Can a tortoise be left to roam around the house and not be in a cage?

Question

Just wondering im getting a tortoise. i think a russian one.

Answer 1

Unlike many other varieties of turtles, tortoises are terrestrial. This means they live on land only and can not swim. Unlike many other reptiles, a tortoise might require a large area in which to roam, rather than a simple aquarium. You will probably have to devote quite a bit of space to your tortoise's enclosure. Because tortoises derive from a number of different climates worldwide, you will most likely need to research the origin of your tortoise's species in order to set up a suitable habitat for it. The goal in housing your tortoise should be to basically re-construct its natural habitat.

People living in temperate climates may find it easiest to keep their tortoises outside in an enclosure or fenced-in yard that is protected from predators. People planning to keep their animals indoors may want to convert an entire room or garage toward the creation of a tortoise enclosure. If indoors, the tortoise's enclosure should be large enough for it to move about. Usually it should also be fairly easy to light, heat, and humidify, or de-humidify as necessary. Many people choose to construct a tortoise pen from wood; the sides must be high enough that the animal cannot climb over them. Although some people keep tortoises in glass enclosures, they find that the tortoises have a tendency to bang into the glass. This is because tortoises naturally roam and will try to go where they can see. If you are constructing an enclosure that will need to be humidified, you should keep in mind that many materials will break down after prolonged exposure to moisture. You may want to consider using marine plywood if you plan to use wood. All types of wood should be sealed. Fiberglass resin works well for this. Just be sure that the sealant has had sufficient time to dry and air out before you place anything inside the enclosure. Other tortoise keepers use polycarbonate twin or triple wall material to construct their tortoise houses. Converted greenhouses are the choice enclosure of many people, as these may be pre-existing structures that can be fairly easily converted into an area that can suit the needs of a tortoise, in addition to being water impermeable. These large enclosures may be a bit easier to climatically control than many other open-air enclosures. You should remember that all of these materials, including most types of glass, block out ultra-violet light. If your tortoise is kept in a roofed or lidded enclosure that is lit by sun, you will probably have to use a screen or mesh top in order to allow sufficient ultraviolet, especially UVB, lighting to filter through. In walk-in enclosures, you may need to use full spectrum or UVB lighting on the inside of the enclosure.

Like most diurnal (active during the day) animals, tortoises will need consistent day length, which may vary seasonally. This set amount of daily light is known as the photoperiod. Most tortoises do very well on a 14 hour photoperiod. The light provided for your tortoise should be full-spectrum. Full-spectrum lighting is important because tortoises need ultraviolet rays in order to help them metabolize calcium by producing vitamin D3. The lights can be attached to timers that will maintain the photoperiod for you. Some timers are available that will simulate an entire seasonal light cycle with minimal effort on your part. If you keep your tortoise outside, the sun will provide such light for you.

The temperature required by your tortoise will vary depending on which species it is. Most experienced tortoise keepers will keep a thermometer in their animals' enclosures to be sure that the heat level is appropriate for their animals. Indoors, incandescent bulbs or ceramic heaters work well to create the temperature gradient needed by your tortoise. Heating elements or heat lamps can be useful for turtles and tortoises and are best applied over the tortoise enclosure, as the tortoise's anatomy is designed for overhead heat. Heating the underside of your tortoise can cause it serious health problems. Often the environment that is right for your tortoise will include a basking spot in addition to the overall ambient temperature. Usually a single focused heat source will work well to create a basking spot for your tortoise. However, if it is too close to the enclosure, it may result in serious burns or overheating. The focal point for the basking spot may be a flat rock or a plank, or any other sort of low platform you find appropriate. In order to test the temperature of the basking spot, you may place your hand where the tortoise will lay. The heat intensity should be that of noon-day sun in the summer. It should feel even and should be gentle enough that your animal could fall asleep under it without overheating. The requirements for the humidity level, like the temperature, will vary from tortoise to tortoise.

Usually there are three types of habitats that will be suitable for a tortoise. All will have some similarities; for example, the overall daytime temperature should to be accompanied by a nighttime temperature drop, or tortoises may become stressed. The first sort of habitat works well for tortoise species native to fairly hot, dry regions. This sort of environment is very well ventilated and includes direct heat. The lighting for such an environment should be direct. In some drier, hotter climates, such enclosures may be constructed outdoors by fencing off parts of a yard. Some people may choose to use a dehumidifier in the room where they keep their tortoise. Many people will find that good ventilation may minimize the humidity level.

The next sort of habitat has medium humidity. Again, people living in temperate climates may be able to create such a habitat by simply utilizing their outdoor space. This sort of habitat is similar to the first, but the temperatures may be somewhat cooler. In semi-humid climates, good ventilation is still advisable. However, such environments may utilize such items as plants to help trap in moderate levels of humidity. If keeping tortoises from semi-humid climates outside in hot, dry climates, you should probably keep your animals moist through use of a sprinkler system or spray from a garden hose. Some areas will be able to provide sufficient humidity naturally. Outdoor plants will provide shade for your tortoises, so if you do not have shrubbery, you may wish to consider planting some foliage. Be sure that it is non-toxic, however, as your tortoises may be apt to try to eat it. You may also find that your tortoises will appreciate a muddy or wet area where they can wallow to cool themselves. In all of these environments, provide a bowl of clean, fresh water at all times. You should ensure that the bowl is too small for your tortoise to drown in, should the tortoise tip over. Some tortoise keepers choose to allow their tortoises water only at regular intervals, since tortoises may soil their water very quickly.

The last sort of habitat is generally recommended for tortoises from tropical or jungle climates. If you have this sort of tortoise, try to construct an enclosure for it that has diffused light, as direct light may stress these animals accustomed to sunlight filtered through many layers of forest foliage. Planting non-toxic plants in the enclosure can help with this as well as make the enclosure more attractive. These tortoises, like many others, will need a basking spot but may not utilize it as much as those from less tropical climates. Their temperature should be kept fairly constant and should remain very warm. In reproducing a rainforest or jungle habitat, you will generally need to provide higher humidity. You may find that an automatic misting system will work very well for such a purpose. These will usually be easy to find at your local hardware or garden store. Or, if you are mechanically inclined, you may be able to construct your own using a timer and some pumps from a vehicle's windshield washing system. Tortoises living in such high humidity environments may also use a bathing pool. These species usually love to lie almost entirely immersed in their pools for hours. In fact, this soaking process may be necessary for the tortoise's general health and may also aid in defecation. This type of habitat is usually not as well ventilated as the others.

The substrate, or material that covers the bottom of your tortoise's enclosure, will aid you in keeping your animal and your enclosure clean. One caution in choosing a substrate is the possibility of your tortoise ingesting it. Even if it does not eat the substrate intentionally (as some might), there is the possibility that the tortoise may ingest particles of the material on the food it consumes. This is a problem because the grains or pieces may cause digestive impactions that can develop into a serious health problem for your animal. Even materials reputed to be digestible may cause such impactions. Although newspaper may be the easy, cheap, and obvious choice for drier habitats, it may not always be the best. Larger enclosures will need a lot of newspaper to cover the floor, and the sheets will be very easy for a digging tortoise to shred or scatter, effectively removing any shield between the tortoise and the bottom of its enclosure. Some people prefer to use wood shavings or wood chips in the bottom of their tortoise's enclosure, but pine, cedar, and redwood can be toxic.

Often in dry habitats a sandy or rocky type of substrate can work well, as long as the rocks are smooth enough that your tortoise will not wear down its plastron on them. The rocks should also be large enough that your tortoise cannot swallow them, in order to prevent choking or ingestion. Many people may choose to use rabbit pellets, as these have a dehumidifying property and are safe for the tortoise to eat if it so chooses. The biggest problem with such a substrate is that this type of material will become moldy if w

Answer 2

No you should not let it.

In the summer you should have an out door pen and winter a heated area for it.

Even carpet fibers in its system could hurt it (amoung other things in a house)

Here are some sites about russians

http://www.russiantortoise.org/

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Russi...

Answer 3

Bad idea.

1. Pica (eating non-food items)- tortoises tend to bite or taste a lot of things if they are unfamiliar with them- paper clips, lint, broken bits of things, thread, buttons, etc. They then choke on the things they cannot get out of their mouths.

2. Habitat- free-roaming tortoises don't have the same opportunities to find warm or cool areas, dry or humid areas that they would in a properly-designed cage or pen. We humans like habitats that are not very tortoise-friendly. This is even worse with the rainforest or arid area species.

By the way, the drafts, dryness, etc. in the average house will help induce respiratory disease, pyramiding, etc.

3. Disease- the tortoise will leave germ-rich f***s around the house, while being exposed to a variety of germs. While few diseases affect both humans and tortoises, there are germs that both pass on to the other that can cause a lot of problems, from Salmonella to the herpes virus.

This is one of those things that seems like a great idea and good for the tortoise, but really is not thinking about it from the tortoise's viewpoint.

Answer 4

Yes as long as it is not where tons of things are on the floor like clothing cause it might eat it... Also if you don't mind it might p**p on the floor and pee.. If you have a dog or other pets that roam around in the same room don't let it roam without a cage protecting it!!

Hope this helped!!

Answer 5

Best not to.  It needs to be able to find the heat lamp, which must meet it's requirements for specific temperatures.  It also needs UVB lighting, from a reptile bulb, at least 12 hours a day.  The heat from the basking bulb will draw them to the UVB light.  

http://www.austinsturtlepage.com/

Answer 6

Yes, but it has to be in a safe room. Example, a room with turtle toys and other such things, or safe furniture. You'll be able to tell if there's a room that's safe enough or not. Just don't leave the turtle with other pets!

Answer 7

as long as you do not have stairs if otherwize put it back, and it must not be able to get gaught in or under anything it must monitered closely when roaming about... i hope this helps

turtles rule-

peace and blessinngs,

                      chase bristow

Answer 8

a tortoise can and actually SHOULD be let out to wander around for an hour or two a day, if you can manage in a cleared, safe area. if it's outdoors, make sure that it's a compleatly shaded area (tortoises overheat very easily), and free of pesticides and junk.  but it still needs a cage or enclosure for its permanent habbitat. depending one where you live, this habitat might be outdoors, but just set it up very very well.