2torial #0455:
Learn2 Care for a Pet Tortoise (continued)

Provide regular maintenance

To keep your tortoise healthy, pay attention to the following:

Manage the lights. Depending on the species, the terrarium light should stay on for at least 6 hours a day. Don't forget to turn it off, though, or your tortoise will think it's daylight all the time. Your tortoise will eventually develop eating and sleeping patterns based on the schedule of the lights, so be consistent. Consider using a timer.

Keep the terrarium clean. Tortoises tend to knock over their water bowls, which can make the substrate mushy. Also, your tortoise will soil the substrate when it relieves itself. Keep an eye on the substrate and change it when necessary.

Give your tortoise a bath. Once a month, place your tortoise in a bowl of lukewarm water no deeper than about half its height. Use a toothbrush (but no soaps or shampoos) to gently clean the tortoise's shell, feet, and underside.

Visit the vet. Bring your tortoise to the vet once every 6 months for a checkup. And weigh it periodically on a regular bathroom scale, or simply pick it up; if it appears substantially lighter, this is an indication that something is wrong. Take it to the vet immediately.

Daily attention to your pet and its environment will help keep your tortoise healthy. And the more you educate yourself about this particular member of the chelonian family, the more enriching an experience your reptile will offer.

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