Where to Order Tortoise Online
It is recommended to purchase tortoises online from a reptile shop that specializes in these species. They can help you choose the right tortoise and provide advice on habitats, lighting requirements, heat, humidity and other accessories.
Tortoises are animals with long lives that can live up to 100 years. These fascinating creatures require a lot care.
How to Choose a Tortoise
If you're considering purchasing tortoise on the internet, make sure the vendor you're dealing with is reputable and has captive-bred animals. Reptiles that are bred in captivity are less likely to become sick, since they've been raised in the conditions they require. They are also usually healthier and better socialized than tortoises that come from the wild.
Also, consider the amount of time you can dedicate to care. Tortoises are an ongoing commitment, and they can live up to 80 years in captivity. Are you able to care for your tortoise if you're no longer able?
You can examine the health of the tortoise and see it in person when you purchase from a local breeder.
order tortoise online -cared-for tortoise will appear alert and have a healthy body weight. Its shell should be firm and free of bruises, cracks, or other damages. The plastron should have a little spring to it (though don't squeeze a baby tortoise; it is extremely stressful for them). Legs should be strong and muscular. The skin, the eyes and the vent should be free of discharge.
Before purchasing a tortoise ask the seller for an Article 10 certificate.
order tortoise online is a document the seller needs to sign to show that the tortoise has been microchipped and issued an ID number. It is an official requirement in the US to have this before selling any tortoise.
You should also bring your tortoise pet to a vet who has experience with tortoises and specializes in exotic animals. The vet will check the tortoise for signs like parasites, disease and other problems. The vet may suggest an fecal examination and blood tests, particularly if the tortoise has been illegally imported or comes from a different country. A fecal examination can help identify the presence of Salmonella bacteria which can be extremely harmful to humans and tortoises. The vet will also perform a general checkup and determine the age of the tortoise. In
tortoise for sale online , tortoises who hatch and are young will be sold once they reach 4 inches in length. This is to distinguish males from females.
Tortoise Care
Tortoises can live for a long time and require special care. You should think about your ability to care for tortoises prior to purchasing one online. This is especially true in the case of exotic tortoises that are not available in pet stores. Tortoises that are imported from their home countries are more at risk of injury and illness when they are shipped. Buying captive-bred tortoises minimizes this risk.
You'll also need to consider the space you have available for a tortoise enclosure. African spurred tortoises (also called Leopard tortoises) and Burmese Mountain Tortoises require a lot of space to move about and graze. They will not thrive in a cramped home environment. The Russian, Hingeback, and Mediterranean tortoises are smaller and are better suited for homes that have small outdoor spaces.
Make sure you have a wide enough habitat to house your tortoise, which includes a reptile carpet or substrate that is comfortable for your tortoise to lie on. It's essential that the environment has an area to hide and a water dish that is shallow. Tortoises drink to keep hydrated, clean themselves and urinate. Soaks should be provided at least three times per week for 10-15 minutes. Soaking dishes should be shallow and made of materials that allow the tortoise an easy entry and exit without drowning. To prevent the spread of bacterial infections dishes that soak in water must be cleaned regularly.
Other items you'll need include the daytime UVB fixture and bulb, 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 need a food dish and water dish that is shallow and tortoise food.
A tortoise enclosure that's decorated with lots of ornaments is another way to add an individual touch. You can decorate the enclosure with rocks and plants that are safe for your tortoise to consume. Make sure your pet is on an area that is warm in the enclosure to relax and a cool side with the cave or hide box to seek shelter.
It is important to let your pet tortoise become comfortable with and trust you first before you handle it often. Tortoises can be stressed when they are handled often. It's also crucial to have someone on hand to take care of your tortoise if you're not able to be present. This person should know how to care for your tortoise, and when to contact the vet.
Tortoise Feeding
The requirements for tortoise food of a specific species vary hugely but all tortoises require a diverse diet and adequate amounts of both calcium and UV-B. This does not mean a salad from a supermarket, but a variety of nutritious, tasty plants that a tortoise may find in the wild. The tortoise needs to be able to explore and graze on a regular basis, but this should only occur in daylight hours or after it has buried itself throughout the night. Tortoises that maintain a regular feeding pattern throughout the year have a high rate of metabolic bone disease. (See the article from last year entitled "Tortoise Shells and Deformities: A Perspective from Inside").
The food should be served in a shallow dish that is suitable, and should never be left unattended for a long time because this can lead to decay and pose health risks. During the grazing period, the tortoise should be fed as much of the food it can eat within 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 tortoise.
Certain species require fruit-based elements to their diet. This is particularly true for rainforest species such as Red-footed and Yellow-footed Tortoises. However, fruits must be offered in very small amounts and not more than once per day, and they must be cleaned thoroughly prior to consumption to remove any potential contaminants such as pesticides or other chemicals that could be present on the skin or in the flesh of these foods.
A wide range of different fruits can be fed to a tortoise, however it is recommended to avoid them in the event that a tortoise is predisposed to diarrhoea. It is also worth avoiding foods which are high in goitrogens or oxalic acid. Oxalic acid can bind with calcium and block its absorption, and goitrogens may interfere with thyroid function. Similar to this some of the cruciferous vegetables that are often suggested as part of a tortoise's food plan - like collards greens, turnips and mustard and bokchoy - can be very high in the oxalic acid.
Tortoise Health
It is crucial to make sure you purchase a tortoise from a seller familiar with the species. Reptile shops and people attending reptile shows/expos are good choices as they can give you the best tips on how to take care of your new pet. They will also be able to provide you with the appropriate equipment, such as an enclosure for tortoises. They can answer any questions and are able to identify signs of illness. This is a better option than buying a tortoise at a pet store with a large size, as it could be fighting other animals in a small tank, which could cause stress and damage to their shell.
It is not uncommon for tortoises to live for 50 years or more, therefore it is essential to plan correctly for their care and provide them with a suitable environment to allow them to enjoy their lives. The main factor in this is a healthy diet, a suitable shelter and the environment.
If your tortoise becomes sick, you should bring it to a veterinarian who is familiar with exotic animals. Going to a vet who isn't familiar with tortoises may have devastating outcomes.
Symptoms of disease in a tortoise could include swelling of the neck or limbs, difficulties moving, a loss in appetite, and an excessive amount of fecal excrement. These symptoms indicate problems with the digestive system the kidneys, liver, or liver and should be addressed immediately by an animal vet.
Swelling of the neck or the limbs of a tortoise could be due to difficulty digesting food insects, insect bites, parasitic infections, accumulation of toxin constipation, or the combination of these problems. Soaking the tortoise in warm water for 30 minutes, with the water level only covering its plastron (bottom shell) is usually enough to alleviate this condition. It is also possible to treat this issue by increasing the tortoise's fiber intake, by adding dandelion roots to the feed or giving it liquid parafin or lactulose.

A healthy tortoise will be active and strong. Its muscles will be firm and it will walk with its bottom shell, known as the plastron, free of the ground. It can also dig easily and climb up with ease.