A tortoise’s shell keeps its organs safe, balances its temperature, provides protection from falls, keeps out predators, protects it from UV radiation, and enables it to retain water. Some owners […]

Regular exercise is crucial for the health and well-being of tortoises. Not only is exercising vital for healthy bone and shell development and internal organs, but it also helps with […]

Tortoises dig burrows about 4 inches deep, laying their eggs before covering them. They’ll select a warm, moist area where the eggs have the right conditions for incubation. Depending on […]

Tortoises lose body moisture when performing regular daily activities, such as urinating and breathing. To avoid dehydration, tortoises need to live in humid environments. Without sufficient humidity, tortoises can get […]

Wild tortoises will stand in the rain or soak in small puddles to clean themselves. Tortoises that live in dry areas will give themselves a dry bath by burrowing into […]

People often wonder if tortoises are smelly pets. In truth, tortoises are mostly odorless, which makes them ideal in this regard. Foul smells only become an issue if the tortoise […]

Most of what we know about caring for pets comes from our knowledge of mammals. Because tortoises are reptiles, their needs are different from other domesticated pets. Tortoises need an […]

Having a pet spayed or neutered prevents unwanted breeding, reduces the likelihood of certain cancers, and limits more aggressive behaviors. However, tortoises are vastly different from your average cat or […]

Hibernation is called brumation in reptiles, as they don’t sleep throughout this long rest. Instead, a brumating tortoise may wake up at intervals to drink or change position. Brumation is […]