific needs and living conditions. From creating an appropriate habitat to providing a suitable diet, raising a tortoise necessitates a commitment to understanding their natural behavior and biological requirements. In this guide, we will explore the fundamental aspects of raising a tortoise, equipping you with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide a healthy and fulfilling life for your shelled companion. Whether you are a novice tortoise enthusiast or an experienced reptile keeper, this comprehensive resource aims to assist you in raising a tortoise with confidence and care.
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Turtles have been present on this planet for more than 200 million years, meaning this creature walked the earth at the same time as the dinosaurs. [1] X Source of Research They are charming and delightful pets that humans love to look at and care for. However, because tortoises live long and have many experiences, they have plenty of time to form a number of preferences and have a whole list of personal needs. Therefore, taking care of tortoise can be a bigger responsibility than you think, it requires you to put in time and effort to keep your turtle healthy and strong. If you want to learn how to care for this wonderful animal, start with step 1 below.
Steps
Choose turtle
- Although your turtle is quite small when you first bring it home, some turtles can grow to more than 60 cm in size after 5-10 years of care. If you are determined to keep a turtle for a long time, do not let the appearance of the turtle charm you, but consider which turtle species is suitable for your lifestyle, income level and environment and your ability to meet it. their needs.
- Find sellers who pride themselves on their customer service, whether you shop at a pet store or search online. If the seller says you can easily get in touch with them after you buy the turtle, chances are you’ll have a secure transaction.
- In the United States, there are a number of legal regulations governing the rearing and breeding of turtles, especially Mediterranean tortoises. If you want to keep this turtle, make sure the seller has a CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) certificate. [3] X Research Sources
- You don’t have to live in the same place for 50 years, but you should be prepared to care for the new family member for many years.
Feeding and interacting with turtles
- Your turtle may need supplements to grow strong and healthy. Supplements must contain calcium, in addition to some vitamin A, Vitamin D3 if you keep turtles indoors and do not have UV light.
- Some turtles like to eat dandelion leaves, celery, lettuce, and occasionally fruit.
- Change the water every day. You need to set aside a separate bowl of water for your turtle, whether outdoors or indoors.
- If you have small children at home, you should explain to them that if you love turtles, it is best to just look at them, and only pick them up when necessary during the care process.
- You can also do a combination of the two, keeping your turtle indoors during the cold months and letting it play outdoors during the warmer months. You should prepare both types of homes for turtles to create conditions for them to live healthy and happy.
- See the following sections for proper turtle care, whether outdoors or indoors.
Caring for domestic turtles
- You can use a glass tank, but your turtle will get frustrated easily because they often try to find a way through the glass. You should stick the paper on the outside of the glass so they don’t get confused.
- You can also use a plastic container or a cement mixing tray to make a home for baby turtles. These items have the advantage that the box walls are opaque so turtles are not confused like glasses.
- The turtle’s house must be high enough that they cannot escape.
- You should use a table lamp with at least 100W for heating and another UV light to sunbathe the turtle, or just a mercury vapor lamp to provide both heat and UV light for the turtle.
- Turtle heaters should have a temperature between 30–35 °C; but this temperature can vary, depending on the species of turtle.
- Be sure to place the lights in a suitable location so that the turtle can absorb heat and cool off in other areas of the enclosure.
- Providing heat and UV light for turtles is not only necessary for their health, but also for their happiness. Turtles love light baths!
- If the breed of tortoise you keep requires medium or high humidity, the substrate should be able to hold moisture well. In this case, suitable materials include coir, sphagnum moss or peat moss.
- If your turtle needs a drier environment, you can use materials like coir and hay.
- Avoid using sand as a substrate, as turtles can eat sand and cause great trouble.
- The substrate material is not very important when the turtle is outdoors, as the natural environment is already suitable. You can add some peat moss to your turtle’s habitat for extra stimulation. You just need to make sure what’s added to the backing doesn’t contain chemicals or pesticides.
Outdoor turtle care
- Your turtle will try to find a way to dig in the corners of the cage, so the corners of the cage should be neat and strong. If you see turtles digging, you can add wire mesh below the surface of the fence to keep the turtle safe.
- Turtles are not very cold tolerant, so unless they are kept indoors, you will have to prepare a place to temporarily bring your turtle indoors if the temperature drops below 15°C during the coldest months. It’s easier if you’re in a very hot climate and want to leave your turtle outdoors, but you’ll need to make sure there’s shade at all times, especially over wet areas or water sources.
- First, dig a large hole in the ground. You can put a layer of plywood on the bottom.
- Install a roof above to make shelter for turtles.
- Cover the roof with soil.
- Plants have the ability to control ammonia and nitrate in the soil, so you also have to change the substrate less often.
Keeping turtles healthy
- Some people recommend using wire mesh fences for baby turtles to protect them from dangerous animals.
- The most common cause is that the turtle is too cold. You need to make sure to keep the turtle’s habitat warm relative to its surroundings.
- If turtles are indoors, make sure to provide them with enough light. Stronger light can make them more active.
- Remember to soak the baby turtles in water regularly throughout the day. One reason turtles are inactive is because they don’t have enough water.
- Try not to hold your turtle in your hands, as stress can also make the turtle passive.
- Feed your turtle a balanced diet. Check that greens and/or supplements are adequate to meet the turtle’s needs.
Warning
- Do not drop turtles, they can become infected and die if the shell breaks.
- If you’re not feeding your tortoise with calcium supplements, it’s even more important to know the ratio of calcium and phosphorus in their food to ensure good shell growth.
- Pay attention to the oxalate content of the vegetables the turtle eats. Every time a turtle consumes oxalic acid along with calcium, some of the calcium is left undigested, which is then converted into uric acid. Too much oxalate in some vegetables can cause uric acid to accumulate faster than the turtle’s ability to excrete, leading to kidney stones. Relative oxalate excess can also cause calcium deficiency.
- Some species of turtles (such as the Russian tortoise) are commonly caught in the wild. This can cause stress and injury. Do not support this action! Turtles bred in captivity are often cheaper and better.
Things you need
- Large fenced area for turtles
- Heat and UV lamps (for indoor turtle accommodation)
- Balanced food
- Water to soak/bathe the turtles, to maintain moisture and keep the substrate moist
- Sleeping/hiding place for turtles
- Water dish
- Backing Material
wikiHow is a “wiki” site, which means that many of the articles here are written by multiple authors. To create this article, 21 people, some of whom are anonymous, have edited and improved the article over time.
There are 11 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 44,084 times.
Turtles have been present on this planet for more than 200 million years, meaning this creature walked the earth at the same time as the dinosaurs. [1] X Source of Research They are charming and delightful pets that humans love to look at and care for. However, because tortoises live long and have many experiences, they have plenty of time to form a number of preferences and have a whole list of personal needs. Therefore, taking care of tortoise can be a bigger responsibility than you think, it requires you to put in time and effort to keep your turtle healthy and strong. If you want to learn how to care for this wonderful animal, start with step 1 below.
In conclusion, raising a tortoise requires careful consideration and dedication. It is important to create a suitable habitat providing the appropriate temperature, humidity, lighting, and diet to ensure the tortoise’s well-being. Regular check-ups with a specialized veterinarian and providing proper exercise and stimulation are also essential elements of raising a tortoise. Additionally, it is vital to be aware of the legal requirements concerning the acquisition and ownership of tortoises. With patience, knowledge, and love, anyone can successfully raise a tortoise and enjoy the unique and rewarding experience of having these remarkable creatures as part of their family.
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