What's the best home for a small tortoise?

Question

I am going to purchase a greek tortoise or another tortoise from a petstore.I was looking at reptariums from reptilesupply.com but i thought ..how does it stay warm if its just screened in??and how do you put a wall heater if its just screened??is the bottom plastic ??how does all the waste stay in??if the bottom is screened in???please answer these ?s and if a reptarium is not a good idea what other options are there?could i use a glass aquarium with a screen top?and what other things could i use (that would look nice also)

Answer 1

please don't get anything that resembles an aquarium. tortoises need good ventilation. the best thing you can get is a large underbed storage box with walls high enough so that you can put in a couple of inches of soil mixed with sand and the tortoise won't be able to climb out. anything see-through is very stressful for them because they don't understand the concept of glass etc. and try to walk through it. it's very cruel.

for heating avoid heat mats because they can actually burn the animal. they need to get the heat from the top- a lamp with a reflector light bulb is best. you must also to provide UV light. there are special light bulbs and fluorescent tubes for this.

please do your research properly before you get the tortoises. the pet shop people will try to sell you a lot of stuff that's actually harmful for the animals. some of the stuff that's best is actually available from a supermarket or garden centre and isn't expensive at all.

best website is

www.tortoisetrust.org

have a look at the articles and caresheets. it's got everything about housing, feeding and health.

good luck!

Answer 2

A cave?

Answer 3

Go to the pet store and ask someone that works there, it's their job to know how to set you up with everything you would need to set up a suitable habitat for a tortoise. Also, I hope you're prepared to spend a bunch of money because a setup for a tortoise isn't going to be small or cheap. (I work at a pet store, so trust me, I know) But instead of typing the huge list of everything you're going to need... just ask an associate at the store where you're planning on getting the tortoise from, and unless they're a complete moron they should be able to answer all of your questions.

Answer 4

I think you should put it in a tank. And keep it safe from too much sunlight. Although give it some fresh air because tortoises aren't exactly domestic animals. =) Good luck with your new tortoise!

Answer 5

well, what I would say is the size. if its about the amount of both of your hands, I would suggest a medium - largish tank. It can be clear glass, but thats a little expensive. That's all I have 2 say!

Answer 6

Glass tanks are a bad choice for tortoises as are screened reptariums..  The screened ones don't work for the reasons you already listed. Glass tanks are bad because tortoises do not understand glass, so your tortoise will constantly try to walk through it.

The best thing is either a home made tortoise table, or a really large rubbermaid tote.

Here's how to make a tortoise table..

http://www.unc.edu/~dtkirkpa/stuff/table...

Here's how a setup for a russian tortoise looks using a rubbermaid tote.. *note- setup for a greek would be somewhat different.

http://www.russiantortoise.org/care_shee...

And, finally, a good care sheet on Greek Tortoises..

http://chelonia.org/Articles/tiberagolde...

Wall heat and floor heat are not really good options for tortoises. A much better option is a self ballasted mercury vapor bulb which will provide both heat and UVB.

Probably the best looking option would be a tortoise table. You could paint the outside with a nontoxic paint to improve the appearance. But, it's more important that the tortoise be healthy then for it to look pretty..

Edited to add:

How about a tortoise table or rubbermaid tote WITH a mesh lid? I wouldn't use screening as cats can get through that in a heartbeat. Wire mesh like is used for making cages for rabbits or poultry would do the job so long as it's sturdy enough to hold the weight of the cat jumping on it. You may have to build a wood frame to staple the screening onto.  My cats were only really interested in my tortoise the first week I had him. I do keep him in a separate room, but, a secure mesh lid would work.

Answer 7

well try to make a cage this may work make it big use a large thing of glass for the bottom use screening for the walls and wood for supports and screen roof and if you could use a heat lamp but it may not work if it borrows then don't use a heat lamp so good luck or if you have a big yard get a bigger one and make an out door cage but this may not work