The selection of a tortoise substrate for the enclosure sometimes causes keepers anxiety since some are excellent while others are highly dangerous. Knowing which substrates are suitable for your tortoise and which are not may alleviate any worries you may have. Your substrate selection should be determined by the tortoise’s species, enclosure configuration, ambient humidity, … Read more
Yes. Tortoises can walk backwards, but it is not something they do every day. Turning around is the best way to get out of a tight spot, but if you have to, walking backwards can help. Despite what we think, they’re really good at it. You might not think much about how many different kinds … Read more
A lot of the time, I notice that one of our tortoises likes to walk around when it’s dark. The fact that tortoises don’t usually live at night made me wonder if they could see at night (and if so, why would they need it). Here’s what I learned! Do tortoises see in the dark? … Read more
Yes, in a nutshell. In captivity, it is more often than not an accident. Typically, this occurs during hand feeding or when they are hungry and “test bite” something they see to determine if it is edible. This video was shot spontaneously while I was cleaning our Russian Tortoise’s enclosure. It found my gloved hand … Read more
Tortoises do drink water, and they need fresh water on a regular basis to stay healthy. All tortoises should be given fresh water on a regular basis. When given the chance, even true desert species like Testudo kleinmanni, Geochelone sulcata, and Gopherus agassizii will drink. You should provide a water bowl in their environment because … Read more