Tortoise

Before there were dinosaurs, there were turtles. They easily survived the extinction of the dinosaurs. Tortoises have been inhabiting the earth for more than 200 million years and have not changed optically in this long time. They are relics from prehistoric times and it took ages for them to spread across the earth and adapt to the habitats.

Terrestrial Life of Tortoises

The characteristic features of the tortoises are the usually highly arched and rigid shell. Originally, the reptiles come from the tropical, subtropical, and temperate climate zones of the earth and live in these areas in deserts, steppes, forests, and grasslands.

There are Good Reasons for Tortoises

Why are tortoises so popular? Admittedly, the tortoise will never be a real pet, but once it has gained the trust and after a while recognizes its owner by its smell, it can be picked up without any problems. Tortoises also have neither hair nor feathers and therefore cannot trigger any allergic reactions. Among the tortoises, the Greek tortoise is particularly easy to keep and that makes it so popular not only with terrarium beginners but also with children.

Attitude and Care

Tortoises prefer to spend the warm season outdoors. A terrarium is necessary in the time before and after the hibernation and to bridge cold and wet weather periods.

Grooming not only includes removing the droppings every day but also moistening the area around it. The soil substrate should be sprayed with water daily. The animals can also be slightly moistened daily. Young animals in particular love and live in a moist environment because the shell can only grow smoothly through moisture. Freshwater must always be available. The turtles use the water to drink and occasionally like to bathe. Additional bathing is not required. Tortoises should only be bathed in water that is not too warm six to seven days after hibernation.

It is good if the soil consists of a mixture of earth and sand so that they can dig in it. Sometimes it can be observed that the tortoises even dig themselves in when it is either too warm or too cool for them. This not only applies to the outdoor enclosure, but also to the terrarium. Bark mulch and gravel as a soil substrate do not suit the turtles at all. Add stones, leaves, and roots to climb around and hide in and the tortoise paradise is complete.

Gender Differences

Almost all turtle species hide their genitals in their shells. It is therefore not so easy to determine whether it is a female or a male. It is even more difficult to determine the sex of young animals. Adult females are larger than males, but males have thicker and longer tails. There are also differences in the abdominal armor, which is slightly curved inward in male turtles.

Feed and Nutrition

Perfectly adapted to life on land, they eat herbivores, i.e. almost exclusively plants. Their sense of smell is very well developed, so they are able to smell food even over long distances. The best fodder is hay made from dried grass and herbs. From time to time, a special treat in the form of untreated hibiscus flowers can also be fed. The food supply must never be too high in calories. The reason for this is that tortoises have to grow slowly so that the shell can grow with them.

Fruit, vegetables, or salads do not correspond to a species-appropriate diet. The tortoise does not find these foods in their natural habitat. Especially not minced meat or noodles, which unfortunately are also often fed. The consequences of the wrong diet are too fast shell growth and organ damage.

Acclimatization and Handling

Turtles need time to get used to their new home. It usually takes two to three days for the tortoise to settle in. During this time, the animal should not be touched or picked up. In order to avoid tensions with existing animals, care must be taken to ensure that the ratio between male and female animals is balanced.