Land Tortoises - Terrariums
Keeping in Terrariums
[Tortoises in Terrariums]
There are many types of terrariums which should be designed depending on the type and ancestry of your tortoise. However, there are four basic principles that belong in every terrarium:
Ground material: You should use a substrate that does not gather dust. Dust is not suitable for the noses of tortoises as the airways can be irritated. Often used are sand, bark mulch and fine pebbles. You can lie leaves or hay on the top so that the tortoises can bury themselves a little.
Shelter: Tortoises need a shelter. It belongs to their natural way of life. Some also bury themselves into the ground.
Bathing Possibilities: Tortoises love bathing. Furthermore, they also use their “bath” as a drinking point. It should be easy to change the water. A small bowl is normally enough for small tortoises.
Food Bowl: A place to put food must be present. It should always be the same place / corner. Tortoises are creatures of habit.
Size of terrarium: Measure the length of the shell in cm x 5 = length and width of the terrarium. Please consider, that with young tortoises you must buy a new terrarium regularly depending on the growth rate. These measurements are valid for one tortoise. You should put several tortoises inside, increase the size by 1/3 per animal.
What else will you need? A checklist of technical apparatus: a terrarium lamp with a reptile bulb and a clock timer.
You can also gather further tips in special books for different types of tortoises. There are many different ways to design a terrarium. Depending on the type of tortoise you need different zones or facilities.
Generally: Tortoises must be kept outdoors, e.g. in the garden in summer, this is the only specific way to keep these species!
[Outdoor Cage]
On the contrary to a terrarium, an outdoor cage can be generously designed. Outdoor cages are most suitable for European tortoises. It is very important that the cage is big enough as tortoises need a lot of movement. The cage should always be facing south so that the tortoises get plenty of sun. There should also be a place in the shade. It is easy to build a shady place that also serves an additional source of heat.
It is ideal if a cage is overgrown with wild herbs, so that a large food offer is available. Otherwise they must be fed.
The size of the cage should fit around the quantity of tortoises. Tortoises need plenty of room. Furthermore, they sometimes wish to avoid each other. The cage must be fenced in. The most suitable is a brick wall that is high enough. Be sure that the fence is high enough as tortoises are good climbers. They are also good buriers, so safety downwards should also be observed. Furthermore, you should only take materials that cannot injure a tortoise.
When designing a cage, you should ensure that the tortoises have a variety of zones. For example, you can lay stones and roots, they like these a lot as they must conquer hurdles in the wild. You can also build a small pool, you should however observe that the tortoise can still stand in the water as they cannot swim. Otherwise the cage should be designed as a terrarium would be. Allow your imagination to run away with you!!!
TIP! If you want to breed tortoises, then build a small hill of earth into the cage. Females lay their eggs on hills or on small cliffs. They bury their eggs at this place. Even if it is not laying time, tortoises can use this as a sunny place.