|
HOUSING, HEATING & LIGHTING
Housing:
Spur-thighed Tortoises were in the past imported into the United Kingdom in large numbers and kept outdoors throughout the spring and summer and hibernated in the winter. Unfortunately due to the great differences in climate from their natural habitat and incorrect diet most of these specimens died within a short time. Some individual tortoises managed to adapt and there are still some alive after many decades in captivity. These are very much the exception and it is strongly recommended that any tortoise purchased today be kept in specialist housing rather than being left to fend for itself in the garden. Once obtained the tortoise can be successfully kept indoors in a large vivarium fitted with the correct heating and lighting. For adult Mediterranean tortoises the vivarium should be at least 48" in length and 18" wide the height is less important, but will look better if around 18-24" high. You can also keep your tortoise out doors provided it has access to heated housing. A shed or out house can be used if fitted with basking lamps and ultraviolet emitting fluorescent lamps. If a small hatch is left open the tortoise will be free to move inside or out to suit itself and this is probably the best method if you have the space.
The garden must be securely enclosed with no gaps at all or an escape is inevitable. Areas of shade must always be available, as too warm a temperature can quickly prove fatal.
Heating:
Tortoises like all reptiles need access to areas of differing temperature in order to maintain the correct body temperature, a basking area of 30oC (86oF) must be provided by use of a spot bulb, the tortoise will bask under this warm area until it reaches the desired temperature and then move off to feed and explore, in a vivarium this is supplied by a spot bulb controlled by a dimmer stat. This will gradually reduce the amount of power going to the spot bulb as the desired temperature is reached. A dimmer stat has several advantages over an "on/off" thermostat. Because the bulb is never switched off but merely dimmed the life span of the bulb is greatly increased, there is no sudden light / dark period as a bulb is switched on and off - this is less stressful for the tortoise and more even temperature is maintained. It is important to site the heating element at one end of the vivarium this will give a warm and a cool end that allows for effective temperature regulation. If your tortoise is kept outside with the heating in a large out house then spot bulbs suspended so that the area on the floor is at the correct basking heat will be the best method. In this situation a thermostat is not necessary as by adjusting the height of the bulb the temperature below them can be adjusted. And the room will seldom reach a high enough temperature to switch the heater off anyway.
Lighting:
In a natural environment Mediterranean Tortoises are generally exposed to around 3000 hours of sunshine annually, as well as providing the necessary warmth this also produces a large amount of ultraviolet light.
Daytime active reptiles utilise this U.V to make vitamin D in their body and this aids in the up take of calcium from their diet. In order to replicate this natural situation specialist reptile U.V.B. lights have to be used, that emit Ultraviolet light at the correct wavelength.
|
|
