One of the most crucial parts of owning a pet tortoise is choosing a good housing for it. It’s not like owning a dog where you can just let your pet freely roam around the house or in your backyard. Tortoises, or reptiles in general, have specific habitat needs that require utmost attendance because it is part of their nature.
When deciding what particular type of housing you should build or avail for your pet tortoise, consider the following factors:
There are numerous housing materials that are ideal for tortoises. You can buy plastic pools, plastic reptile cages, and glass tanks or even build wooden enclosures. Plastic pools are readily available anytime, anywhere but you must have a large space at home where you can conveniently place them. Plastic reptile cages are great for small tortoises and are easy to maintain but do not really work for larger ones. Glass tanks or aquariums, on the other hand, may come with a variety of extra features but are not really highly recommended. Lastly, wooden enclosures are practical options for most reptiles because they can be custom-built but require a higher level of maintenance than other housings.
Whatever type of housing you may choose for your tortoise, it is important that it is as spacious as it can be. The recommended ratio of floor space to a tortoise’s length is a square yard to four inches.
Reptiles require proper heating and warmth to stay healthy. Their habitats must provide them with an efficient source of heat. An incandescent light is a perfect alternative for the sunlight. Meanwhile, for belly heating, you can install under cage heaters for glass tanks or heat rocks for plastic or wooden cages.
Substrates or floor coverings are also important elements in reptile dwellings. Tortoises are fond of burrowing so make sure to have something that attends to such need. Some options include loamy compost and play sand mixture, sphagnum moss and wood chips.
Tortoises explore a lot so make sure that they would not be able to escape their housing. As much as possible, there must be no slants and the housing must be high enough for your pet not to climb.
Considering these factors in buying or building a shelter for your pet is important to ensure that it is safe and comfortable. If you are not sure about something, it is better that you seek the professional advice of pet shop staff than to just proceed with it hastily.
