25-05-2013, 08:44 AM | #1 |
Member
Juvenile
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 960
|
Replicating natural habitats of tortoises
What do people think of this? I've tried to do so to a certain extent with my red foots, having a river kind of area, a mini jungle-which mainly has native s.american plants- and a savannah area. Or do you think there is no point of doing this? Just interested to hear people's opinions.
__________________
2.2 Red Foots 1.0 Golden Retriever 1.1 Lop-eared rabbits 1.2 Serrated/Forest Hingebacks Fish Snails-Achatina Fulica 'Jadatzi', Limicolaria Flammea, Limicolaria Numidica, Archachatina marginata suturalis, Achatina Tincta Jadatzi GALS for sale: http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/for...799#post610799 |
25-05-2013, 09:05 AM | #2 |
Member
Hatchling
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 690
|
I think it definitely looks pretty to design tortoise table or outside space as a natural 'mini jungle'. I wish I was better with creating things like that! But if you are asking if it is essential for the tortoise - I don't know.
|
25-05-2013, 09:15 AM | #3 |
Senior Member
Adult
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Somerset
Posts: 3,150
|
I think it is great to try and replicate what they would be have been living in if they were not captive. If a keeper of any captive animal makes the effort to provide an environment that is as close to the animals 'wild version' as possible it shows....
A. That the keeper has researched the animal and is concerned about what its needs are. B. That the keeper cares about the quality of life and mental stimulation for the captive creature. Keeping animals is really about us, as keepers we choose to contain an animal for our own benefit, so it is up to us to do our very best to care for the animal according to how it would have lived naturally, obviously there are many constraints and interpretations of this, but in the case of tortoises I believe that just providing heat, light, humidity, food and water is not enough, environmental enrichment is a must! |
25-05-2013, 02:26 PM | #4 |
Member
Juvenile
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 960
|
So this kind of comes back to the basic needs of a tortoise. What are the absolute basics for a tort to be able to live-not thrive- out it's life expectancy?
__________________
2.2 Red Foots 1.0 Golden Retriever 1.1 Lop-eared rabbits 1.2 Serrated/Forest Hingebacks Fish Snails-Achatina Fulica 'Jadatzi', Limicolaria Flammea, Limicolaria Numidica, Archachatina marginata suturalis, Achatina Tincta Jadatzi GALS for sale: http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/for...799#post610799 |
25-05-2013, 03:35 PM | #5 |
Member
Hatchling
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Lincolnshire
Posts: 530
|
Light, heat, food, water. The same as the rest of us I suppose...
|
25-05-2013, 03:45 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Adult
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 5,675
|
My torts have a very well enhanced run plants water rocks hills places to hide they seem happy to stay in the green house all day .so im thinking am i making it nice for them or me to sit and look at
|
25-05-2013, 04:17 PM | #7 | |
Member
Hatchling
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 690
|
Quote:
Same as people and a lovely villa. It is like if you were saying that a beautiful villa is basic need and without that it is just living and not thriving. There is also some middle ground. I am not saying that people would do well without having any accommodation (and tortoises having some sort of environment), but I don't think that if one decides to go the way you do, that it is a basic need. |
|
25-05-2013, 04:30 PM | #8 | |
Member
Juvenile
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 960
|
Quote:
__________________
2.2 Red Foots 1.0 Golden Retriever 1.1 Lop-eared rabbits 1.2 Serrated/Forest Hingebacks Fish Snails-Achatina Fulica 'Jadatzi', Limicolaria Flammea, Limicolaria Numidica, Archachatina marginata suturalis, Achatina Tincta Jadatzi GALS for sale: http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/for...799#post610799 |
|
25-05-2013, 04:40 PM | #9 | |
Member
Hatchling
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 690
|
Quote:
Basics- food with the proper nourishment (vitamins, calcium), water, correct temperature, light, UV light, some hiding opportunities |
|
25-05-2013, 04:51 PM | #10 | |
Senior Member
Adult
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Somerset
Posts: 3,150
|
Quote:
I am not saying it has to be anything fancy just interesting for the tortoise, things to hide in, sight barriers, plants to shade under, soil to dig in etc. If it can replicate what the tortoises natural environment would be, how can that not be beneficial? if it works in nature and the tortoises thrive then it makes sense to me that it can only be a good thing! If you own a dog would you just shut it in a kennel and provide it with its basic needs but not bother to walk it? or not bother to give it any mental stimulation such as a toy? or stroke it? or play with it? I think most dogs left in this situation would bark and form repeated habits probably similar to Polar Bears used to in zoos. |
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
|
|