What is the best home I can give my tortoise?

Question

Hi, I have recently inherited a tortoise - which is now in the phases of hybernating for the winter. I got him over the summer and have created a pen for him in my garden which is approximately 2.5m by 1m. I have shelter for him, which is an unpside down cat box, but was unsure if he should have more 'natural' shelter (i.e. plants, shrubs) and should I include a watering hole (miniture pond) for him to drink out of. It's just the pen looks incrediblly boring and I know if I was going to live for 50+ years, I would want my home to be a palace!

Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

I heard that when they hibernate you can put them in the fridgerator.

Answer 2

I have two tortoises and they are brill, they love to be out in the warm sunshine and wander about and eat some of the plants they do get bored if they are confined to a small area, so your pen does sound a bit small but I don't know how big he is. One of mine is quite large so he needs the whole garden to explore, when he gets bored he walks to the top of the steps and he will stay there until you take him off the garden and put him on the front garden for a change of scenery, he has his own house which is packed with straw and when its warm enough he can stay out at night (our back garden is completely secure). He doesn't usually drink as he gets most of his moisture from his food fruit and veg and his tortoise food, but water should be offered. Their shells must be kept nice clean as they breathe through their shells also. If you notice they haven't been to the loo for a couple of days give them a soak in the bath to warm them up to get their bowels moving, its very important to check their ones and twos for any changes as this is all we have to go by really unless they refuse to eat. I weigh mine every so often so I know if he losing any weight as its not that easy to tell like with a dog or cat. He hates being picked up and loves lettuce and cucumber.

Answer 3

hi ,there great little things.do you know that you should not hibernate your tortoise untill its had time to pass all food.i would very strongly suggest that you go to the tortoise trust web site and have a good read,there are so many important things to learn,heating ,uvb ,diet,substate,hibernation,do and donts,good food and supplement advise,.you can join there forum and learn so much i have learnt loads.how often to bath a tortoise to keep them hydrated ,health matters,how no worm them,how to check weight to lenght..www.tortoisetrust.org.DO NOT FEED cucumber ,tomatoes and other salad stuff,your tort should be eating a good mix of weeds,you can even buy a tortoise seed mix to grow yourself .So many people take on a tortoise and then feed it rubbish no supplements and basicly dont have a clue ,this is so bad and you end up with a dead tort.If you care for this tort then do as i have said and go to the above site and learn learn learn,if you do not have the time or the wish to learn then get your tort a new home.I dont mean so sound so hard but you have been given a lot of silly answers to your question.i feel strongly about my little torts health and well being and i hope that you do to ,best wishes with your tort ,hannah

Answer 4

It mainly depends on the type of tortoise you are talking about, and the age and size! Most tortoises do not hibernate until they are 3 years old, and mediteranian tortoises should be indoors in the winter and only outside in warm sunny conditions. Fridges are now used for hibernation at the temperature of 5 celcius as this is the best stable temperature, over or under this can lead to the tortoise walking up too early, loosing weight, or getting ill. Check out some cool caresheets at our forum, and also at this tortoise shop which knows all the care for all tortoises as they have lots of experiance. Check them out

GREAT FORUM-http://www.turtleexchange.com
TORTOISE SHOP-http://www.carlsiletortoises.com (not sure if i spelt that right, check google)
TORTOISE SHOP-http://www.thetortoiseshop.com

Good Luck xx

Answer 5

By all means include plants, but please be careful not to include any poisonous species or you will get one very dead tortoise. Also, any plants that you put in will promptly get eaten!. Be very careful about putting any water feature into your tortoise pen because they are very good at drowning themselves! Tortoises are very good diggers, so keep a close eye on the enclosure to make sure he's not tunnelling for freedom! Check under his shelter too, because he could be digging under there too, and it's a real pain having to retrieve a tortoise from a 6 foot tunnel! Good luck!

Answer 6

Hi i have 7 tortoises and we breed them too. we normally keep them in a pen in the garden, that is just fine aslong as they got grass, then at night so the fox's don't get them we put them into a wooden house which does up at the front, they normally walk in there themselves when it gets cold at night, so all you have to do is lock it.
put a flat metal plate of food down with lettuce, tomatoes cucumbers spinach leafs etc in the pen, and they will eat this throughout the day, tortoises can get enough moisture from their food, so it is not necassary to put down any water for them.

p.s they won't get bored

if you need any tips for hibernation give us a shout.

Answer 7

oh dear. I think you need to get him to a rescue or someone who knows what they are doing QUICK!!
You should NEVER leave him outside to hibernate. Hibernating tortoises need care. If left outside he will die. My own 50 year old one comes indoors . He was brought in 2 weeks ago and is slowing down ready to sleep. He ususally puts himself into a box under my bed. My bedroom is always very cool but not cold.
Do you know how to feed him properly, what supplements to give, how often to bath him,? Have you had him to a qualified tortoise vet to be checked and wormed?
Tortoises are quite difficult to care for properly which is why so many of them died young and had to be imported in their thousands before this became illegal.
Join these 2 groups for expert info, but if you insist on keeping him, I think you will cause immense suffering and probably be the death of him.
Most modern tortoise keepers will hibernate their tortoises in a refrigerator because a stable 3-5C can be assured and you can check on him regularly and he is not at risk of freezing to death or being eaten by rats as he sleeps.

Answer 8

your pen sounds really good, try moving things around now and then so things aren't so boring for him/her, a miniature pond is a good idea but make sure its not too deep and they can get in and out of it with ease. if it is too deep put a rock in the middle they like to sit in the water and some plants might be a good idea. when feeding use natural plants and flowers i.e hibiscus plant as the chemicals on lettuce and tomato's from supermarkets etc can be harmfall and cause a deformed shell. hope this helped

Answer 9

Hi i have had my tortoise for 34 years and his home has always been in the garden running free (and believe me he really can move) he eats greens dandelions tomatoes and loves bread and jam (strawberry). In the winter he hibernates in the shed in an old wicker basket filled with hay. When he wakes up he goes to our vets, and has a special vitamin injection to boost him up. You must make sure your garden is escape proof before you give him his freedom out there and he has a ramp into the shed which he goes up when it starts to get cold and goes to his cosy warm bed. Good luck wintering your tortoise and i hope you have him for many years to come

Answer 10

i have a few questions how big is the tortoise were do you live. i have 4 turtles 3 box 1 gofer you could leave it out side but if it is used to living in side it won't live out side throw the winter i bring them in side when its cold i put them under my computer desk on a rug with a bowl of water when they get active again a give food when the frost is gone they go back out side i have had my turtles for 10 years

Answer 11

I agree that the best home is in the wild. I've had friends who owned a turtle, and just let it roam in the backyard. That actually seemed to work for them, but it really depends on how your yard is set up. Plants, boulders, and water features are all nice, and if you can learn to coexist with the little guy, it might work out well. But he will be a bit hard on your plants.