Tortoises as pets

Buying a pet and looking after it is a huge responsibility. As a pet owner you must make sure that your pet has somewhere suitable to live and the correct food to eat.

The most commonly kept pets are mammals such as dogs, cats, rabbits and hamsters. Humans are mammals too, so we generally find it quite easy to relate to other mammals and to realize when they are unwell or in distress. If you stand on your dog’s paw he will yelp and show signs of pain. If your dog is too cold you will notice that he is shivering and if he is too hot you will notice that he is panting. If he doesn’t eat his dinner you will realize that he is feeling unwell.

Tortoises are reptiles and reptiles are very different from mammals. Your tortoise will not give you such obvious signals to let you know that he is feeling unwell, too hot, too cold, or is in pain. His signs of distress are much more subtle. It is important to learn your tortoise’s normal activity level. You will have to observe him very closely to make sure he remains healthy in order to prevent any suffering going unnoticed. Weigh your tortoise regularly as it may not be obvious just from looking at him that he is losing weight.

Many of the health problems which occur in tortoises are  related to some aspect of their environment or their diet.

Wherever possible buy a captive bred tortoise. Tortoises bought from wild stock are often exposed to, and can carry a wide range of different parasites, bacteria and viruses. Buying a wild caught tortoise also encourages this unethical trade.

Reptiles carry many different bacteria, one of which is salmonella. Although not harmful to them, the bacteria can cause illness in humans. Therefore, it is essential to wash your hands thoroughly after handling all reptiles and handling or consuming food.

A CITES certificate is issued to protect endangered species and enables the tracking of all animals with the certificate. Be sure to check if your tortoise needs a certificate. Certain species of tortoise must have a CITES if they are to be bought or sold.

Some tortoises are captive bred in other countries and then imported to Britain. The spur thighed and Mediterranean tortoise come with a yellow CITES certificate. Once the tortoise has grown to a length greater than 10cm, it must have a microchip placed in its leg. This should be done at an exotic veterinary practice. A form is completed and sent to the CITES board. It is illegal to sell or buy these tortoises without a microchip and certificate.

Everybody needs a holiday! When going on holiday ensure the carer of your tortoise fully understands how to care for him. When choosing a suitable place for your tortoise to stay whilst you are away, ensure that he is not exposed to other tortoises.

Try to find a carer that is happy to come to your house to care for him rather than moving your tortoise to a strange new environment elsewhere.

Disease risk is a factor to consider when choosing a carer. When choosing a suitable place for your tortoise  to stay whilst you are away, ensure that he is not exposed to other tortoises. If your tortoise is either living in isolation, or in an isolated group, suddenly placing him in an environment where there are other tortoises is dangerous; there is a huge risk of disease spread. Wherever possible, arrange for your tortoise to be cared for at your own home.

There are not many pets that potentially have a life expectancy similar to our own. It is possible that you may have to make provisions for your tortoise in your will! Please remember that tortoise care is specialized, and should they become ill treatment can be expensive. Ensure to research companies that are exotic specific to ensure a good cover and policy for your reptile pet.

Insurance is one way to protect your tortoise and help towards the cost of veterinary care.

At some point you may need to take your tortoise to see a veterinarian. Try to choose a veterinarian who has a special interest in reptiles. Some vets choose to specialize in exotics or zoo medicine so therefore they carry out extra qualifications in zoological or exotic medicine qualifications in order to adequately treat reptiles and exotic pets. If your local veterinary practice are not reptile enthusiasts they should be able to recommend a veterinarian who is. If you have difficulty finding a suitable veterinarian you could contact The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons – www.rcvs.org.uk.