There has long been a rather quiet debate over whether or not most tortoises benefit from a similar care program. I have to admit that I am rapidly becoming a believer in the idea that perhaps we could create a generic care sheet and then add notes on how to adapt it for young torts, and some specific species needs.
So... here is a caresheet with that in mind, posted in several parts. Your job, should you choose to accept it, is to blow it apart. That is, show us where it is wrong and why. I do politely request that the attacks be based on research or experience and not beliefs, out-dated teachings, or abstract theory.
Important note: This is an experiment. It IS NOT MEANT to be an actual care sheet (at least at this point)!
TORTOISE CARE- HOUSING
SIZE- The bigger the better, within reason. Aim for a minimum of about 8 shell lengths by 4 shell lengths to allow enough room to explore and exercise. Increase the size if adding more tortoises (doubling it would be nice).
HIDES- Provide an assortment of shelters if possible, with one shelter being very humid. Shelters can include plants to hide under, boxes or tubs turned upside down, flowerpots on their sides, etc. [Note that here we could provide examples of a 'humid hide', as well as more types of shelters]
SUBSTRATE- Many substrates have proven to be effective and each has its pros and cons. Here are a few commonly used versions-
- Plain cypress or similar mulch is perhaps the easiest.
- A mixture of sand, soil, and materials like peat moss, long-fibered sphagnum moss, coconut coir (Bed-A-Beast), etc. can mimic the behaviors of natural dirt, especialy with the addition of worms, isopods, and some outdoor soil for the beneficial micro-organisms. A layer of a dryer mulch on top helps prevent any moisture problems. This should be raked and mixed periodicially for maximum effectiveness.
- Teased and dampened long-fibered sphagnum moss is helpful for young tortoises.
WATER- Tortoises should always have access to fresh drinking water. A good water dish is set flush to the substrate surface, big enough for the tortoise to sit in, deep enough that it can immerse it's head to drink, shallow enough that it can sit in it safely- no more than about 1/3-1/2 of the shell's height, easy to climb into and out of, and made of materials that you would feel safe drinking out of. [Examples of dishes can be offered here.]
Wash the dish often and keep it filled. You can help keep it cleaner by positioning it away from a wall or main pathway and surrounding it with a 'patio' of some sort so the tortoise is not dragging in mud and substrate.
OUTDOORS- Most tortoises do best outside. In general, the night temps should be over 70F for young tortoises and 65F for adults. The pen should be both escape proof and predator proof. [Notes as to how to do this can be added here.]
The ideal tortoise pen offers plenty of hiding places and shelters, cool shade and open sunny areas, and live plants to hide under or forage on. They also offer relief from exces heat, such as misters, mud puddles, etc. [Add a list of tortoise plants here.]
INDOOR HOUSING- Aquariums can be used for very small tortoises, but these are generally heavy, stuffy, and expensive- especialy as the tortoise grows. Large plastic tubs are cheap and easy to make into good homes for small and medium tortoises. Tortoise tables are open-topped habitiats similar to a bookcase on its back that offer a lot of space for growing or large animals. [Discuss how to modify a tub and build a table here.]
ENHANCEMENTS- We can make the housing more interesting for our tortoises by adding things like different substrates (an area of smooth rocks, a mud puddle, etc.), gentle hills (many species really like hills!), using real (and safe) plants, etc.
..................................
Thoughts, concerns, alternative ideas? I'll post one on environment, and another on diet over the next few days- and of course, anyone else can do the same.
The goal here is to see if this is possible. COULD we, in theory, write a care booklet that would work for all commonly kept tortoises, with small comments about different issues for different species, like Ed/EJ and others have suggested?
So... here is a caresheet with that in mind, posted in several parts. Your job, should you choose to accept it, is to blow it apart. That is, show us where it is wrong and why. I do politely request that the attacks be based on research or experience and not beliefs, out-dated teachings, or abstract theory.
Important note: This is an experiment. It IS NOT MEANT to be an actual care sheet (at least at this point)!
TORTOISE CARE- HOUSING
SIZE- The bigger the better, within reason. Aim for a minimum of about 8 shell lengths by 4 shell lengths to allow enough room to explore and exercise. Increase the size if adding more tortoises (doubling it would be nice).
HIDES- Provide an assortment of shelters if possible, with one shelter being very humid. Shelters can include plants to hide under, boxes or tubs turned upside down, flowerpots on their sides, etc. [Note that here we could provide examples of a 'humid hide', as well as more types of shelters]
SUBSTRATE- Many substrates have proven to be effective and each has its pros and cons. Here are a few commonly used versions-
- Plain cypress or similar mulch is perhaps the easiest.
- A mixture of sand, soil, and materials like peat moss, long-fibered sphagnum moss, coconut coir (Bed-A-Beast), etc. can mimic the behaviors of natural dirt, especialy with the addition of worms, isopods, and some outdoor soil for the beneficial micro-organisms. A layer of a dryer mulch on top helps prevent any moisture problems. This should be raked and mixed periodicially for maximum effectiveness.
- Teased and dampened long-fibered sphagnum moss is helpful for young tortoises.
WATER- Tortoises should always have access to fresh drinking water. A good water dish is set flush to the substrate surface, big enough for the tortoise to sit in, deep enough that it can immerse it's head to drink, shallow enough that it can sit in it safely- no more than about 1/3-1/2 of the shell's height, easy to climb into and out of, and made of materials that you would feel safe drinking out of. [Examples of dishes can be offered here.]
Wash the dish often and keep it filled. You can help keep it cleaner by positioning it away from a wall or main pathway and surrounding it with a 'patio' of some sort so the tortoise is not dragging in mud and substrate.
OUTDOORS- Most tortoises do best outside. In general, the night temps should be over 70F for young tortoises and 65F for adults. The pen should be both escape proof and predator proof. [Notes as to how to do this can be added here.]
The ideal tortoise pen offers plenty of hiding places and shelters, cool shade and open sunny areas, and live plants to hide under or forage on. They also offer relief from exces heat, such as misters, mud puddles, etc. [Add a list of tortoise plants here.]
INDOOR HOUSING- Aquariums can be used for very small tortoises, but these are generally heavy, stuffy, and expensive- especialy as the tortoise grows. Large plastic tubs are cheap and easy to make into good homes for small and medium tortoises. Tortoise tables are open-topped habitiats similar to a bookcase on its back that offer a lot of space for growing or large animals. [Discuss how to modify a tub and build a table here.]
ENHANCEMENTS- We can make the housing more interesting for our tortoises by adding things like different substrates (an area of smooth rocks, a mud puddle, etc.), gentle hills (many species really like hills!), using real (and safe) plants, etc.
..................................
Thoughts, concerns, alternative ideas? I'll post one on environment, and another on diet over the next few days- and of course, anyone else can do the same.
The goal here is to see if this is possible. COULD we, in theory, write a care booklet that would work for all commonly kept tortoises, with small comments about different issues for different species, like Ed/EJ and others have suggested?
