http://blog.martinsworldexotics.com/care-sheets/what-plants-in-my-garden-are-poisonous-to-my-box-turtle-or-tortoise.html Turtle and tortoise information from Martins World Exotics Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:41:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://blog.martinsworldexotics.com/care-sheets/what-plants-in-my-garden-are-poisonous-to-my-box-turtle-or-tortoise.html/comment-page-1#comment-4 The Summer Heat Tue, 12 May 2009 22:10:26 +0000 http://blog.martinsworldexotics.com/?p=159#comment-4 [...] If you keep your pet outdoors, make sure it is capable of living in the elements of your location. Some areas suffer from major extremes where it is upwards of 90 degrees during the day and drops down to the low 50’s at night. This kind of pattern can cause respiratory problems in some species and can actually kill others! Be sure to check their water bowls numerous time throughout the day, not only to check the levels but to be sure that the water isn’t too hot and is clean. To prevent the water temperature from rising to dangerous levels, you may want to place it in a shady area or build a covering for it (kind of like a car port). Also, be sure that you have areas where the animal can retreat to be out of the sunlight. For smaller tortoises and even box turtles, we find that the dog igloos work perfect. Plants that are full around the base are also a great way to provide shade (be sure the plants in the enclosure are not toxic-see our toxic plant list). [...] [...] If you keep your pet outdoors, make sure it is capable of living in the elements of your location. Some areas suffer from major extremes where it is upwards of 90 degrees during the day and drops down to the low 50’s at night. This kind of pattern can cause respiratory problems in some species and can actually kill others! Be sure to check their water bowls numerous time throughout the day, not only to check the levels but to be sure that the water isn’t too hot and is clean. To prevent the water temperature from rising to dangerous levels, you may want to place it in a shady area or build a covering for it (kind of like a car port). Also, be sure that you have areas where the animal can retreat to be out of the sunlight. For smaller tortoises and even box turtles, we find that the dog igloos work perfect. Plants that are full around the base are also a great way to provide shade (be sure the plants in the enclosure are not toxic-see our toxic plant list). [...]

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