How to care for a tortoise: the ultimate tortoise care guide

Thinking about getting a pet tortoise? Great - you’ve landed on the ultimate tortoise care guide, where you’ll find everything you need to know about how to care for a tortoise.

From environment, to climate and feeding, tortoises require lifelong, specialized care, so stick with us and get your notepad ready.

And just one thing before we get into all things tortoise care… Before you welcome a pet tortoise, make sure you’re prepared for when vacation time comes. 

You’ll need to make sure you’ve got someone who can care for your pet tortoise properly - take a look below to explore how finding a tortoise sitter works with us.

How to care for a tortoise: tortoise care guide 

If you’re thinking about getting a tortoise, know that tortoise care is specific, and you’ll need to get clued-up on it before welcoming your new reptile friend home. Below, we’ll explore what to check for when you bring your tortoise home, to make sure they’re healthy. We’ll also explore: 

• How to create the perfect environment for your tortoise
• How to optimize your tortoise’s climate
• What to feed your tortoise
• The importance of cleaning
• Tortoise health
• Planning ahead for vacation time

Check your tortoise when you bring them home

The first thing you’ll do when you bring your new pet tortoise home is to get them checked with an exotic pets veterinarian. Some pet tortoises are sadly smuggled illegally - without new pet parents knowing - so get them checked in the first instance. Take a look below at what you (and your vet) can look out for.

• Shell. Your tortoise’s shell should be hard, with no weakness or damage (such as pyramiding of scutes), and the bottom of the shell (the plastron) shouldn’t drag on the ground. 
• Legs. They should be muscular and strong - your tortoise should be able to walk with ease and lift themselves up.
• Cleanliness. Their beak, scales, skin and vent should all be clean.
• Eyes. Clean, bright and shiny.
• Breathing. They should be breathing through their nose, not mouth.
• Behavior. Responsive and alert - a healthy tortoise will retract their head and legs into their shell if disturbed.

Figure out the sex of your tortoise

One way you can optimize your tortoise care is to determine the sex of your tortoise. Granted, it can be difficult to tell the difference between male and female tortoises up until the age of around three, when the signs of their sex will become clearer. 

Amongst all tortoise species, females tend to be smaller than males, and males tend to have longer tails.

To properly determine the sex of your tortoise, take your reptile buddy to your exotic veterinarian.

Feeding

Water

Change your tortoise’s water daily, - one thing you should know about tortoise care is that they tend to poop in their water. So to prevent illness, disinfect your tortoise’s water dish regularly, and remove any residue of your cleaning products before refilling.

Another water pro-tip: ensure the dish is big enough for your tortoise to get into, and the water shallow enough so that exiting the drinking dish-come-bathing pool is easy.

Food

According to the University of Illinois, most tortoises are herbivores, so provide a leafy feast that resembles their diet in the wild. This should consist of weeds, leaves, and herbs such as watercress, grated carrot, and dandelion, along with small amounts of fruit like strawberries and apples. 

Always rinse their food well to keep it clean and steer clear of anything potentially toxic, such as plants that have grown from a bulb. 

How often to feed a tortoise

How often you feed your tortoise depends on their age. Young tortoises should be fed twice daily, and adult tortoises can be fed once per day. Every tortoise species is different, so consult your vet for a meal plan to suit your pet.

Supplements

Never feed your tortoise a supplement unless you’ve ran it by your exotic vet first, and check with them on the best way to feed your tortoise a supplement.

Uneaten food

Remove any uneaten food daily, and replace it with fresh food.

Signs of hunger

If your tortoise bobs their head before being fed, it’s likely a sign of hunger or a need for attention.

Your tortoise’s terrarium

If you’re new to the world of tortoise care, a terrarium is a tortoise enclosure. The idea of this indoor enclosure is to mimic the natural habitat of a tortoise, providing the right heat, light, humidity and ventilation they need to stay healthy. 

Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing your tortoise enclosure:

Size

So, what size does your tortoise enclosure need to be? Your tortoise’s home should be at least six times the width and length of your tortoise. Tortoises need space to roam, bathe and wear down their nails and beaks.

Temperature

Your tortoise’s enclosure should have one cool side, and one warmer side. Install two thermometers at the height of your tortoise to monitor the temperature of your terrarium, to make sure it’s always correct.

The temperature range of the tortoise enclosures should be maintained at 18-20°C (64-68°F) in some areas and 30-32°C (86-89°F) in others. To determine the right temperature for your species of tortoise, speak to your exotic veterinarian.

The warmer end of the terrarium provides a basking area, UVB exposure, and/or direct sunlight. The heat source can be emitted by a high-watt heat bulb, heat lamp or a ceramic heat emitter. Heat for tortoises is super important for their health, so make sure you’re getting the temperature just right.

Light

Along with heat, tortoises require a lot of light - at least 10-12 hours per day of sunlight, or artificial UVB light, and a basking spot. Not only do tortoises need this light for basking, they also need it to help them absorb calcium from their diet. Along with this direct light, your tortoise should have access to shelter away from it in their enclosure.

Humidity

The humidity of your tortoise terrarium depends on the natural habitat your species of tortoise comes from. Check with your exotic veterinarian before setting the humidity levels of your tortoise home, but here are some guidelines on the sorts of humidity levels you might be looking at, and how to achieve them. 

• Tropical forest species: these require high humidity levels, at least 80%.
• Red foot tortoises: between 70-80%.
• Arid and semi arid species: between 45-55%.

It’s important to make sure you get a terrarium specifically designed for tortoises to allow for proper air flow. It’s a tortoise terrarium, not a tortoise aquarium that you’re looking for, so ensure the ventilation is just right.

Ways to humidify your tortoise enclosure

• Use a reptile-specific humidifier
• Mist your tortoise frequently
• Add a water feature, like a waterfall
• Always have a water dish present
• Opt for a substrate that holds the humidity

Substrate

The substrate is the grounding or bedding and a vital part of your tortoise tank set up. Here are a few things to consider when choosing a substrate for your tortoise terrarium, a vital part of tortoise care.

• It should mimic the substrate of their natural environment as much as possible.
• It should be deep and retain moisture, but not damp enough to grow mold or house other organisms.
• Soiled substrate should be removed and replaced with clean substrate.
• Avoid anything that could be ingested, such as bark or wood shavings.

Plants and accessories

Along with heated bulbs and the right substrate for your tortoise, there are a few accessories you can kit your tortoise’s terrarium out with. These include: 

• Hideaway spots. More on the importance of these below.
• Stones. For wearing down nails and beaks.
• A wading dish. These are vital for hydration, toxin relief and pooping.
• Flat stones. These are perfect for basking and preventing the substrate from getting into any water features.
• Branches. Your tortoise loves the sun, but having somewhere to sit under the shade is important, too.
• Plants. Along with shelter, many plants are safe for tortoises, such as pansies, mint and lavender.

Hide boxes

An important part of tortoise care is ensuring your tortoise feels safe and secure. One way you can do this is to have a closed box within their terrarium. This provides a cooler space for your tortoise to have some alone time, giving them a sense of security - especially at night.

Ensure it’s escape-proof

Ensure the terrarium is fully sealed, not only so that your tortoise can’t climb or dig their way out, but so that they’re protected from predators, including birds, dogs, rats, badgers, coyotes and foxes.

Letting your tortoise outside

They love the freedom to roam, and usually enjoy being let out of their enclosures to wander around a larger area, often outside. Always make sure the area is secure and supervise your tortoise buddy when they’re on the move – they might be slow, but they can still escape!

Tips for housing your tortoise outside

If you’re choosing to have a garden tortoise, AKA a tortoise kept outside, there are a few extra things you’ll need to consider in terms of your tortoise’s care.

• Move indoors if needed. Ensure there is an indoor space where you can move your tortoise’s terrarium if you live in an area of extreme weather.
• Security is key. Outside, your tortoise is at a higher risk of being attacked by predators, so ensure the top is secure, and your tortoise cannot dig their way out.
• Substrate matters. Ensure the bedding within your tortoise’s enclosure isn’t damp - flooding could be fatal and cause extreme distress.
• Shelter. With the sun coming in from more variable angles than an indoor enclosure, make sure your tortoise has shelter where they can cool down.
• Temperature control. If you live in a warm location, you’ll need to keep a very close eye on the terrarium’s temperature as it sits under the sun.

Cleaning

Part of tortoise care is keeping them clean. Tortoises have a tendency to poop in their water bowls, so be sure to clean it out daily, and provide fresh water.

Remove any additional poop from the rest of the enclosure as and when you spot it, replacing any substrate. 

As for cleaning your tortoise, they need to be bathed anywhere from daily to twice a week, to weekly, depending on their age and the environment they’re kept in. Speak to your veterinarian to clarify how often your tortoise needs to be bathed.

Tortoise health

Another key aspect of tortoise care is monitoring their health. Be sure to get your tortoise checked over as soon as you’ve welcomed your new pet, and monitor for any other health issues to ensure you’re keeping your tortoise healthy. 

Health problems to be aware of include:

• Parasites
• Abscesses
• Salmonella
• Vitamin deficiency
• Calcium deficiency
• Respiratory disease 
• Shell infections
• Shell fractures
• Shell pyramiding (find out more about the causes of the pyramiding of scutes at the Tortoise Trust)
• Soft shell
• Ticks
• Diarrhea
• Dehydration
• Kidney stones
• Bladder stones
• Intestinal parasites

Signs your tortoise is unwell:

• Swollen and/or watery eyes
• Discoloration of the shell
• Lack of appetite
• Lethargy
• Weight loss
• Drooping head and/or limbs
• Lumps
• Head banging or ramming 

By keeping their environment clean, feeding them correctly, and maintaining the correct temperature, your tortoise should stay happy and healthy under your care. With that said though, if you suspect your tortoise is unwell, book an appointment with an exotic vet immediately.

Be prepared for your vacation

Another vital aspect of tortoise care is making sure you’re prepared for when you decide to go on vacation. One way to make sure your tortoise is properly looked after is to welcome a pet sitter who knows how to care for a tortoise. 

Ensuring your tortoise is properly cared for will take a weight off your mind while you’re on vacation, and will avoid a whole lot of stress and illness in your pet. 

One simple way to connect with tortoise sitters is through TrustedHousesitters - with an annual membership, you can welcome as many verified and reviewed reptile sitters as you need.

“TrustedHousesitters is a brilliant way to make going away super easy. Sitters are vetted so that you already have peace of mind when it comes to leaving” - TrustedHousesitters member, Esther Eyre

Choosing a tortoise: different breeds means different tortoise care

Now that you’re serious about welcoming a tortoise into your home, you’ll need to consider which type of tortoise is right for you, your home and the other people you live with.

Tortoises have been around for over 230 million years (yes, that means they lived alongside the dinosaurs!), which has resulted in a variety of species of tortoises. Some originate from the Middle East, others Central Asia and Africa, and some Russia. 

It’s important that when welcoming your new reptile friend home that you carefully consider their native environment. This will help you to provide the correct care for your tortoise, feeding them a diet and keeping them at temperatures and humidities that reflect their natural habitat.

Due to their varying origins, tortoise care depends on the breed of tortoise. Find the breeds of tortoise and their origins below:

Tortoise breeds and origins

• The Sulcata tortoise: The Sahara desert and Sahel region of northern Africa, ranging from savanna, scrub and semi-arid grasslands.
• The Russian tortoise: Afghanistan, North Pakistan and the Soviet Territory of Kazakhstan, where the tortoises are found in rocky deserts in huge burrows underground.
• The Hermann's tortoise: Southern Europe, from Spain, to France, Italy, Romania, Turkey, Corsica, and the Balearics, where the earth is dry, arid, rocky and shaded.
• The Greek tortoise: Greek Islands, North Africa, the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Iran, ranging from forests, fields, meadows, scrub and even rocky hillsides.
• The Leopard tortoise: Central and southern Africa, in thicket, thorn scrub, woodlands, grasslands and semi-deserts.

Sulcata tortoise care

• Otherwise known as: The African Desert tortoise, The Spurred tortoise
• Size: 70-150 pounds
• Habitat temperature: 85°F to 105°F daytime, 70° F nighttime, 100-105°F for basking
• Humidity levels: 40-60% day time, 70-80% night time
• Behavior: Active, curious and tolerant of humans

Russian tortoise care

• Otherwise known as: Afghan, Central Asian, Horsfield's, Steppe, Four-clawed tortoise
• Size: 2-2.5 pounds
• Habitat temperature: 72-80°F daytime, 70-80°F nighttime, 90-95°F for basking
• Humidity levels: 40-50%
• Behavior: Active and responsive, but don’t appreciate being handled

Red footed tortoise care

• Otherwise known as: Red-leg tortoise, Savanna tortoise
• Size: Up to 20 pounds
• Habitat temperature: 75-85°F daytime, 69-75°F nighttime, 90-95°F for basking
• Humidity levels: 70-80%
• Behavior: Passive, docile and easy going, prefer minimal handling

Hermann's tortoise care

• Otherwise known as: Western Hermann’s, Eastern Hermann’s, Dalmatian tortoise
• Size: 8-9 pounds
• Habitat temperature: 70-80°F daytime, 65-70°F nighttime, 90°F for basking
• Humidity levels: 40-60%
• Behavior: Passive and gentle, prefer not to be handled

Greek tortoise care

• Otherwise known as: Spur-thighed, Moorish, Mediterranean tortoise
• Size: Up to 15 pounds
• Habitat temperature: 72-80°F daytime, 70-80°F nighttime, 80-85°F for basking
• Humidity levels: 40-70%
• Behavior: Active, friendly and tame, prefer not to be handled

Leopard tortoise care

• Size: 20-90 pounds, averaging at 40
• Habitat temperature: 75-90°F daytime, 60-75°F nighttime, 93-96°F for basking
• Humidity levels: 40-60% daytime, 70-80% nighttime
• Behavior: Some are shy, while others are outgoing, prefer not to be handled

Useful resources

• Understanding your tortoiseshell cat
• Pretty yet poisonous plants for dogs to avoid
• Tortoiseshell cat names