Tortoise Housing
What sort of home or enclosure should you provide for your new tortoise?
This is fundamental to the long term health of your pet. If your choice is wrong now it will inevitable be detrimental to your tortoise. Therefore there are a number of factors to consider when you are thinking of getting a tortoise.
1. What type of tortoise have you decided to care for?
2. How big will your tortoise grow?
3. Do you intend to keep more than one type of tortoise in the same enclosure?
4. Should you EVER keep different types of tortoise in the same tank?
5. If your tortoise becomes sick how will you care for it if you do have more than one pet in the same enclosure?
6. Once you have decided on the actual type you want to keep, what will it require in its enclosure, what will it eat, will you need to provide live plants inside the enclosure for the tortoise to graze on during the day?
7. If you do decide to plant live vegetation in the enclosure what should you avoid? Some plants are toxic to your tortoise and will cause harm.
8. Where should you place the enclosure so that it will not cause stress to your tortoise?
9. What sort of things should you place inside the enclosure for the tortoise to hide in, bask on, and burrow in?
10. What sort of artificial light and heat should you provide in the tortoise enclosure?
That is a long list but it is just the start… but if you choose the right sort of enclosure for your pet you will provide the safest and happiest place for your life-long friend to live happily for years. If you get it wrong your new friend may become very ill, stressed and suffer unduly. Just a little thought and planning will ensure your enclosure meets all the needs of any tortoise you choose to care for.
A convenient choice for a smaller species of tortoise, such as a Horsfield or Russian tortoise is a tortoise table. These can be bought as a ready made and constructed piece of furniture or you could build one yourself. They can be the best choice if you do not have vast amounts of space but they are still quite large.. for more information on how to build your own tortoise table click HERE!
