How Do Tortoises Like to Be Held?

Tortoises are solitary creatures by nature and as such do not enjoy the company of other tortoises. Nevertheless, many people do keep them as pets. Some are very friendly and enjoy being handled, while others prefer to be left alone.

How do tortoises like to be held?

When handling a tortoise, it is important to support the animal firmly at all times. This will help to prevent your tortoise from being dropped. Some tortoises can be frightened or distressed by handling so it is best to avoid this as much as possible.

Most tortoises do not enjoy being held as they find it stressful to be lifted off the ground. In addition, they rely heavily on hearing vibrations from the ground to navigate their surroundings and being lifted reduces this ability.

Keeping tortoises outdoors helps to avoid this issue. However, you need to make sure that your tortoise’s enclosure is well-insulated and the area around it has a good supply of fresh water at all times.

The temperature of the environment is also crucial for a tortoise’s well-being. They should be kept in an area that is warm enough to keep them comfortable, but not so hot that they become overheated.

It is also vital to provide a large shallow bowl of fresh, tepid water for them to drink from at all times, but this should not be so deep that they can drown in it. It is also a good idea to bathe them in this water at least twice a week and to flush out their cage with some warm water.

Handling is fine once a tortoise has adjusted to its new environment and has had time to get used to you. Approximately 10-15 minutes 3-4 times a week is a reasonable amount of handling, but this will vary depending on the individual tortoise.

If you have multiple tortoises, it is not a good idea to keep males together in one enclosure. This will cause territorial behaviours that can lead to fights and injuries.

To minimize this, you may want to choose a different species of tortoise for each gender. It is also a good idea to choose males and females of the same species so they can interact with each other.

Some breeds of tortoise, such as African spurred tortoises, are more likely to become accustomed to human interaction than others. It is a good idea to buy your tortoise from a reputable breeder.

They can be quite shy and so need a little time to come to terms with their surroundings. If you are patient and kind, most tortoises will soon be happy to interact with you.

If you do decide to adopt a tortoise, be prepared for some hard work and long-term commitment. They are a big pet and they will need a lot of care for their entire lives. It is also a good idea to have a pond for them to live in if you are going to keep them outside.