What are somethings I could put in my Tortoise's cage they would like?

Question

They're only 4 inches from head to tail each and I have 2 and I want something to put in their cage that they would use or enjoy, It doesn't necessarily need to be a necessity. But something fun. And if your just going to say that they can't feel joy or fun, then s***w YOU don't answer.

Answer 1

why not build a basking area..  all you need are 3 peices of wood .. if you know someone that can use a saw then your set ..

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/ .... |  <- it should looks somethin like this. ..i apologize.. this is a horrible picture .. i couldnt make it look how i wanted .. but you get the idea.. a ramp ...with a area on top.. and a straight peice for support... make sure the turtle can climb up to the top easily ( the angle will be greater when you build it )

pretty much consider this setup in your mind ..

your turtle has a ramp to go about 8 inches in the air.. and sit on a peice of wood.. and can climb up and down easy..   ALSO .. it can hide under the ramp because the top peice will give shade  .. its the best of both worlds ..    

its an idea.. or you can put logs and stuff.. but they need ramps with heat.. and places to hide and cool off

Answer 2

you might be able to find a hollowed out log/branch that they can crawl in and on. (you can atatch another peice of wood to the side to act as a ramp for them to crawl up.)

Answer 3

hide boxes they love to go and sleep in the dark i took an old shoe box and made one for my torts....

Answer 4

You could put in a log or piece of driftwood, they might sleep next to it or climb on it.

Answer 5

i have branches in my tortoise pen they are just big enough for the tortoises to climb over, i also have a piece of slate which they love put one in the basking area and they will love the heat it holds, you can also grow trays of grass and natural weed, so you Can move them about it  makes the pen more interesting, i also have a sand pit area, which they like digging in, you can get cobble stones as well they do like to climb over things and if you change the pen around once a week they enjoy exploring it as it is like a different area for them, best of luck honey  

Answer 6

1. Hiding place. Depending on the species, make it a high humidity hiding place

2. 2nd story area. A ramp to the top of the hiding place is a common solution. Make sure it is wide and 'shallow' enough.

3. SOME turtles and tortoises 'play with' light-weight balls (Whiffle balls)- but most don't.

4. Grow live food in the habitat.

5. Hang or hide food so the tortoises have to hunt or work a bit for it.

6. Depending on the species, a good warm UVB basking site, or, for non-UVB species, a misting system. (Forest species, like Red-foots and Hinge-backs don't need a lot of UVB and rarely bask- in fact are light-shy. On the other hand, they really like high humidity and warm rains!)

7. For a digging species- a digging space. A deeper area of good soil to snuggle in.

For good tortoise discussions, try...

- http://www.tortoiseforum.org or

- http://www.turtleforum.com

As to feeling joy or fun... while I think tortoises feel many emotions, I have never seen anything to make me think they feel those to any significant extent. I think we as keepers need to be careful to deal with these animals as they really are without wishing they felt or thought something different.

For example, I often communicate with people who claim their tortoises love being held, or love a certain cage mate, etc. even though they describe behaviors completely opposite of that.