Where to Order Tortoise Online

It is best to order tortoises online from an reptile shop that is specialized in these species. They can assist you in finding the perfect tortoise to meet your requirements, and provide guidance on the best habitats, lighting, heat, humidity requirements and other essential accessories.

Tortoises live up to 100 years. These fascinating animals require a lot of care.

How to Choose a Tortoise

If you're considering purchasing tortoise online, be sure the vendor you're dealing with is reliable and provides captive-bred animals. Reptiles that are bred in a captive environment are less likely to be sick since they've been raised in a safe conditions. They're also generally healthier and better socialized than tortoises that come from the wild.

Also, think about the time you'll need to dedicate to caring for your pet. Tortoises require a long-term commitment; they can live for up to 80 years in captivity. Are you able to care for your tortoise if you are no longer able?

You can assess the health of the tortoise, and even see it in person when you purchase from an animal breeder in your area. A healthy tortoise is alert and has an ideal weight. The shell must be solid and free from cracks, bruises or other damage. The plastron should have a springy feel (but don't squeeze a tortoise baby as it can be extremely stressful). Legs should be strong and muscular. The eyes, the skin and the vent should be free of discharge.

Before purchasing a tortoise ask the seller for an Article 10 certificate. This is a document the seller needs to sign to confirm that the tortoise is microchipped and issued an ID number. It is an official requirement in the US to obtain this prior to selling any tortoise.

It is also recommended to take your tortoise pet to a veterinarian who is experienced with tortoises, and who specializes in exotic animals. The vet will inspect the animal for signs of parasites, disease and other problems. He or she might recommend an examination of the feces and blood tests, especially when the tortoise is imported illegally or originated from a different country. A fecal examination can identify Salmonella bacteria which is dangerous to tortoises and humans. The vet will also conduct an overall checkup and determine the age of the tortoise. In the US the tortoises who hatch and are young will be sold once they reach 4 inches in length. This is to separate males from females.

Tortoise Care

Tortoises are long-lived and require special care. It is important to consider your capacity to take care of tortoises before purchasing one online. This is especially true if you are looking for exotic tortoises not available in pet stores. Tortoises that are imported from their homelands are at an increased risk of being injured or sick when they are shipped. The purchase of captive-bred tortoises reduces this risk.

You'll also have to think about the amount of space you have in your tortoise enclosure. African spurred tortoises, Leopard tortoises, and Burmese mountain tortoises require plenty of space to roam and graze. These species won't thrive in a small home environment. Russian, Hingeback and Mediterranean tortoises are smaller and are more suited to homes with limited outdoor space.

It is essential to have a spacious habitat for your tortoise. Include an attractive reptile carpet or substrate. It's essential that the habitat has an area for hiding and a shallow water dish. Tortoises drink to keep hydrated, clean themselves and urinate. Soaks should be provided every two to three days of the week for 10-15 minutes. Soaking dishes must be shallow, and made from materials that allow the tortoise an easy entry and exit without drowning. Soaking dishes should be cleaned and disinfected daily to prevent bacteria-related infections.

Other supplies needed include the daytime UVB fixture and bulb as well as a nighttime bulb or ceramic heat emitter, a hygrometer spray bottles for misting, an automatic fogger, a terrarium thermometer and a vivarium light. In addition, you'll require an food dish as well as water dish that is shallow and tortoise food.

A lavishly decorated tortoise enclosure is another option to add a personal touch. You can decorate the enclosure with rocks and plants that are safe for your tortoise consume. Make sure your pet has a warm side of the enclosure for relaxing and a cool side with a hide box or cave to hide in.

It is essential to allow your pet tortoise become comfortable with and trust you before handling it often. A lot of handling can cause undue stress, which is harmful to tortoises. It's important to have someone take care of your tortoise if you are not present. This person should know how to take care of your tortoise, and when to call the vet.

Tortoise Feeding

Tortoise feeding requirements vary greatly according to the species however, they all require a diverse diet as well as an adequate supply of calcium and UV-B. kleinmann's tortoise for sale does not necessarily mean a typical salad at the supermarket but rather a wide range of nutritious, tasty plants that a tortoise could find in the wild. The tortoise is supposed to browse and graze daily in daylight hours or after it has been laid to rest for the night. Tortoises that are forced to engage in constant feeding and activity patterns throughout the year have shocking rates of metabolic bone disease (see the recent article "Tortoise Shell Deformities: a View From Inside').

The food should be provided in a dish that is shallow enough, and should never be left uneaten for long in order to avoid the rotting process and create health risks. During the grazing period, the tortoise must be fed as much food as it can eat in a period of 20 minutes. This lets the tortoise eat without straining its jaws and keeps the 'beak' from growing too large, which is located at the front of the tortoise.

Some species need fruit in their diet. This may be particularly important for species of the rainforest, such as Red footed and Yellow footed tortoises. Fruits should only be offered in small quantities, not more than twice per day. They must also be cleaned to remove any contaminants, like pesticides or other chemicals that may be present in the flesh or on the skin of the fruit.

A wide range of different fruit can be provided to a tortoise, although it is best avoided in the event that a tortoise is predisposed to diarrhoea. It is also worth avoiding foods that contain goitrogens or oxalic acid. Oxalic acid may bind to calcium and hinder its absorption, whereas goitrogens can affect thyroid function. angonoka tortoise for sale of the cruciferous veggies that are suggested for tortoises' diets - like collard greens, turnips as well as bok-choy, mustard and bok-choy can be high in the oxalic acids.

Tortoise Health


It is essential to purchase a tortoise only from a seller who is familiar with the species. A reptile shop or person at a reptile exhibition or show are great options, since they are capable of giving you the best advice on taking care of your new pet. They can also provide the proper equipment, like the tortoise enclosure. They will be able answer any questions and be able to recognize symptoms of disease. This is a much better option than buying tortoises from a big pet store, as the tortoise might have been fighting with other animals while in a small aquarium, which could cause stress and damage their shell.

Tortoises can live up to 50 years. It is important to plan their care and to provide them with the best possible home to enjoy their lives to the fullest. The most important factor is a healthy diet, a suitable shelter and the environment.

In the event that your tortoise is sick it is essential to take them to a vet who is familiar with exotics. If you take them to a vet who isn't familiar with tortoises may have devastating outcomes.

Signs of disease in a tortoise could include swelling of the neck or limbs as well as difficulty moving, a loss in appetite, and an excessive amount of fecal excrement. These symptoms indicate problems with the digestive system, liver or kidneys and should be treated promptly by a reptile vet.

Swelling of the neck and limbs in a tortoise can be due to difficulty digesting food insects, insect bites or parasitic infections, buildup of toxin, constipation or a combination of these issues. The condition can be cured by soaking the tortoise for 30 minutes in mild (warm) water, merely covering the plastron of the shell. It is also possible to treat this condition by increasing the tortoise's fibre intake, including dandelion root to its diet or feeding it liquid parafin or lactulose.

A healthy tortoise is active, has strong muscles, and walks with its plastron (bottom shell) clear of the ground. It can also dig easily and climb up with ease.