Our Tortoise Care

Because we are located in the Midwest our torts aren't able to spend the entire year outdoors, so I will explain their winter and summer are without getting too in depth.

Summer care starts as soon as the weather permits the torts to be put into their outdoor enclosures. This usually starts when the evening temps. stay in the 50's. Each tort house is equipped with a heat lamp that is controlled by a thermostat; this enables the torts to stay warm during cooler nights.

All large tortoise enclosures have a shallow wading pool for the torts to soak in plus an area with plenty of grass & weeds to graze, for those that are herbivores and for the smaller omnivores to hide in. The "grazers" are also offered orchard grass and different green lettuces, the omnivores are also offered fruit and insects.

The size of each enclosure varies to the size of its inhabitant. All of the enclosures have either trees or bushes and at least if not all are left to grow wild.

The tortoises are checked every morning when a walk through is done in each enclosure, at this time the enclosure is spot cleaned, the wading pools are emptied, scrubbed out and fresh water is added.

House cleaning and feeding are done three times a week, this is usually done in the early afternoon once they wake up from their naps.

Each evening the torts are locked in their houses for their own safety.

This routine is done until the temps. start dropping below 50 degrees in the fall when they are brought into their winter enclosures.

Winter care for the tortoises consist of feeding them much the same way as in the summer, except for any of the weeds, orchard grass makes up the bulk of the grazers diet. All torts are soaked twice a week in warm water and drinking water is always available.

All of the tortoises here at I.W.F.S live either in tort tables, large floor enclosures or large tubs.

We do not recommend any tortoise to be kept in aquariums.

Each enclosure has a UVB/heat bulb on 14 hours during the day. Night temps. are about 60 degrees, which is similar to their summer night temps.