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 Tpgdarren (Tpgdarren) posted on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 - 4:26 pm
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Did you know, if you keep:-
Horsfields/Russians
Hermanns
Leopards
Sulcatas
Spur-Thighs
Marginated Tortoises
Etc
in a vivarium, it is extremely likely your tortoise is living a miserable existence. Unlike us and other mammals, who maintain our body temperature physiologically, reptiles must be permitted to manage their body temperatures themselves to meet their needs at a given time by seeking warmer or cooler areas of the environment. Tortoises need a range of temperatures to be able to maintain their immunity, metabolism and activity. Failure to meet the range in temperatures will at the very least result in a tortoise living a miserable existence and possibly their demise.
A vivarium does not permit a good airflow due to lack of ventilation and so maintains a stable, almost one, temperature throughout the whole of the vivarium. A tortoise needs a cooler area to enable it to thermoregulate (cool-down). Vivs are also far too humid for a species of tortoise that requires a drier environment and can result in respiratory problems. Their food intake also requires monitoring; tortoises in the wild spend most of their time hiding away and do not constantly consume food. Inappropriate heating, UVB, accommodation and over-feeding will contribute to long-term ill-effects in your tortoise. Tortoise dealers (most pet shops, garden centres & internet dealers) seldom supply the correct advice or equipment. Tortoise pellets for example are far too high in protein; yet they are sold readily by most tortoise dealers as a necessity. For example if your tortoise is bumpy and unsmooth, there are problems with it's husbandry.
For further details and to learn of the Tortoise Protection Group's work please visit our website where there are photos of appropriate set-ups, species specific care sheets, hibernation advice and a forum to ask questions on tortoise care. Should you have any questions, please don't hesitate to mail us.
http://www.tortoise-protection-group.org.uk
contactus@tortoise-protection-group.org.uk
The Tortoise Protection Group is run 100% by volunteers and is a non-profit group. |
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