Feeding:
Tortoises are almost always exclusively herbivores. Their diets usually consist of 100%
plant origin. You can feed your tortoise vegetables like cabbage, lettuce, cauliflower,
chopped carrots and fruits like cucumber, tomato, apple, pear and pineapple. Do keep in
mind however, that fruit should be used sparingly because over consumption can lead to
high levels of sugar in the intestine and result in colic.
Also remember to provide your pet with clean fresh water at all times.
Accommodation:
Tortoises are terrestrial, which means that they live on land. Should a tortoise by
accident fall into a pond or swimming pool it could sink to the bottom like a rock and
drown. It is therefore very important when planing an enclosure for your tortoise that it
has no access to large bodies of water other than a very shallow dish to drink from. when
planing an outdoor enclosure you must make sure that you do not build it in an area of
your yard which will flood during a heavy rainfall.
Care:
Soaking is a very crucial element in the proper care of your tortoise. It assists in
keeping your tortoise hydrated, which in turn helps to keep the tortoise's system flushed.
To correctly soak your tortoise, the water should be lukewarm and no deeper than the
juncture between the bottom shell (plastron) and the top (carapace). You should soak for
at least five to ten minutes each time and make sure the tortoise is clean and dry when it
goes back in its enclosure.
If you find a turtle or tortoise, generally speaking, you should not try to keep it. Wild
caught animals are much more difficult and expensive to care for than captive born. It is
better to acquire one from a pet shop or an owner-breeder of tortoises born and bred in
captivity.
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