Where to Order Tortoise Online
It is best to purchase tortoises online from a reptile shop that specializes in these species. They can help you choose the correct tortoise and give advice on habitats lighting requirements, humidity, heat and other accessories.
Tortoises are long-lived animals that can live for up to 100 years. These fascinating creatures require a lot of attention.
How to Select a Tortoise
If you are looking to purchase a tortoise via the internet, ensure that the seller is trustworthy and sells captive-bred animals. Captive-bred reptiles are less likely to be sick, since they've been raised in the conditions they require. Additionally, they're generally healthier and more socialized than tortoises taken from the wild.
Also, think about the time you will devote to caring for your pet. Tortoises can live up 80 years in captivity. Do you know someone who will take care of your tortoise should you no longer provide it with the required care?
Purchasing from a local tortoise breeder will allow you to observe the tortoise's behavior in person and to check its health. A well-cared-for tortoise will appear alert and have a healthy body weight. The shell must be solid and free from bruises, cracks, or other damage. The plastron should have some spring to it (though don't squeeze a baby tortoise; it is extremely stressful for tortoises). Legs should be strong and muscular. The eyes, skin, and vents should be clean and free of discharge.
Request a certificate under Article 10 before purchasing a tortoise. It is a document the seller has to sign to confirm that the tortoise is microchipped and given an ID number. In the US, it is mandatory to fill out this form prior to selling any tortoise.
It's also a good idea to take your pet tortoise to a veterinarian who is experienced in exotic pets and has experience working with tortoises. The vet will check the tortoise for signs of illness, parasites and other problems. The vet may recommend a fecal examination and blood tests, particularly if the tortoise was imported illegally or was imported from a different country. kleinmann's tortoise for sale can help identify the presence of Salmonella bacteria which can be extremely harmful to humans and tortoises. The vet will also perform an examination of the general area and determine the tortoise's age. In the US, tortoises are sold as juveniles and hatchlings up to the point that they reach 4" in length. This is to ensure that females and males are kept separate.
Tortoise Care
Tortoises are long-lived and require special care. You should think about your ability to care for tortoises prior to purchasing one online. This is especially true if you're looking for an exotic tortoise that cannot be found in pet stores. Tortoises that come from their homelands are at a higher chance of suffering from illness and injury during shipping. Buying captive-bred tortoises minimizes the risk.
You'll also need to consider the space you have available for a tortoise enclosure. African spurred tortoises Leopard tortoises and Burmese mountain tortoises need lots of space to roam and graze. These species will not thrive in a small home environment. The Russian, Hingeback, and Mediterranean tortoises are smaller and are better suited for homes that have little outdoor space.
You should have a large habitat for your tortoise. Include a comfortable reptile carpet or substrate. It's essential that the habitat includes an area for hiding and a water dish that is shallow. Tortoises drink to keep hydrated, clean themselves and defecate. Two to three baths per week, lasting 10-15 minutes, should be offered. Soaking dishes must be shallow and constructed from a material which allows the tortoise easy entry and exit without drowning. To prevent the spread of bacterial infections dishes that soak in water should be cleaned on a regular basis.
You will also need a terrarium thermometer as well as a shallow dish for water and tortoise food. In addition, you'll need food dish and a shallow water dish and tortoise food.
A lavishly decorated tortoise enclosure can be another way to add personalization. You can decorate your enclosure with rocks and plants that are safe for the tortoise. Make sure your pet is on a warm area of the enclosure to relax and a cool side with the cave or hide box to find shelter.
It is important to let your pet tortoise get used to and trust you before handling it frequently. Tortoises are prone to stress when they are handled too much. It's also important that you have someone available to care for your tortoise if you're not able to be present. This person should know how to take care of your tortoise, and when to call the vet.
Tortoise Feeding
The food requirements of tortoises vary depending on the species however, they all require a varied diet as well as an adequate supply of calcium and UV-B. This doesn't necessarily mean a supermarket salad but rather a varied selection of delicious nutritious, nutrient-rich plant species that tortoises would encounter in the wild. The tortoise is supposed to browse and graze daily, but only during daylight hours or after it has been buried for the night. Tortoises who are forced into continual activity/feeding patterns all year round show horrendous rates of metabolic bone disease (see the latest article "Tortoise Shell Deformities: a View from Inside').
The food should be provided in a dish that is shallow enough, and should never be left uncooked for too long because this can lead to rotting and other health risks. During the grazing phase, the tortoise must be fed as much food as it can eat in a period of 20 minutes. This lets the tortoise eat without putting excessive strain on its jaws. This also stops the so-called "beak" in front of the tortoise from becoming overgrown.
A number of species require fruit-based elements to their diet. This is particularly important for rainforest species like Yellow-footed and Red-footed tortoises. Fruits should be served only in small quantities, but not more than twice a day. They must also be cleaned to remove any contaminants, including pesticides, or other chemicals, that could be found in the flesh or on the skin of the fruit.
A wide range of different fruits can be fed to a tortoise. However, it is best avoided when a tortoise is susceptible to diarrhoea. Avoid foods high in goitrogens or oxalic. Oxalic acid can bind with calcium and prevent its absorption, whereas goitrogens can interfere with thyroid function. Similarly many of the cruciferous vegetables which are often suggested as part of a tortoise's food plan - like collard greens, turnips, mustard and bok choy are high in the oxalic acid.
Tortoise Health
When choosing a tortoise online it is crucial that you purchase one from a vendor who is familiar with this type of pet. Reptile shops or those attending reptile shows/expos are good choices since they can give you the most helpful tips on how to take care of your new pet. They will also be able to provide you with the proper equipment, like the tortoise enclosure. They will be able to spot symptoms of illness and be in a position to answer any questions you might have. This is a better choice to purchase a tortoise instead of a large pet shop because it may have been fighting with other animals in a small aquarium which would cause stress and damage to their shell.
Tortoises can live for up to 50 years. It is essential to plan for their care and provide them with the most suitable environment to enjoy their life. The most important factor is a healthy diet, a suitable shelter and the environment.
If your tortoise becomes ill it is essential to bring them to a veterinarian who is knowledgeable about exotic animals. A vet who is not familiar with tortoises could have disastrous results.
The signs of the illness of a tortoise include swelling of the neck or limbs, difficulty moving, a loss in appetite and an excess of fecal feces. These symptoms can be indicative of digestive, liver or renal problems and should be addressed by a reptile veterinarian immediately.
The swelling of the neck and the limbs of a tortoise can be caused by a range of factors, such as a poor diet, parasitic infection toxins, constipation, or a combination. Soaking the tortoise in warm water for 30 minutes, with the water level only covering its plastron (bottom shell), is usually sufficient to ease this condition. You can also treat this problem by increasing the tortoise's fiber intake, including liquid parafin or lactulose to its diet, or adding dandelion roots to the diet.
A healthy tortoise will be active and its muscles will be firm and it will walk with its bottom shell, known as the plastron, free of the ground. It can also dig easily and climb easily.