How to Keep Pet Tortoises

One of the first exotic pets – and certainly one of the most instantly recognised and universally loved of all reptiles – we’ve been keeping tortoises in Britain for centuries.

However, where once there was wholesale abduction from southern Europe to feed our incessant demands for these reptiles as pets, now, a strictly enforced permit scheme ensures only captive bred “Mediterranean” tortoises can be sold. It’s far better for the conservation of the animals in the wild, of course, but it also means that the pets we keep are happier and healthier too.

Another consequence of banning the importation of European tortoises has been that some new species have appeared for sale but not all tortoises have the same requirements.

Tortoise Species

• Greek or Spur-Thighed Tortoise (Testudo graeca) – the “original” tortoise; needs a daytime temperature of 25C (78F) dropping to 18C (65F) at night and can spend the British summer outside; hibernates over winter; grows to a shell length around 9 inches (22.5cm). Its diet is herbivorous – so an area to graze is appreciated.
• Hermann’s Tortoise (T. hermanni) – another once commonly kept European tortoise, very similar to the Spur-Thighed, but with a more domed and clearly marked shell and often growing slightly larger.
• Marginated Tortoise (T. marginata) – another European tortoise, but a less well known one, growing to 12-14 inches (30-35cm). Care and requirements are much the same as for (T. graeca) and (T. hermanni), though this tortoise should only be allowed outside on the warmest and driest of days.
• Horsfield’s Tortoise (Agrionemys horsfieldi) – also known as the Russian Tortoise, this animal is another one which resembles the more familiar European species – in fact it was originally classified alongside them as Testudo, only recently getting its own genus. Like them, it hibernates and is herbivorous but unlike them it is sensitive to humidity – so needs slightly higher temperatures and drier conditions; only hot, dry days can be spent in the garden.
• Bell’s Hinge-Back Tortoise (Kinixys belliana) – a West African species that grows to about the same size as the Spur-Thighed, but requires higher temperatures and a little more humidity, does not hibernate and eats an omnivorous diet. It can go outside in really good weather, but otherwise it’s definitely a candidate for the heated terrarium, making it a species for the experienced tortoise-keeper.

Housing Your Pets

Some species can make the most of the British summer – and these hardier kinds obviously make the best pets, not least because being given a bit of freedom to wander gives them the best opportunity to live a more natural kind of life. However, all will need some kind of heated indoor quarters for when the weather is more typically British!

The levels of humidity and temperature – along with other requirements – needed varies between species but three things in particular remain true of all tortoises.

Firstly, it’s vital to heat the air as well as just the ground – heat pads and hot rocks will keep the animals warm, but your pets will still be breathing cold air into their lungs – which can lead to serious respiratory problems.

Secondly, tortoises have a high requirement for UV light, so your enclosure or terrarium will need to be equipped with a suitable light source – and be aware that the output of these lamps drops off alarmingly quickly over time, so follow the manufacturer’s instructions about when to replace them.

Finally, tortoises are a good deal more active than the old fable about that race with the hare might suggest! Their home needs to be large enough to accommodate them comfortably and give them sufficient room to be able to explore and move around freely.

Food And Feeding

The question of tortoise diet is a complicated one and has been the subject of much scientific study over the years.

A balanced diet is essential and fortunately a number of common garden plants, such as cress, parsley and dandelion leaves are suitable having high nutrient value and good levels of minerals and vitamins. On the other hand, many of the “traditional” tortoise foods are far less suitable – lettuce offer very little goodness and seems addictive, while cabbage in large amounts slows down tortoise metabolism.

When it comes to feeding your pets, feed as varied a diet as possible, give them lots of clean water to drink – and don’t forget to do plenty of research.

There are many different kinds of tortoises in the world, and not all of them are suitable as pets and even some of those which are, require considerable experience with these reptiles if you want to be successful. As with all unusual or exotic pets, it’s always essential to do your research properly before taking on a new animal, but it’s even more important for tortoises given the typically lengthy lifespan of these reptiles; many of today’s babies will still be around at the turn of the next century!