Choosing a tortoise-which ones dig?

[Randomchic]

Hi, I'm trying to do some research. I'm interested in adopting a tortoise and was wondering which ones are not prone to digging too much? Also curious- 1. do ducks and chickens tend to mess with tortoises?
2. Are eucalyptus trees ok around an outdoor tortoise habitat?
Thanks for any info provided!!
Amber

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Amber: The leopard tortoise hides under bushes and scrub, and only scrapes away the top layer of dirt under the bush to settle in. That's why they are colored like they are. Its pretty hard to see them under the bushes because they look just like the sun shining through the branches onto the ground.

Ducks would not be interested in a tortoise, but a chicken likes to peck at anything shiny and might try pecking the tortoise's eyes. Also, its not good for the tortoise to graze on grasses and weeds that the ducks and chickens have pooped on.

I had a HUGE eucalyptus tree just outside the fence to my Aldabran pen (they don't dig either), and it provided really nice shade to the pen, however the leaves had to be raked all the time because the tortoises wouldn't graze if there were too many leaves on the grass.

I have a large Sulcata who lives in three pastures and has an insulated and heated house. Because Dudley is comfortable in his house, he doesn't dig a burrow. I'm a firm believer that if you provide the tortoise with what it needs to be comfortable, that is, cool in the summer and warm in the winter, they won't have a need to dig a burrow. Dudley goes into his house when he's finished grazing, heads to a corner and digs for a few minutes, then settles down and goes to sleep. His digging is just an ingrained habit, because the floor is covered with thick rubber mat and he can't harm it. But if the house wasn't cool enough for him, he would dig a burrow. And believe me, a 100lb animal can dig quite a burrow!!

Yvonne

 

[Randomchic]

Thanks for the info Yvonne. Does your tortoise group adopt out animals in your area or other areas? I'm looking to adopt a tortoise but haven't found a society farther north than San Jose area that adopts out tortoises. Do you know of any up above Sacramento?

 

[Yvonne G]

Thanks for the info Yvonne. Does your tortoise group adopt out animals in your area or other areas? I'm looking to adopt a tortoise but haven't found a society farther north than San Jose area that adopts out tortoises. Do you know of any up above Sacramento?

The only ones that I know of personally are the Bay Area Turtle and Tortoise Rescue (Ginger Wilfong - 510 886-2946) and The Sacramento Turtle and Tortoise Club (Felice Rood - www.turtlebunker.com/) There is also a new chapter of the California Turtle and Tortoise club in San Jose, but I don't have their contact information.

I like to do a yard inspection to be sure the tortoise is going to a safe place, so I only adopt to places I can economically drive to.

Yvonne