Gopher tortoise care
Gopher tortoises are quite popular as pet because of its different looks. They can be found throughout the state of Florida and southern areas of Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama and the tip of Eastern Louisiana. The average height of gopher tortoise is 25 cm. These tortoises require proper attention and care to survive. It is important for owner to provide proper care to his pet gopher tortoise. They like to dig large and deep burrows. This tortoise is a rather simple looking turtle as far as colors go. They are either a dark tan, or gray in looks. The front legs of this tortoise are broad and flat and back legs look just like an elephant’s legs.
Gopher tortoise care tips:
1. Food for gopher tortoise: Healthy and proper amount of food should be served to gopher tortoise. The food you serve to your tortoise should be clean and healthy. They are herbivorous animal and are on small grown grasses and plants. You can serve grasses and legumes to them to eat as like to have that in their diet. Pads, fruits and flowers of prickly pear cactus can also be included in their diet. Gopher tortoises usually drink water from the food they eat.
2. Habitat for gopher tortoise: it is important for you to provide proper enclosure to gopher tortoise to stay in. The enclosure of gopher tortoise should be large enough so that they can stay their properly. Sandy soil should be provided to tem in their enclosure for digging burrows and nests. The walls of the enclosure should be high in order to prevent their escape. The enclosure of gopher tortoise should be predator free. It should not contain nay poisonous plants in it. It is advisable to clean the enclosure of your gopher tortoise regularly in order to prevent it form infections.
3. Breeding gopher tortoise: Gopher tortoises generally mate in the months of April and May. After mating season they will lay around 13 to 15 eggs either in a sunny spot or sandy mound. The eggs of gopher tortoises usually take 70 to 100 days to hatch. It is important for you to provide proper care to baby and adult gopher tortoise.
If you notice any kind of change in your pet gopher tortoise activities then immediately take it to a vet for proper treatment. It is important for you to provide healthy environment to your pet gopher tortoise.