| Tortoise Care |
From "Pet Care"
episode PCW-102 |
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Ian Recchio, a reptile keeper for the Los Angeles Zoo, shows a Madagascar radiated star tortoise and shares some valuable tips for people who may be interested in keeping tortoises. Taking care of a tortoise requires a lot of know-how. A tortoise's general health is an important consideration at the time of purchase. Here are several signs to look for: - Is the animal bubbling at its nose, or wheezing? Are his eyes running? These three can be indicators of respiratory trouble.
- Feel the shell; is it hard and solid? A soft shell can be a symptom of calcium problems.
- Check the feet. A tortoise's foot should look somewhat like that of an elephant (figure A), with short, even nails that are not curling back into the flesh. This would suggest either that the animal had been kept on the wrong sort of substrate (the material lining the floor of oits cage) or that he suffered from some sort of nutritional deficiency.
- Turn the tortoise over and check the tail area to be sure it's clean. Any sort of problem such as diarrhea will be evident around the tail.
Tortoises have some specific needs in order to live indoors. The following are essential for raising a healthy pet: - Provide UV lighting. This is especially important for hatchlings.
- Invest in a roomy cage. The animal should have as much room as possible to move around in.
- Give your pet a safe environment. The cage or tank should have a cover, especially if there are other pets or young children in the house. (Remember: cats are experts at getting into things they shouldn't, so if you have cats, you should almost certainly invest in a snug-fitting, petproof cover.)
- Create a thermal gradient in the cage so that your pet has hot, warm and cool areas. One way to do this is with a subfloor heat mat, which goes under -- not in -- the cage. Recchio says that he likes to create a cavelike area at this point so that the tortoise can go inside to hide and stay warm.
- Use the proper type of substrate. The correct substrate is essential for a healthy pet: a tortoise will almost certainly ingest some of the material, and young animals can become impacted and die very quickly.
- Avoid raising tortoises on sand, coarse bark and gravel.
- Newspaper is the best substrate for baby tortoises.
- All other substrates should be digestible.
- A terrarium carpet or Astroturf makes a good surface on which to raise a tortoise, but food gets trapped in it very easily and attracts bacteria. If you're going to use it, therefore, you must be diligent about keeping it clean by means of a diluted bleach solution.
- Another good type of substrate material is rabbit pellets: they provide traction and can be swallowed without causing any harm. Green moss and peat moss also work well, as they are both digestible.
- Consider feeding your tortoise in a separate tank, or use a raised platform.
- Wood-bark chips are generally safe to use in the cage, with the exception of redwood and cedar. They contain oils that can cause abcesses to form. Never use them; use fir or pine instead.
- Garden soils work well -- if they're organic and contain no fertilizer.
- Use a low water dish -- baby tortoises can fall into a deep one and drown!
- Invest in a hydrometer and a thermometer so you can monitor the humidity and tempertaure in the animal's environment. Nothing kills reptiles faster than overheating, but they also can get sick from being too cold.
- Use a rheostat. You can plug all the heat sources into it and use it to check the temperature, dim the lights, etc.
- Feed your tortoise a healthful diet: Romaine lettuce, dandelion greens, Nappa cabbage, yams and carrots are all good, as are Swiss chard and apples in moderation. Don't make the mistake of thinking iceberg lettuce and coleslaw mix are good for him. They aren't, nor is sugary produce such as strawberries and watermelon, which tortoises love. Save these treats for a time when you have to give him medicine; they'll do the trick, but he won't get enough to make him sick.
Veterinarian Cynthia Stringfield shows a California desert tortoise and gives a couple of tips on the care of this breed. - This type of tortoise is especially vulnerable to respiratory infections, and once an animal gets one of these illnesses, he's likely to have recurring problems throughout his life.
- The principal symptoms of respiratory infection are these: runny eyes, eyes that stay closed, bubbling at the nose, breathing through the mouth and poor appetite. If you notice any of them, keep the animal warm and get him to a vet immediately -- he won't get better on his own.
Guests: Joel (Tatum) and Stephanie (Zielinski)
753 North McCadden Place
Los Angeles, CA 90038
Phone: 323-469-1222
Fax: 323-469-1623
Web site: www.wildlifeheroes.com
E-mail: howsweetitis55@hotmail.com Ian Recchio
Reptile Keeper
The Los Angeles Zoo
5333 Zoo Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Phone: 323-644-6029
Web site: www.lazoo.org Dr. Cynthia Stringfield
Chief Veterinarian
The Los Angeles Zoo
5333 Zoo Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Web site: www.lazoo.org Web site resources for Tortoises: American Tortoise Rescue Tortoise Trust List of Sites for Turtles and Tortoises
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