Most Important Types of Tortoises

The difference between tortoises and turtles is the fact that tortoise live on land, while the turtles prefer aquatic life. The tortoises can be considered land turtles. The species are related, but also different from many points of view. Let’s see the characteristics of tortoises, and the main types of tortoises.

The tortoise is usually a middleweight turtle. It has 4 centimeters at birth and 15-30 centimeters as an adult. It is spread across the entire world. Even if they live their life on dry land, they can always be found near a source of water. They have a convex carapace, and their shape is usually oval.

The tortoises are usually vegetarian, but they also eat worms, insects and small animals. They also hibernate during the winter. The reproductive period is the end of spring, and the female lays 3-12 eggs, which need 3-8 months before hatching. The majority of tortoises are protected by the law, because they are almost extinct. Many species of tortoises were extinct during the latest years, and without the help of the authorities, this will continue.

Even if the majority of tortoises are protected by the law, so you are not allowed to have one, there are many tortoises that can be bought from local pet stores. Don’t ask tortoises on forums and on blogs, as this way, you will only encourage illegal activities that are responsible for the extinction of many tortoises. There are many authorized websites and pet shops that can give you a tortoise legally, and from which you can find such a pet without being worried about potential punishment.

There are many types of tortoises. The most popular ones are the Greek, Russian and African tortoises. In any case, make sure to buy it from the authorized pet stores. Even if the turtle that you buy is not from an endangered species, it is important to have papers attesting the species and the history of the turtle.  


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Important Tortoise Facts

The tortoises are amongst the most popular animals as pets. They are a part of the Testudo family. However, even if thousands of people want to have turtles, the lack of knowledge about those animals leads to premature death. It is important to create proper conditions if you want your pet to survive for a long time. Some tortoises can live up to 75 years, so when you buy a tortoise, you can consider that you bought a companion for the entire life. The tortoises will reach 20-30 centimeters on average at maturity, but there are smaller and bigger dimensions. The carapace is convex, especially in the central part and it is oval for the mature exemplars. The skin is covered with scales. Usually, the males are smaller than the females, but this is not valid for all the species.

The majority of tortoises are protected species, so hunting, selling or buying them is forbidden and punished accordingly. A common species that can be found commonly, and which is not under the danger of extinction is Testudo Hermanni, which has a yellow shell. The eyes are blue or black, and the young exemplars have black spots in the shell.

The tortoises need external heat sources to maintain the temperature of the body. They are active animals, which hibernate during the winter season. If you choose to have more than one, it is better to separate males and females, as those are aggressive and they might hurt the females. The best method to differentiate the males and females is the length of the tale. The tale of the males is significantly longer than the one of females, and they are also smaller.

Preparing the habitat is important for the health of your pets. The tortoises must be kept outside during the warm season, when the temperatures vary from 18 to 30 degrees. In this case, it is necessary to prepare a special place, as big as possible, preferable made of natural stones. Place a mix of sand and mud of at least 10 centimeters. It is important for the respective place to be ensured against escaping, as the tortoises are good climbers, and they also like to dig in the sand. Make sure that the tortoises can’t enter into contact with other animals, as conflicts will appear or the tortoises might be hurt. The habitat must be partially covered, so it will offer the tortoises a place where to withdraw in case of bad weather. You can offer them a wooden house, which you must introduce in the habitat. The uncovered part must be sunny, as the tortoises need sunlight. You can put stones in the interior of the pen. The tortoises behave the same in a free environment or in captivity. During the morning, they will get out of the house to eat, at lunch, when the sun is strong, they will withdraw and they will get out of the house the second time for another meal in the afternoon.

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