Daily Exercise

[Acoty]

Hi folks!
My Greek (about 8") lives in a nice enclosure 2 feet wide, 4' long. She sometimes, not all the time, gets active and scrapes the walls. I hear she needs more space? She's usually ok in there. I have an outdoor space that she could walk around on but it's cold. Used to let her in apartment but hear that's not good. I know it gives them a sense of there is more out there but I'm not convinced. I think it's just a desire to walk. Let me know?!

 

[Yvonne G]

Tortoises' digestive tract health depends upon them being able to do lots of walking. That's why they need larger enclosures than what we'd like to put them into. Generally speaking, a tortoise that climbs the walls, digs in the corners, etc. is trying to escape something - too small, too hot, too cold - it's up to you, the detective, to figure it out.

Just off the top of my head, without having seen your tortoise or his living arrangement, I'd say 8" tortoise in a 2x4 foot enclosure - WAY too small for him. We recommend at LEAST 4x8 for full grown Mediterranean species.

 

[Acoty]

Tortoises' digestive tract health depends upon them being able to do lots of walking. That's why they need larger enclosures than what we'd like to put them into. Generally speaking, a tortoise that climbs the walls, digs in the corners, etc. is trying to escape something - too small, too hot, too cold - it's up to you, the detective, to figure it out.

Thank you! I was kind of thinking temperature. I think too hot if anything. Then I looked over and there she is, basking. I'll keep being detective.

 

[Tom]

I agree with Yvonne. If your enclosure were 4 times larger, it would still be on the small side for an 8 inch tortoise. Think of a 4x8 sheet of plywood with walls.

A large outdoor enclosure for fair weather will help.

Free roaming the apartment is likely to end in disaster in one of many ways. It happens all the time, and every time it happens the person was a good tortoise owner that though it would be safe. They learned the hard way.

 

[Acoty]

I agree with Yvonne. If your enclosure were 4 times larger, it would still be on the small side for an 8 inch tortoise. Think of a 4x8 sheet of plywood with walls.

A large outdoor enclosure for fair weather will help.

Free roaming the apartment is likely to end in disaster in one of many ways. It happens all the time, and every time it happens the person was a good tortoise owner that though it would be safe. They learned the hard way.

Wow, thanks! I got the dimensions for the one I have from the knowledgeable ? folks at the Vivarium....
Last question: what's a good outdoor temperature range?

 

[Tom]

Wow, thanks! I got the dimensions for the one I have from the knowledgeable ? folks at the Vivarium....
Last question: what's a good outdoor temperature range?

There is a lot of incorrect, old, out-dated info circulating around out in the world. Its sad really. As in your case with the Vivarium, the people that should be setting the best example are often the ones setting the worst example and spreading the wrong care info. If they had told you that you would need a 4x8 foot enclosure, would you have bought the tortoise? They say stuff to sell stuff. We aren't selling anything here. We are just tortoise lovers trying to help tortoises have good lives.

Outdoor temps depend on many factors. Generally, if its 65, sunny, not windy, and the ground is dry, that is plenty warm for any Testudo species, since they can warm up in the sun. If its wet, overcast, windy, or cooler than that, there really isn't any point in putting the tortoise outside since it can't warm up and function.