Is it safe to have a tortoise as a pet

Russian Tortoises do best in slightly warmer drier environments with about 50 humidity. So keep an eye out and create the right environment for your pets.

Much of your pets chances depend on the actions that you take after discovering the bite.

Is it safe to have a tortoise as a pet. Though cute turtles and tortoises do not make good pets for children especially because they can transmit salmonella. If you do choose to purchase a turtle or tortoise choose the species carefully. For example it probably doesnt make sense to have a turtle from a tropical climate if you live somewhere that gets very cold.

A big problem with turtles and tortoises is that the most common species in the pet trade are not necessarily the most suitable pets. Chicarella says that while for her Wasabi is worth it she recommends that no one get an African spur-thigh. For the record theyre terrible terrible pets.

This is for the best as a tortoise can be a deceptively difficult pet to care for. These reptiles grow significantly larger than you may be expecting and their diet is not as simple as a couple of lettuce leaves from the local supermarket. If you are going to keep a tortoise as a pet youll have to jump through a few hoops first.

While cats soon get bored with slow-moving tortoises dogs foxes and even birds can present a serious danger. Even the best-behaved dogs may see a tortoise. Most often the answer is yes tortoises can live safely with other animals.

However any animal can get aggressive playful curious and sometimes sick. In these scenarios problems between tortoises and other animals can come up. In this article we will look at the best conditions for keeping a tortoise together with other pets.

The only other species of large tortoise that is legal to have as a pet is the aldabras but they are exceptionally hard to find and even harder to care for. Not to mention the aldabras tortoise can live for well over 200 years. Tortoises and turtles can make excellent classroom pets for certain kids.

They require some specialized preparation but once they are established in the classroom they are fun to care for and can provide a wide variety of valuable lessons to children. I think you do as a pet owner have to do your best to provide the animal with an acceptable living situation. So yes sticking a tortoise in a small aquarium for its entire life is cruel.

But housing a tortoise in the best environment you can provide to meet its needs is acceptable. Is it legal for me to have a pet desert tortoise. Yes if you acquired your tortoise before August 4 1989 or adopted it through a US Fish and Wildlife Service-approved adoption program which in southern Nevada is Tortoise Group.

Those who have pet desert tortoises are custodians and do not own the captive desert. Youll need some kind of shelter for your tortoise to make it feel safe and to provide some shelter from the heat the rain or other elements that may be in the way. You want to keep your tortoise nice and warm and to keep it from overheating as well.

Tortoises can be kept as indoor-only pets but ideally should spend as much time outside as possible. It is a common misconception that all tortoise species hibernate in the winter but this is not the case. Some species need to hibernate some can hibernate and some do not hibernate at all.

However those that are considering getting a pet tortoise must carefully consider all aspects of tortoise care before bringing home their new reptilian pet. Similar to turtles tortoises are often expensive to care for especially if you live in a cooler climate where you will need to provide an indoor habitat and appropriate heating and lighting to simulate their natural environment. Keep your tortoises habitat toasty and damp like the warm countries these pets come from.

The degree of heat and humidity in the habitat will depend on their breed. Russian Tortoises do best in slightly warmer drier environments with about 50 humidity. While Greek Tortoises like it slightly cooler and wetter with up to 80 humidity.

Doing this ensures that your pet is safe and healthy. Whatever location you have in mind for your pet tortoise ensure that their vivarium is not too moist. Too much moisture makes them susceptible to infection if they are injured or unhealed from shedding.

In all your choice of substrate depends on the species of tortoise you have. Yes though there are no guarantees that a tortoise will survive a dog bite and the more serious the bite the more difficult it may be. Much of your pets chances depend on the actions that you take after discovering the bite.

So keep an eye out and create the right environment for your pets. Plus its illegal to SELL baby turtles AS PETS - period - in all 50 states and has been since the 70s. If you see baby sliders being sold to the public you can report this to the regional FDA office.

In most places its OK to have baby turtles just not sell them in connection with a business as a pet. A healthy tortoise generally should have clear eyes no signs of excess mucus and a smooth shell without any deformity or decay. If possible ask the tortoises breeder or rescue group if you can watch it eat.

The only tortoise that refuses food is one that is.