With the fashion of the Caretta Caretta, sea turtles have become known and loved, but let’s not forget the land turtles that, slowly and very silent, live for many years and can keep us company in the garden. These are animals that do not attract attention and can be interesting to raise or at least to get to know up close. What attracts me to these creatures is their perseverance, it seems unimaginable to always have to proceed with their phlegm, yet they do it and live a long time. Is it the secret of longevity, taking it easy?
What do tortoises eat?
Water is essential for survival, we must always provide a bowl of fresh water to our turtle and if we do not see it drinking it is not our business, it is an animal that manages itself autonomously but it is important that it always has access to something to quench its thirst.
As for food, when we serve lunch and dinner to our tortoise, let’s remember that these animals prefer fresh herbs and plants, but can easily adapt to dried ones, which are certainly less tasty and fragrant. One thing is certain and also obvious: the tortoise is vegetarian. So let’s not think that we should feed it insects, let’s instead dive headlong into the “various herbs ” sector, trying to provide it with a series of options. Some examples? Dandelion, plantain, watercress , alfalfa, parsley, clover, rose flowers and leaves, even prickly pear paddles.
To feed tortoises we can also give them whole leaves of chicory, radicchio and Roman escarole, and occasionally even tomato but without exaggerating. You may be wondering if we can give fruit to these vegetarian creatures . You can, of course, but in moderation, without exaggerating, because it is not very digestible so the portions must be well measured.
If it were up to them, they would happily eat strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, apricots, figs and cherries but would then have a stomach ache for hours. The solution is to organize yourself by giving tortoises small but daily doses of these delicious “sweets”.
If fruit is tolerated, indeed appreciated if in small doses, foods of animal origin are definitely not recommended. By foods of animal origin we do not mean only meat but all foods of animal origin, including derivatives, because they are completely harmful to their health. An exception can be made for the cuttlefish bone that, once in a while we can make available to them, is very useful for providing land turtles with the necessary calcium intake.
Land tortoise: enclosure
Whether they belong to the Testudo hermanni family, the Testudo graeca family or the Testudo marginata family, all tortoises love the outdoors and the external environment. Although slow, they are animals that want to move freely, without constraints. This is why it is not recommended to raise them at home, they are animals that would suffer a lot if locked up in a home enclosure or in a terrarium, not only would they be sad but they would also risk getting sick.
Only in extreme cases is it allowed to take care of them within the home environment , for example if you are dealing with elderly and sick specimens that require specific care, otherwise we happily let this lively but peaceful little animal that proceeds at a slow pace enjoy the freedom it deserves.
It’s almost funny to say, but it has been found that tortoises love movement, they tend to walk all day, usually looking for the sun but sometimes also staying in the shade to relax without “cooking”. So if we want to raise tortoises, the ideal is to have a fenced garden where they can roam freely without getting lost.
We can then build a space proportionate to their size, surrounding it with a wire mesh that protects them from predators and dangers, such as rodents. In the fenced area it is good to have areas of full sun but also some in semi-shade.
When do tortoises hibernate?
The tortoise hibernates during the winter and does not do so to imitate other animals but to ensure full health. Hibernation benefits its metabolism. In the months from late October to February, tortoises take refuge in places where the temperature is between 5 and 10 degrees, ideal temperatures for them to consume their reserves without dying of hunger. Below 2°C the tortoise could suffer hibernation and freezing, with brain damage.
When the turtle hibernates it must have an empty stomach, it digs a hole to bury itself and protect itself and we can help it by protecting its shelter from possible flooding. For example, we can cover its hole with leaves and straw and in some cases with non-woven fabric.