Understanding Indoor Housing and Vivarium Design for Tortoises
Andy C. Highfield
One of the most frequent issues that we are asked about is the best type of indoor accommodation for terrestrial tortoises. This question also crops up regularly on the Tortoise Trust Discussion List. I have prepared this article in order to explain why the answer is not quite as straightforward as many people seem to assume. In order to provide genuinely safe, healthy and practical housing a number of fairly complex (and often conflicting) factors need to be considered, and where necessary, acceptable compromises arrived at.
The first thing to point out is that as a general rule, tortoises of all kinds are not well-suited to indoor, vivarium-style maintenance. If you want an animal that will be happy, and do well, in a vivarium environment – don’t get a tortoise. Get a gecko or other small lizard.
are best suited to well-designed
outdoor accommodation, in secure, predator-proof pens located
correct bio-climatic zone. In other words, if you want to keep African
tortoises (Geochelone sulcata), you would be best advised to
live in a warm,
dry climate, and be prepared to devote a lot of space to the animal. If
live in a small apartment in
We hear it so often: “they definitely assured us that the tortoise would be fine in a 30 Gallon tank”. Take it from us. It won’t.
There are very, very few terrestrial tortoises that are suited to indoor accommodation for most of the time. All of these are relatively small species. Testudo kleinmanni (the Egyptian tortoise, for example). Even these need a more space than most people imagine, and to provide an optimum environment, some secure outdoor accommodation is certainly advisable in addition for use in fine weather. The larger species, Leopard tortoises (Geochelone pardalis), African Spurred tortoises (Geochelone sulcata), Redfoot and Yellowfoot tortoises (Geochelone carbonaria and G. denticulata), will all require a lot more indoor (and outdoor) space than most people are prepared, or able, to provide. So, the first rule is to do adequate research before obtaining a tortoise, and satisfy yourself that not only will you be able to provide adequate space now (for that 2-inch hatchling) but that you will be able to provide adequate space and facilities in 10 years time when it is over 2 feet long and weighs 70 pounds.
The factors that need to be considered are:
Adult size of the animal
If you are going to keep the larger species even partially indoors, you should be aware that heating costs are likely to be very high, and that larger tortoises also make large amounts of mess. This can result in a less-than-pleasant aroma permeating your house. Ideally, for the larger tortoises, consider a separate, heated building. This is discussed in another article on this website (click to follow underlined links).
smaller species, members of the genus Testudo (including
These are often what most people think of first when considering an indoor habitat. Their disadvantages include the fact that:
All but the very largest will have an inadequate floor area even for a small tortoise
In our experience, most beginners fail to realise the importance of the issues described above, or simply believe the “expert” who promises that a 20/30/40 (take your pick) gallon aquarium, plus a heat pad, heat rock and basking lamp is “all you’ll ever need”. This is simply wrong, and as a result, many newly acquired tortoises rapidly become ill and require costly veterinary treatment or die. ”
For hatchling tortoises, there are much better (and much lower cost) options available. HERE IS ONE BASIC, BUT EFFECTIVE HATCHLING HOUSING system.
For larger juveniles and adults, they keyword once again is “space”. The more space you can provide, the better. No tortoise is going to be happy and healthy in a cramped environment.
For smaller animals, we highly recommend the TABLE TOP TERRARIUM method. This is most suitable for arid and semi-arid habitat species, but can be used with high humidity tropical species provided you adequately humidify the room containing the unit. For ideas on how to provide humidity for rainforest and tropical tortoises, we recommend you take a look at THIS ARTICLE.
For larger animals, you may have to consider converting part (or all) of a room of your house into a suitable habitat. We warned that this could begin to get extremely costly, so before taking on any of the larger species, investigate the implications carefully!
All indoor housing systems will require (click links):
All enclosures will also require:
By now, hopefully it should be clear that you certainly will need much more than “a tank and a heat pad” to provide a safe and healthy indoor habitat for any tortoise, and that when designing your accommodation, you must take into account the specific needs of that particular animal. It is no use providing housing suitable for a high humidity tropical species to a semi-arid habitat species such as a Russian tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii). Mixing of species is also not advisable. Different tortoises not only have very different (often incompatible) environmental and dietary needs, but can also carry disease organisms that they themselves have developed some tolerance to, but which can prove rapidly fatal in other species.
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