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Caring for Your Tortoise

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Caring for Your Tortoise Outdoor Housing Chard Chicory Carrots, chopped Collard Greens Corn If outdoor housing will be the primary Eggplant Escarole Caring for housing, the enclosure needs to offer Grape Leaves Green Beans protection from climate extremes, protect Hibiscus Kale Your against predators, and be escape-proof. In Parsley Peaches addition, the area should be large enough to Spinach Strawberries provide room for exercise, a basking site, a Summer Squash Zucchini Tortoise shelter for sleeping, and relief from hot, sunny days. Include a removable basin for The following foods are poisonous: water that is large enough for the tortoise to Apple Seeds Bird of Paradise soak in; restrict usage to once per week. A Bottlebrush Calla Lilly smaller container of water should be available Christmas Cactus Common Pivet at all times. Dieffenbachia Dogwood English Ivy Foxglove Use a thermometer at the tortoise level to Hemlock Impatiens ensure the proper temperatures are being met. Iris Jasmine Heat can be provided by an incandescent bulb Larkspur Lily of the Valley (75-100 watt) or a heat lamp mounted on the Marijuana Milk Weed interior roof of the enclosure, out of the way Mistletoe Mushrooms of the tortoise. Heated and insulated Oleander Poinsettia doghouses can be ideal shelters. Poison Ivy Poison Oak Poison Sumac Pokeweed Herbicides and pesticides can be fatal to Potato leaves Privet tortoises. If the outdoor unit is on grass, make Rhododendron Rhubarb certain no herbicides or pesticides are used. Sage Snapdragon Be aware that ants, especially fire ants, can Sweet Pea Tomato leaves kill tortoises. Tulip Verbena Wisteria Yew If the temperature in your geographic area falls below 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit, your This information is designed as a basic guide. There are tortoise should be brought indoors. several books and online resources available which provide in-depth information on tortoises and their care. Diet Food should be offered every other day. Do right by your pet. Vitamin and mineral supplementation should Do right by our environment. Don't release unwanted pets. be given once or twice per week. Foods Visit Habitattitude™ on www.pijac.org preferred by tortoises include: Alfalfa Aloe Vera Apples w/o seeds Bananas Banana Squash Beets Bell Peppers Broccoli Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council Brussel Sprouts Cantaloupe www.pijac.org www.pijac.org About Tortoises species inhabit a wide range of environments Your tortoise must have sunlight in order to within a region. Since you may not know remain in good health. An alternative is a While there are about 50 species of tortoises, which area your tortoise is from, you may UVB light (ultra violet) placed within a 4-foot only a few of these species are available as have to test a variety of options. pets. There are federal and state laws distance from the carapace (top shell) of the restricting the sale, capture, and/or possession tortoise. This light must be direct, not filtered of many domestic and imported tortoises. Temperate climates. Greeks, Hermanns and through glass or plastic, as UVB rays do not Before you purchase or possess a tortoise, be Russians come from a temperate climate and penetrate through them. Exposure to sunlight certain of its identity and whether or not a go through a moderate hibernation period. or UVB bulb should be at least 10-12 hours permit is required to keep it as a pet. They inhabit different environs, from per day. Tortoises require a higher ambient grasslands and forests to rocky hillsides and temperature than humans. The suggested scrubland. range is 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit at one end Legal, captive bred species include the Red of the housing unit, and 90-95 degrees Foot, Leopard, and Sulcata Tortoises. Fahrenheit in the basking area. Normally a Imported tortoises such a Mediterranean, Arid climates. Sulcatas, Leopards, Stars, and 75-watt incandescent bulb will provide the Greek, Russian, Hinge backs, Yellow Foot, Pancakes inhabit semiarid to arid environs, necessary heat range. Use a thermometer to and Elongated Tortoises may be offered for from grassland and rocky scrubland to barren gauge heat intensity. If it’s too cool, it can sale. Rare species such as Hermanns, desert. They do not hibernate, but some will cause respiratory problems. If it’s too hot, it Burmese, Stars, and Pancakes may be burrow into the earth or under vegetation until can cause dehydration and death. obtained in very limited quantities. climate conditions improve, and then enter a dormant period. There are several things to consider before The floor of the enclosure should be covered acquiring a tortoise, such as: Humid climates. RedFoots, Yellowfoots. with a substrate material such as reptile bark size and weight of the adult tortoise; Elongated, and some Hingebacks are from chips and cypress mulch or, for some species, humid, tropical climates. They do not rabbit pellets work very well. These will longevity; hibernate. allow for easy maintenance, stool removal, climate zone of the species; burrowing and proper maneuverability housing requirements; and (walking and climbing). The substrate should the amount of and types of foods Inside Housing be spot cleaned and turned daily removing consumed. droppings and uneaten food. If you are planning to keep your tortoise By including assorted pieces of flat rocks and inside, the minimum aquarium size is a 20 This pamphlet provides information on the wood, your tortoise will be able to keep nails inch long or 30-gallon aquarium, set up as a optimal care guidelines for your new tortoise. trimmed. Do not build places for your tortoise terrarium. Alternatives to aquariums include a Prior to purchasing your tortoise, select the to climb, however. If a tortoise rolls over onto large plastic tub with high sides, a child’s necessary housing and equipment, and then its back, it will not be able to right itself. wading pool, or a large custom-made introduce the tortoise to his new home. Exposed to direct or simulated sunlight, it polyurethane-sealed, plywood enclosure. may succumb to the heat. Keep in mind that the sides of your tortoise’s home should be twice the length of your Environment tortoise. As it grows in size, larger housing Tortoises need shelter for sleeping and Tortoises can originate from different climate security. A large domed piece of cork bark or zones throughout the world. It is imperative units should be provided. It is also recommended to set up an outdoor enclosure half of a ceramic drain tile will suffice. Make that you replicate your tortoise’s specific certain the shelter is large enough to natural environment as closely as possible. so that your tortoise can spend the appropriate time (weather permitting) in the fresh air and accommodate the entire length and width of This includes temperature, humidity, sunlight your pet. intensity, terrain, diet, water, and seasonal direct sunlight. changes (including microclimates). Some .
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