Is a tortoise a good choice of pet? (Tortoise)

Member Name: Bean

Product:	Tortoise
Date:	05/07/00 (630 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to care for.

Disadvantages: Not very sociable

My tortoise was imported from Europe almost twenty years ago. He lives in the garden, occassionally, I feed him salad but he prefers to feed himself from plants and foods that he finds for himself in the garden. Many people advise that when the temperature drops in Winter, you should put your tortoise into a box in the house throughout it's hibernation period. Putting them into a cardboard box in the house or in the garage often means that they have not prepared for hibernation themselves, they need to store up sufficient food to carry them through the Winter whilst they are sleeping. A tortoise should be left to fend for themself, they will dig a very narrow deep hole in the garden to sleep in during the Winter and cold months. A tortoise will rise to the surface as the weather gets warmer. It is often a good idea to rub water around their mouth when they come out of hibernation or a moisturous food such as a tomato as their mouths get very dry whilst in hibernation. Also, in caring for their shell, it is advisable to clean off all the dried soil and rub the shell with baby oil to prevent it from cracking.

Summary: