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How To Care For Baby Tortoises

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How To Care For Baby Tortoises

Follow Mark Amey's step by step guide to looking after baby tortoises. Tortoises are interesting pets but need committed owners as they can live for over 100 years. Care for baby tortoises so they live past that century milestone with VideoJug's help. Follow Mark Amey's step by step guide to looking after baby tortoises. Tortoises are interesting pets but need committed owners as they can live for over 100 years. Care for baby tortoises so they live past that century milestone with VideoJug's help.

Step 1: Buying your tortoise

Buy your tortoise from a reputable breeder or pet shop. Don't buy them over the internet as they may be sent to you in the post and won't be kept in safe conditions. If your tortoise has been legally bred it will come with a sales certificate known as Article 10 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. If you buy an adult tortoise, the certificate will state your pet has been micro chipped.

Step 2: Housing and bedding

Keep your baby tortoise in a well ventilated glass or wooden tank called a vivarium. It should measure about 90 centimetres by 45 by 45. Use a spotlight and adjust the wattage to provide a basking area of 35-40 degrees during the day. Your baby tortoise will need a UV light with 5% UVB which should be kept on for 10 hours in winter and 14 hours in summer, and replaced every 6 months. The rest of the enclosure should be kept at 20-25 degrees during the day and 15 degrees at night. Fit a thermometer to check the temperature. The floor should be lined with substrate such as alfalfa pellets, newspaper, or paper towels. Include a hide or bark for shade and for climbing.

Step 3: Handling

Pick up your tortoise by holding either side of the shell, and stretching your fingers underneath to support the body. Wash your hands after handling your tortoise to reduce the risk of spreading salmonella.

Step 4: Diet

Feed your baby tortoise everyday with fresh plants, flowers and leafy vegetables such as cabbage, spinach, and dandelions. Dust the food with vitamin and calcium supplements two or three times a week. Some flowers are toxic to tortoises, so ask your vet which ones to avoid. You can also include a small amount of fruit. Your pet will also need a constant supply of clean drinking water. Use a wide, shallow dish so it can drink and bathe without risk of drowning.

Step 5: Exercise and play

Tortoises can get enough exercise on their own in a suitable enclosure. A good way to interact with your pet is to feed it by hand. Don't put your tortoise on it's back as it may have difficulty turning over.

Step 6: Cleaning

Clean out tortoise faeces every other day. Clean the entire enclosure and change the substrate every 5 to 6 weeks.

Step 7: Health

Tortoises should have few health problems if they are cared for properly. Look out for shell distortion or softness as this could be a sign of vitamin or calcium deficiency. Make sure the plants in the enclosure are free from pesticides. Consult your vet if your pet loses it's appetite or if it's faeces aren't dark and firm. Tortoises should be micro chipped by a vet when the base of the shell reaches 10 centimetres in length, which will be at about 4 years old. At this age they will need an outdoor enclosure during the summer, and will hibernate in winter. Consult your vet beforehand for advice and to check your tortoise is the correct size and weight.

Enjoy your tortoise!

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Tips & Comments
  1. dgenre

    I have the babies 2 months ago. they seems to be more active in the tank before. Now not sure it is because the weather or what, they eat much less and not move around as often as before. Anyone know is this normal. need comments.

  2. Mohammed_Khaliq

    Just come across a website which do reasonably priced tortoise tables from £49.00 www.tortoise-table.co.uk thought this may be handy for other members

  3. Lorrie44

    Hello...I have had 5 sets of babies in the past...on #6 now...question has any ones baby ever have its shell still on after 2 weeks...sort of dried looking...any ideas??

  4. mandywade

    Hi....found a small white egg this morning in the garden....put it in a box in a very warm room. Will this be dead if born outside and not found. Thanks. Mandy

  5. lynn78

    all so what do you do way the eggs

  6. lynn78

    hi was wondering affter breeding how long will it be before thay lay eggs

  7. kristina_rodney

    i dont kno y they r closin their eyes, i av tortoises so i guess it depends if they r tortoises or turtles. my torts go out wenevr they can, i have modified a guinea pig hutch and rabbit run so they can go out with lil suppervision. mine r escape artists an still manage to get out. an i hibernate mine i recommend you talk to a reptile vet and research an prepare properly before hand as hibernating is wen most torts die, u dnt need to hibernate tho u can overwinter if y wish.I bort large fiddle sticks for my torts and bent it in2 a den, i used have 1 lyk the vid but they av now grown out of it. an yes they DO NEED water. when i first got mine i was really confused as everytime i went in2 the reptile shop they wud tell me diff things so i went on the tortoise trust website and found them the most help (and they kno wat they r talking bout). i now kno they shudnt be kept in vivariums as they cannot regulate their body temp properly. they need a cool end an a warm end, a viv does not offer this, also they need a lot of ventilation. i av mine in a tortoise table u can buy them 4 bout £100 but i made 2 for £50. also alfalfa pellets dnt make good substrate, if they are eaten its not got for them. mine are on a sand and soil of a ratio of bout 60:40. howevr sometimes i use toewls lyk be4 hibernating wen i need to keep record of wen they go toilet. u can buy some already mixd but i av nevr used (dnt kno wat it is lyk) + buying seperate is much cheaper. i prop shud also mention mine are kept seperate as they fight hard. torts can live together if they LOADS of space and ONLY 1 male 2 at LEAST 2 females. ps sorry 4 essay

  8. miraikappagurl

    i dont have any experience..i just bought a couple of baby turtles..why they keep closing their eyes?and why they just ignore the food..?how to feed them?

  9. davieu

    i need to know all the best tips to look after my tortoise

  10. sparkly69

    I would like to purchase a tortoise, but would i be able to take the tortoise outside on the grass in summer under supervision if its a baby, also do you have to let it hybernate when its older. Thanks