Pens - Page 2

sandy · 24-07-2006, 07:56 PM

You must have the strangest tortoises on earth, if they dont like soil <vbg>.
As thats where they hatch in the wild, and its in their genes to like soil.
To aestivate in, to hibernate in, or to bask in the sun on.
Its where all of mine warm up on in the mornings.

Dazza · 24-07-2006, 08:25 PM

CPX Thats like saying fish don't like water!! LOL

Tortoises NEED to maintain a certian level of Hydration and Body Heat, thermoregulation is acheived by the tortoises burying down into soil which has a certain amount of moisture thus a buryed tortoise can hold heat and liquid for longer rather than heating up and cooling down quickly!!

Young tortoises can spend as much as 85% of its time buryed down, only surfacing briefly to bask and eat, by depriving your tortoises can lead to serious health issues down the line.

Some of my tortoises will not drink water from the water dishes, i have observed none of them eating calcium or cuttlebone directly, only spinkled on the food, however every tortoise enclosure has fresh drinking water, calcium and cuttlebone, and an area of soil to dig down, your tortoises need somewhere to explore hills to climb, hides, and bushes, the more they have the happier they will be..

A happy tortoises is not necessarily one thats pacing around all the time !!

Great start on your enclosure, well done !!

Darren

24-07-2006, 07:56 PM	#11
sandy Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent UK Posts: 12,146	You must have the strangest tortoises on earth, if they dont like soil <vbg>. As thats where they hatch in the wild, and its in their genes to like soil. To aestivate in, to hibernate in, or to bask in the sun on. Its where all of mine warm up on in the mornings. __________________ < > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends

24-07-2006, 08:25 PM	#12
Dazza Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 2,486	CPX Thats like saying fish don't like water!! LOL Tortoises NEED to maintain a certian level of Hydration and Body Heat, thermoregulation is acheived by the tortoises burying down into soil which has a certain amount of moisture thus a buryed tortoise can hold heat and liquid for longer rather than heating up and cooling down quickly!! Young tortoises can spend as much as 85% of its time buryed down, only surfacing briefly to bask and eat, by depriving your tortoises can lead to serious health issues down the line. Some of my tortoises will not drink water from the water dishes, i have observed none of them eating calcium or cuttlebone directly, only spinkled on the food, however every tortoise enclosure has fresh drinking water, calcium and cuttlebone, and an area of soil to dig down, your tortoises need somewhere to explore hills to climb, hides, and bushes, the more they have the happier they will be.. A happy tortoises is not necessarily one thats pacing around all the time !! Great start on your enclosure, well done !! Darren

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