Unlike many other varieties of turtles, tortoises are terrestrial. This means they live on land only and can not swim. Unlike many other reptiles, a tortoise might require a large area in which to roam, rather than a simple aquarium. You will probably have to devote quite a bit of space to your tortoise's enclosure. Because tortoises derive from a number of different climates worldwide, you will most likely need to research the origin of your tortoise's species in order to set up a suitable habitat for it. The goal in housing your tortoise should be to basically re-construct its natural habitat.

People living in temperate climates may find it easiest to keep their tortoises outside in an enclosure or fenced-in yard that is protected from predators. People planning to keep their animals indoors may want to convert an entire room or garage toward the creation of a tortoise enclosure. If indoors, the tortoise's enclosure should be large enough for it to move about. Usually it should also be fairly easy to light, heat, and humidify, or de-humidify as necessary. Many people choose to construct a tortoise pen from wood; the sides must be high enough that the animal cannot climb over them. Although some people keep tortoises in glass enclosures, they find that the tortoises have a tendency to bang into the glass. This is because tortoises naturally roam and will try to go where they can see. If you are constructing an enclosure that will need to be humidified, you should keep in mind that many materials will break down after prolonged exposure to moisture. You may want to consider using marine plywood if you plan to use wood. All types of wood should be sealed. Fiberglass resin works well for this. Just be sure that the sealant has had sufficient time to dry and air out before you place anything inside the enclosure. Other tortoise keepers use polycarbonate twin or triple wall material to construct their tortoise houses. Converted greenhouses are the choice enclosure of many people, as these may be pre-existing structures that can be fairly easily converted into an area that can suit the needs of a tortoise, in addition to being water impermeable. These large enclosures may be a bit easier to climatically control than many other open-air enclosures. You should remember that all of these materials, including most types of glass, block out ultra-violet light. If your tortoise is kept in a roofed or lidded enclosure that is lit by sun, you will probably have to use a screen or mesh top in order to allow sufficient ultraviolet, especially UVB, lighting to filter through. In walk-in enclosures, you may need to use full spectrum or UVB lighting on the inside of the enclosure.

Like most diurnal (active during the day) animals, tortoises will need consistent day length, which may vary seasonally. This set amount of daily light is known as the photoperiod. Most tortoises do very well on a 14 hour photoperiod. The light provided for your tortoise should be full-spectrum. Full-spectrum lighting is important because tortoises need ultraviolet rays in order to help them metabolize calcium by producing vitamin D3. The lights can be attached to timers that will maintain the photoperiod for you. Some timers are available that will simulate an entire seasonal light cycle with minimal effort on your part. If you keep your tortoise outside, the sun will provide such light for you.

The temperature required by your tortoise will vary depending on which species it is. Most experienced tortoise keepers will keep a thermometer in their animals' enclosures to be sure that the heat level is appropriate for their animals. Indoors, incandescent bulbs or ceramic heaters work well to create the temperature gradient needed by your tortoise. Heating elements or heat lamps can be useful for turtles and tortoises and are best applied over the tortoise enclosure, as the tortoise's anatomy is designed for overhead heat. Heating the underside of your tortoise can cause it serious health problems. Often the environment that is right for your tortoise will include a basking spot in addition to the overall ambient temperature. Usually a single focused heat source will work well to create a basking spot for your tortoise. However, if it is too close to the enclosure, it may result in serious burns or overheating. The focal point for the basking spot may be a flat rock or a plank, or any other sort of low platform you find appropriate. In order to test the temperature of the basking spot, you may place your hand where the tortoise will lay. The heat intensity should be that of noon-day sun in the summer. It should feel even and should be gentle enough that your animal could fall asleep under it without overheating. The requirements for the humidity level, like the temperature, will vary from tortoise to tortoise.

Usually there are three types of habitats that will be suitable for a tortoise. All will have some similarities; for example, the overall daytime temperature should to be accompanied by a nighttime temperature drop, or tortoises may become stressed. The first sort of habitat works well for tortoise species native to fairly hot, dry regions. This sort of environment is very well ventilated and includes direct heat. The lighting for such an environment should be direct. In some drier, hotter climates, such enclosures may be constructed outdoors by fencing off parts of a yard. Some people may choose to use a dehumidifier in the room where they keep their tortoise. Many people will find that good ventilation may minimize the humidity level.

The next sort of habitat has medium humidity. Again, people living in temperate climates may be able to create such a habitat by simply utilizing their outdoor space. This sort of habitat is similar to the first, but the temperatures may be somewhat cooler. In semi-humid climates, good ventilation is still advisable. However, such environments may utilize such items as plants to help trap in moderate levels of humidity. If keeping tortoises from semi-humid climates outside in hot, dry climates, you should probably keep your animals moist through use of a sprinkler system or spray from a garden hose. Some areas will be able to provide sufficient humidity naturally. Outdoor plants will provide shade for your tortoises, so if you do not have shrubbery, you may wish to consider planting some foliage. Be sure that it is non-toxic, however, as your tortoises may be apt to try to eat it. You may also find that your tortoises will appreciate a muddy or wet area where they can wallow to cool themselves. In all of these environments, provide a bowl of clean, fresh water at all times. You should ensure that the bowl is too small for your tortoise to drown in, should the tortoise tip over. Some tortoise keepers choose to allow their tortoises water only at regular intervals, since tortoises may soil their water very quickly.

The last sort of habitat is generally recommended for tortoises from tropical or jungle climates. If you have this sort of tortoise, try to construct an enclosure for it that has diffused light, as direct light may stress these animals accustomed to sunlight filtered through many layers of forest foliage. Planting non-toxic plants in the enclosure can help with this as well as make the enclosure more attractive. These tortoises, like many others, will need a basking spot but may not utilize it as much as those from less tropical climates. Their temperature should be kept fairly constant and should remain very warm. In reproducing a rainforest or jungle habitat, you will generally need to provide higher humidity. You may find that an automatic misting system will work very well for such a purpose. These will usually be easy to find at your local hardware or garden store. Or, if you are mechanically inclined, you may be able to construct your own using a timer and some pumps from a vehicle's windshield washing system. Tortoises living in such high humidity environments may also use a bathing pool. These species usually love to lie almost entirely immersed in their pools for hours. In fact, this soaking process may be necessary for the tortoise's general health and may also aid in defecation. This type of habitat is usually not as well ventilated as the others.

The substrate, or material that covers the bottom of your tortoise's enclosure, will aid you in keeping your animal and your enclosure clean. One caution in choosing a substrate is the possibility of your tortoise ingesting it. Even if it does not eat the substrate intentionally (as some might), there is the possibility that the tortoise may ingest particles of the material on the food it consumes. This is a problem because the grains or pieces may cause digestive impactions that can develop into a serious health problem for your animal. Even materials reputed to be digestible may cause such impactions. Although newspaper may be the easy, cheap, and obvious choice for drier habitats, it may not always be the best. Larger enclosures will need a lot of newspaper to cover the floor, and the sheets will be very easy for a digging tortoise to shred or scatter, effectively removing any shield between the tortoise and the bottom of its enclosure. Some people prefer to use wood shavings or wood chips in the bottom of their tortoise's enclosure, but pine, cedar, and redwood can be toxic.

Often in dry habitats a sandy or rocky type of substrate can work well, as long as the rocks are smooth enough that your tortoise will not wear down its plastron on them. The rocks should also be large enough that your tortoise cannot swallow them, in order to prevent choking or ingestion. Many people may choose to use rabbit pellets, as these have a dehumidifying property and are safe for the tortoise to eat if it so chooses. The biggest problem with such a substrate is that this type of material will become moldy if wet, and may prove toxic should your tortoise eat moldy pellets. Also, if your tortoise is eating them, a pellet substrate makes it difficult to control your tortoise's dietary intake. A grassy lawn (especially Bermuda grass) may be an excellent choice for many outdoor tortoise enclosures. Your tortoises may graze and the grass and other vegetation will serve to hold soil in place, ensuring that your tortoises do not eat sand along with their food. However, be cautioned: some tortoises can be quite destructive and your grassy substrate may become a dirt yard in a short amount of time. Also, if you plan to mow your grass, be absolutely certain that your tortoise is placed in a safe enclosure separate from the place you will be mowing. Although it is uncommon, tortoises have been known to develop digestive impactions from eating very long grass. For very moist habitats, the best substrate choices may be those that will facilitate maintaining a high humidity level. This may include sphagnum moss, peat moss, or leaf mulch.

Even tortoises kept outdoors will appreciate some sort of structure in which to hide or spend the night. A good way to provide such a place for your tortoise may be to construct small open structures of block, plywood, or even a cardboard box for smaller tortoises. You should be certain these are sturdily set in the ground, as a digging tortoise could excavate the foundations and end up destroying the structure. Most tortoises will appreciate plant life or shrubbery that they can hide under to find shade. Plants will be especially helpful in enclosures for tortoises with high humidity requirements, as these will help to filter out direct light, in addition to helping maintain the moisture level of the enclosure. It may be difficult to maintain smaller plants, however, as tortoises will eat them or even uproot them on occasion. Apart from the hide spot, another fixture you might choose to include in your tortoise's enclosure is a patch of smooth large rocks or a similar structure that provides a place for climbing or basking. Again, you should be sure the rocks are firmly planted to avoid their displacement by a digging tortoise.

Cleaning your tortoise's enclosure regularly will facilitate keeping your animal healthy. Dirty enclosures can cause health problems in your animal. Many enclosures, for example those maintained outdoors, may be fairly easy to clean by simply washing them down with a hose. Usually the easiest way to ensure a sanitary environment in such areas is to remove waste materials from the area and to keep any items your tortoise uses regularly, like hide boxes or water bowls, clean. There are two types of cleaners available for use: mechanical cleaners and disinfectants. Both types are important in maintaining cleanliness. A mechanical cleaner will aid in physically removing dirt or other soiling. A disinfectant will help kill germs. You should use the mechanical cleaner before the disinfectant. Many people prefer to use a bleach and water solution to clean their tortoise's enclosure. Some will use commercial cleaners recommended by their veterinarians. Commercial household cleaners should generally be avoided, as they may contain ingredients that are toxic to reptiles. Again, if your tortoise is maintained in a yard or other outdoor area, such items may not be necessary. No matter which items you clean or what you clean them with, be sure that you rinse them thoroughly. Remaining residue may be unhealthy for your tortoise.

Although tortoises may be kept together, they are often best housed separately unless you know for sure that they are compatible. This will prevent territorial aggression between tortoises. If you do plan on keeping more than one tortoise, be sure that your enclosure has ample room for each animal to escape should another tortoise pose a threat. Also, you should try to keep different species of tortoise separate; tortoises housed together should usually be of the same kind. One good reason for this is that animals from different parts of the world will have different levels of susceptibility to diseases. A disease that may not effect tortoises from one area may be fatal to those from another area. Another reason to house tortoises separately is that they may become disinterested in breeding if constantly kept together, or the male may stress the females by constantly trying to breed. Tortoises whose sexes are maintained separately will often have more interest in mating than those that live together on a regular basis.

Part One - Introduction	Part Three - Diet
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