Why are tortoises’ good pets?

Tortoises are quiet, calm and interesting animals suitable for people suffering from allergies with no fur or dander issues. They live a long time upwards of 70 years for a lot of the species so can become a much-loved long term family member. One of our tortoises has become a therapy pet for a child needing a calm companion and is very loved.

How long do tortoises live?

An exceptionally long time -this varies with species and I honestly do not think there has been enough time passed to have accurate records for some species being so long lived. We personally know of tortoises that are at least 70 years old and living happy lives into their senior years. Lonesome George a Pinta Island tortoise, was over 100 years old when he died in 2012. Tu'i Malila a Radiated tortoise that was a gift from Captain Cooke to the royal family of Tonga died at the age of at least 188 years back in 1965. Jonathon the Seychelles Giant tortoise is likely the oldest tortoise living today at around 188 years.

What species are good for beginners?

Many tortoise species are suitable for beginners providing their basic care needs are met. The smaller species tend to be a little easier for most families such as Hermann and Russian but honestly if another species really interests you and you do the research and provide for their needs, I would say ‘go for it’.

That said, a couple of our species I wouldn’t recommend as a beginner pet both the Egyptian and the Spider tortoise. They tend to be a little more sensitive to change and more suited to folks with a bit of tortoise keeping experience.

Do tortoises need companionship?

Most of the time no, however some species such as the red foot / cherry heads are somewhat semi social in their behaviour and choose to be close to each other even in our large outdoor enclosures.

In the wild most species of tortoises usually only encounter others for the purpose of breeding.

Can tortoises carry salmonella?

Many animals carry salmonella such as domestic and wild birds and yes tortoises are included too. I think the media has blown this out of proportion really. We recommend like with any animal to wash your hands with soap and water following handling of your pet and do not encourage children to kiss them etc. We have kept tortoise for almost 30 years and had 3 children and never had any issues with salmonella.

Does my tortoise need regular veterinary check ups?

Unlike cats and dogs your tortoise does not need a regular check up providing he or she is healthy and there are no concerns. They also do not need regular vaccinations.

Do we need to deworm regularly?

Tortoises tend to naturally carry a small parasite load and is not detrimental to their wellbeing if otherwise healthy.

We tend to only deworm a tortoise if they appear ‘under the weather’ or we suspect a problem and then we collect a fresh fecal sample, have a vet run a fecal examination to determine if there are any parasites and to identify them. There are a few options but ask your veterinarian. Our usual drug of choice is Fenbendazole as it has been proven very safe and works effectively.

Please note that the drug Ivermectin should never be used in treating a tortoise as it is harmful to them.

Does my tortoise need a first aid kit?

You might find a few things handy to have. We keep an antibiotic cream for treating abrasions. Chlorhexidine wash for cleansing areas of concern which is both anti bacterial and anti fungal. Human nail clippers for trimming an overgrown beak. Antifungal cream like Canesten can be useful in shell conditions. Human eye drops such as Polysporin can be safely used if needed. A toothbrush for cleansing the shell.

Should I choose a male or female tortoise?

Young babies cannot usually be accurately sexed. We can give you our best guess but no guarantee.

In our opinion males and females are equally lovely as pets and we do not see any significant differences-they all have a wonderful and unique character. Some species have smaller males than females but again this varies.

Does the sunlight coming through a window benefit my tortoise?

Tortoises certainly enjoy a brightly lit environment but sunlight coming through glass will not provide any of the necessary UV-Please read our section on lighting and UV under the Care Sheet tab.