Tortoises make great pets, but the onus will be on you to do the necessary research so that you can find the one that you will be able to look after properly so as to keep them healthy and happy. There are a number of different species of tortoises, but the best ones to keep as pets include the Egyptians, the Red Footed, Russians, the Marginateds and the Hermanns. If you do live in a warmer climate however, you will have a wider cross-section of species to choose from.
As with all other animals that you take into captivity, you will need to take careful note as to how to house and feed them as well as how to ensure that they are healthy and remain so. Their habitat should be cleaned often and should be spacious as they tend to get stressed quite easily if they are subjected to over-crowding and stress can lead to health issues as this suppresses their immune system. Most species require ultraviolet B lighting and temperatures of 80 F in the daytime and 72 F at nights. There are foods that are best for different species of tortoises.
However, they all generally eat things like grape leaves, the flowers and leaves of the Hibiscus, dandelions, grass and weeds from your garden, banana, yellow crookneck and summer, zucchini fruit and leaves, wandering jew, nasturtium, the flowers and young leaves of roses, aloe vera and the pads and fruits of the cactus. Once you adhere to the rules for housing, temperature and feeding your pet tortoise or tortoises, then they will usually maintain good health. Tortoises are prone to salmonella as well as to respiratory and parasitic infections.
To prevent the spread of salmonella you will need to ensure that your hand are properly washed both before and after you handle the tortoise and their habitat and they should be taken to the veterinarian to be checked out and treated. Their feces should be regularly checked by the vet to prevent them from having parasitic infections and their habitat should be kept at the proper humidity and temperature to avoid them getting respiratory infections.
