Top 25 How Long Can Tortoises Go Without Food The 139 Top Answers

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On top of that, some tortoise species are able to undergo hibernation or brumation, which can significantly lessen their need for food. In general, a healthy adult tortoise can live for as much as 6 months to 3 years without food, provided that they have access to drinking water and their other needs are met.Healthy tortoises do eat every day but can easily skip a meal or two. On the colder months they do not necessarily eat every day. When tortoises hibernate, they do not eat for weeks as their metabolism slows down significantly.A tortoise can go without fresh drinking water for a maximum of one week in low humidity environments. Longer than two days is already difficult for a tortoise as it should take in fresh drinking water every day.

Do tortoises need to eat everyday?

Healthy tortoises do eat every day but can easily skip a meal or two. On the colder months they do not necessarily eat every day. When tortoises hibernate, they do not eat for weeks as their metabolism slows down significantly.

How long can tortoises go without water?

A tortoise can go without fresh drinking water for a maximum of one week in low humidity environments. Longer than two days is already difficult for a tortoise as it should take in fresh drinking water every day.

How often should I feed my tortoise?

How much and how often should I feed my tortoise? As a general rule, you should offer an amount of food equivalent to the size of your tortoise’s shell. They should be fed once a day, 5 days a week. The 2 starve days can be implemented at any time, in any order.

Can you leave a tortoise for a week?

I would never leave a tortoise on its own for four to five days. I would be petrified that it would somehow flip over and there’d be no-one there to turn it over – in four or five days time you would come home to a very dead tortoise! There is also a potential fire hazard here as with anything electrical.

Can tortoise starve?

An adult tortoise that is healthy can go for six months to three years without food, as long as they can rehydrate themselves with plenty of water and their temperature and humidity needs are met.

Do tortoises get bored?

Yes tortoises do indeed get bored. Despite how slow they are, they can be inquisitive creatures, and they love to explore. That is why an enclosure that is too small, or one that does not have any visual barriers, where your tortoise can see one end of the habitat from one end, can bore them rather quickly.

Can tortoises feel their shell being touched?

Tortoises are extremely sensitive creatures. Despite popular belief, they can feel the slightest touch to their skin and shells.

Should I spray my tortoise with water?

As well as bathing the tortoise regularly you can provide your tortoise with a suitable microclimate to prevent fluid loss from the body. You can do this by making the substrate deep enough so that the tortoise can dig down, and you can mist it daily using a water sprayer.

How can you tell if a tortoise is dehydrated?

How To Tell If Your Tortoise Is Dehydrated And What To Do To Help Them
  1. Reduced, thickened, or whitish urine.
  2. Dry faeces.
  3. Dry, loose and flaky skin.
  4. Sunken or watery eyes.
  5. Loss of appetite.
  6. Weight loss.
  7. Lethargy, depression, lack of activity.
  8. Thick, ropey mouth mucus.

Do tortoises know when to stop eating?

Most tortoises won’t eat every day, let alone several times a day. However, that doesn’t mean your tortoise should stop eating entirely, so there will be an explanation behind your tortoise’s loss of appetite. If your tortoise has finished brumating, its lack of appetite will soon end.

Do tortoises know their owners?

Yes, both tortoises and turtles can learn to recognize their caretakers. This does take time, but turtles and tortoises are very smart. They will learn your scent, sounds, and behaviors. They will come to associate you with food and safety.

How do you know if your tortoise is happy?

Tortoises are happiest when they’re healthy. The signs of a happy tortoise include a strong shell, clear and shiny eyes, dry and wrinkly skin, responsiveness to petting, and a good appetite. They should be active, walking around their enclosure, moving objects about, digging burrows, and climbing.

Do tortoises get lonely?

In the wild, tortoises live relatively solitary lives. They usually come together for breeding purposes but live most of their lives alone. Female tortoises may guard their nests, but they do not protect or raise their babies. That means even very young tortoises naturally live on their own.

Is it cruel to keep a tortoise as a pet?

Yes, tortoises make amazing pets and are very friendly and fun to keep, as long as you understand the longevity of their lifespan.

How many hours do tortoises sleep?

Tortoises have a diurnal sleep schedule, so they’re awake when it’s light and asleep when it’s dark. They also have a monophasic sleep schedule, sleeping for about 12 hours without waking up. Baby tortoises sleep for 19-22 hours per day to assist their development.

What should I feed my tortoise daily?

Although these species are classed as omnivores, we suggest feeding your tortoise greens, flowers, vegetables and fruits as the main bulk of their diet. You can give them dandelions, mustard greens, or even hibiscus flowers, as well as other leafy greens.

How do I know if my tortoise is hungry?

Most turtles, especially young ones, should be fed daily. For an adult box turtle, a day’s food would be three tablespoons of the vegetable mixture and a couple of earthworms. You know your turtle is hungry when it begins to roam around its enclosure checking the place where you feed it.

What time of day should I feed my tortoise?

Tortoises kept in captivity should only be fed once a day for 5 days of the week, and it is best to give them their food in the morning. The tortoise will then graze on their food throughout the day.

How often should a tortoise drink water?

Pet tortoises should have access to clean, fresh drinking water at all times so that they drink whenever they want. Tortoises also drink and get hydrated from their regular soaks and by absorbing water from their food.


How Long Can a Pet Turtle Live Without Food?
How Long Can a Pet Turtle Live Without Food?


How Long Can A Tortoise Go Without Food | Tortoise Lab

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Accessible Sources of Water

Accessible Heating and UV

The Species

The Age

About Us

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Hiring a professional tortoise sitter to look after your tort while you’re away

Leaving your tortoise home alone

What about leaving your tortoise at a pet shop or at your vets

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How long can a tortoise go without food and water

Do tortoises need to eat everyday Do baby tortoises eat every day to survive

How often should a tortoise drink water

What happens if tortoises don’t eat food and drink water

3 factors that determine how long can a tortoise go without food

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How Long Can Tortoises Live Without Food

What Happens If a Tortoise Doesn’t Eat

Factors That Determine How Long A Tortoise Can Go Without Food

Leaving Your Tortoise Home Alone for Long Periods of Time

Conclusion

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How Long Can Tortoises Live Without Food

What Happens If a Tortoise Doesn’t Eat

Factors That Determine How Long A Tortoise Can Go Without Food

Leaving Your Tortoise Home Alone for Long Periods of Time

Conclusion

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How Long Can A Tortoise Go Without Food

The amount of time a tortoise can survive without food depends greatly on a number of factors. The species of tortoise, the size, the usual diet, its overall health and age all contribute to how long they can survive without being fed. On top of that, some tortoise species are able to undergo hibernation or brumation, which can significantly lessen their need for food.

In general, a healthy adult tortoise can live for as much as 6 months to 3 years without food, provided that they have access to drinking water and their other needs are met. We have a full article on how long a tortoise can go without water here, how long can a water go without water?.

One astonishing story involved a cherry-head red foot tortoise from Brazil surviving inside a locked room for 30 years. The owner wasn’t aware that the tortoise was inside the room at all, and originally thought that the tortoise escaped when she was still young. It is assumed that the tortoise survived by eating termites out of the rotting wood inside the room.

Of course, if you aren’t able to feed your tortoise for over 30 years, then you probably have bigger problems. That being said, however, this story demonstrates just how resilient these reptiles can be in the harshest conditions.

How Long Can Tortoises Live Without Food?

One of the hardest things to think about for any tortoise keeper is whether their tortoise is going to be okay if they’re planning on leaving the house for a few days and won’t be able to take care of their pets. Sometimes, it’s just not possible to have someone check on your tortoise and take care of them for you when you leave.

You might be forced with the thought of your little pet not being able to eat for a few days. This is a common problem tortoise keepers have to worry about when they go on vacation.

However, tortoises and reptiles in general are very resilient creatures. Coddling them too much like you would coddle a dog or a cat does not work well at all. In fact, feeding them too often can actually be detrimental for their growth, in some cases.

Whether you’re planning on going on a trip for a few days and won’t be able to feed your tortoise, or are just plain curious, let’s take a look at how long tortoises can live without food.

Factors That Determine How Long A Tortoise Can Go Without Food

Accessible Sources of Water

Although tortoises can survive long periods of time without eating any food, water is a totally different story. If a tortoise is able to drink clean water or be able to soak without being impeded in any way, then they can survive for much longer, even when they don’t eat. The worst that could happen to tortoises that don’t have food but have ample access to water is that they’ll lose fat, which happens often enough in the wild.

If your tortoise isn’t able to drink or soak while you’re gone, they can develop a host of health issues that can cause severe, and even permanent damage. Kidney failure, articular gout and renal system backup are just one of the few things your tortoise might suffer if they’re deprived of water for too long.

If you plan on going on a vacation and couldn’t find someone to feed your tortoise while you’re gone, at least make use of an automatic water dispenser. Luckily, they’re easy enough to find in pet shops. On top of that, there are also ways you can make water dispensers from cheap materials and customize them accordingly.

Accessible Heating and UV

Another resource that will improve your tortoise’s survival in times when food isn’t available is the access to proper heating and UV. So long as your tortoise is able to bask freely and has access to both UVA and UVB, then they can survive lean times with minimal health issues, and can even allow them to grow normally.

Another thing to consider about heating is that the warmer it gets, the more active your tortoise will be. This means that they will expend their energy much quicker, and in turn, will need to replace that energy through food. Of course, you wouldn’t want to keep them too cold, either, since that’s a whole different issue altogether.

As we’ve mentioned before, tortoises will likely lose weight regardless, since they won’t be eating, but at least the health issues don’t go beyond this.

The Species

Some species of tortoises enter states that allow them to consume much less food than normal, allowing them to survive much longer without food. Hibernation is very common amongst species that live in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, such as Spur-Thighed Tortoises, Russian Tortoises, Hermann’s Tortoises and Marginated Tortoises. Some species of tortoises native to the U.S. also hibernate.

During the state of hibernation, it is common for tortoises to not eat for months at a time, and if done correctly, could still encourage healthy growth for your tortoise.

The Age

Another factor that needs to be considered is the age of the tortoise. Hatchlings and juveniles are far less resilient than their adult counterparts, and may need to be fed daily, or at least once every 2 days. Tortoises younger than 6 months old will be growing quickly, so they will need a lot of food.

That said, hatchlings and juveniles can only survive for a few weeks to just one month without food. Also, young tortoises who have been deprived of food during their formative years for too long may develop health issues when they grow older, such as metabolic bone disease and severe pyramiding.

Older tortoises are able to survive without being fed for longer. If you are able to provide a safe area for your tortoises outside, they can subsist on the weeds if you aren’t able to buy them any produce from the grocery.

Meal Spacing

Now we already know what the bad effects of going hungry for too long are. You get malnourished, you have to deal with stunted growth, and if it’s too severe, it can cause death. But tortoises, and reptiles in general, are very different from other pets. They don’t need as much food as other animals do, in fact, it can actually be detrimental for tortoises if you feed them too much.

Reptiles are cold-blooded, and one of the effects of being cold-blooded is that they don’t use up as much energy as mammals or birds do. This makes it extremely easy to overfeed your tortoises. Overfeeding tortoises will cause them to become obese, and become prone to pyramiding.

Feeding tortoises produce that is designed for human consumption also makes them prone to overnutrition. In the wild, tortoises are used to eating weeds and other foods that are low in nutrients. That’s why they can afford to eat as much as they can find. Feeding them overly-nutritious foods can cause shock to their systems, and can be bad for their overall health and growth.

This is why it’s important to put some time between each feeding, so as not to overwhelm your tortoise’s systems too much. This is a process known as meal spacing. The amount of time you put between each meal varies depending on the age of your tortoise, and how much food you feed them per meal. Here’s a list that could give you some ideas on how to go about meal spacing:

Tortoises younger than 6 months – Feed daily, with multiple meals per day, if necessary

Tortoises older than 6 months, but younger than 2 years – Feed daily, or once every 2 days

Tortoises older than 2 years / Adults – Feed 2 – 3 times a week or once every 3 – 4 days

Final Thoughts

Tortoises are hardy creatures, and if raised well enough, can weather through some pretty harsh conditions with minimal adverse effects. Whatever the conditions you have in your tortoise’s enclosure, you have to be pretty neglectful to cause damage greater than what tortoises are already dealing with in the wild. But since you’re taking the time to read this, we’re assuming that you’re a responsible keeper who cares a lot about their pets.

Tortoises have evolved to survive droughts, storms, forest fires and all manner of natural disasters that can limit their access to food. That’s why tortoises are able to survive as much as 6 months to 3 years with minimal to no food at all.

So there’s no worry of going on a vacation for a few days. Unless a calamity happens, where there’s very little you can do anyway, your tortoise will likely still be there to greet you when you get home.

That being said, though, the lack of food isn’t the only issue you have to worry about when you leave your tortoise alone at home. Your tortoise might flip over and be unable to right itself, or they might suddenly need to go to the vet, or they might start fighting with the other tortoises in the habitat and cause stress.

For the sake of being a responsible tortoise keeper, have someone check up on your tortoise at least once a week, or every few days if possible, even if they don’t have to feed your tortoise. This is especially important if your tortoises are still young.

How Long Can a Tortoise Go Without Water?

Tortoises and Water

Tortoises are known to be able to withstand some pretty harsh, arid environments that few other animals can bare. While it’s certainly not optimal for a tortoise to go without water for a period of time, sometimes they have no choice when in the wild. Depending on the environment they live in results in how long they’re able to go without water.

A tortoise can go without fresh drinking water for a maximum of one week in low humidity environments. Longer than two days is already difficult for a tortoise as it should take in fresh drinking water every day.

Some pet tortoise owners can, unfortunately, get the idea that tortoises can live a long time without food or water because they’re able to live in difficult environments. However, this is far from the case as they’re more likely to live long and healthy lives without any unfortunate health problems when given an adequate amount of water on a daily basis.

If you looking for more information on common tortoise health problems we have you covered with a full in depth article on the common health conditions found in tortoises

Tortoise Common Health Problems

How Long a Tortoise Can Go Without Water and the Effects

Like most other animals, tortoises will live a sub-optimal life if they don’t consume fresh drinking water on a daily basis. Regardless of how much or little of a heat lamp they’re exposed to or any other environmental factor, any more than a couple of days without water can cause serious health damage in your tortoise.

There are several health problems that can occur with your pet tortoise if they go without drinking water including:

Urinary/renal system backup

Articular gout

Kidney failure

The major reason these common health problems in tortoises occur is due to dehydration. When your tortoise goes without fresh drinking water for too long, their body wants to retain as much water as it can while also needing to remove built-up toxins inside their body.

Sadly, many pet tortoise owners believe that their tortoise will be able to extract enough water from the food they feed them. This is simply not the case and can lead your tortoise to be exposed to various health risks which we’ll get into now.

One of the worst outcomes of dehydration with tortoises is the accumulation of solidified uric acid inside their urinary system. Unlike mammals and amphibians, reptiles are known to remove some of their bodily waste through uric acid as opposed to urea (or urine). Without an adequate amount of water, this uric acid buildup can result in an unfortunate, painful disease for your tortoise.

You might have already heard of gout in humans, but tortoises that experience episodes of dehydration are also quite susceptible to this disease. Similar to the cause of urinary system backup, articular gout is caused by a buildup of uric acid. However, in this case the uric acid is built up in specific membranes located near your tortoise’s toes and other parts of their body, which can cause a lot of discomfort and pain.

In the extreme case of dehydration experienced by your tortoise, kidney failure is among one of the worst outcomes. Sadly, the serious health issue of kidney failure can lead to death in your tortoise if not caught early enough. This can creep up on any tortoise that doesn’t get enough drinking water on a daily basis.

Depending on the humidity of the environment your tortoise is living in, they may be able to go without water for long periods of time. While I’m certainly not advising for you to test this theory out, it should be known that less humid climates allow for living creatures, including humans and tortoises, to live without water for longer periods of time. This also means that you need to stay extra hydrated in exceptionally humid climates.

When your tortoise drinks water, you may see them excrete uric acid while drinking up the water you gave them. While some pet tortoise owners might find this cause for concern, it’s actually completely normal as they’re making room in their body for the freshwater. The thing is, tortoises have learned over generations not to let out their liquids if nothing is coming in, which is why buildups can occur when they go without water for long periods of time.

It’s important to stress that your tortoise can live without water for a period of time, but it’s at the expense of their health. If your tortoise goes without fresh drinking water for too long and too often, they can easily become sick and diagnosed with one of these harmful health problems. Remember, food alone, even food that’s packed with water, is not adequate enough to sustain their water requirements. Tortoises should be given fresh drinking water on a daily basis.

Can Tortoises Drink Tap Water?

Ensuring your pet tortoise has the right amount of drinking water at all times is important for keeping them out of harm’s way health-wise. Some have debated over different kinds of water to provide for their tortoises, including hard, soft, filtered, mineral, and spring water, which really depends on your preference.

For most people around the world, giving your tortoise water straight from the tap is more than fine. I’ve been giving my tortoises tap water every single day of their lives and they are in tip-top shape when it comes to their health. Where I live, the water is perfectly fine, so I don’t worry about it at all.

There are some countries where people won’t drink tap water, but they still give it to their tortoises. I bet it’s still fine as long as the water isn’t dirty or dangerous. However, if the water makes you or anyone you know sick, then it’s probably not a good source of water for your tortoise. If you don’t drink your tap water, maybe you should ask yourself why and then decide if your tortoise should also avoid it.

How Tortoises Drink Water

If you get a good look at your tortoise’s mouth, you may be surprised how they could even drink out of it. Well, they certainly can but it’s not the same way as other animals. Since they have a more rigid bone structure in their face compared to other animals, it poses a bit more difficulty.

Tortoises drink water by submerging their face into the water and slowly drink it up. If you see your tortoise doing this, don’t worry. It’s completely normal. You may also note that they don’t gulp down the water or create excess bubbles. That’s because they drink it in one fluid motion as well as through their noses.

There’s also a rumor that’s gone around that tortoises are able to consume water through the rear vent in their shell. Well, after much deliberation and research, it turns out the only way for them to properly consume water is through their mouth and nose. While a tortoise can theoretically absorb water through their pores, like people and other animals, it’s not a sufficient amount.

By making sure your tortoise has enough water in their bowl, you’ll be sure they live a long and happy life without any unnecessary illness. Be sure to have their bowls filled with sufficient amounts of water so they can get their heads in there enough to drink properly.

Best Watering Holes for Tortoises

We all want to make sure our tortoises are given adequate amounts of water when they need it. Whether they get to submerge themselves into the water or simply stick their heads into it, allowing them to have the right amount on a daily basis requires high-quality watering holes for tortoises.

Zoo Med Reptile Ramp Bowl

One of the best ways to make sure your tortoise has the right amount of water is getting them a ramp bowl, which is why I wholeheartedly suggest you take a look at the Zoo Med Reptile Ramp Bowl. Not only does this bowl hold a good amount of water, but it also allows your tortoise to completely submerge themselves in the water.

This ramp bowl by Zoo Med is made out of a high-quality resin bowl that’s not only tough to break, but also very easy to clean. Specifically designed for small reptiles, your tortoise will be safe submerging themselves into their drinking water without risk of drowning. It also has an easy access ramp that allows for easy access for your tortoise to go in and out whenever they please.

Fluker’s Repta-Waterer

It’s always nice when a product you buy is able to do your job for you for a period of time in case you forget to do it yourself. Well, the Fluker’s Repta-Waterer will make sure your tortoise has enough drinking water for an extended period of time in case you’re not able to refill their bowl every single day.

This self-waterer by Fluker’s is a great product for pet tortoise owners who are busy and need a bit of assistance. Not only does this waterer help you out when you need it, but it’s also highly durable and designed specifically with a wide anti-tip base. In reality, this is ideal for tortoises and all kinds of reptiles based on its design, convenience, and ease of use.

Tortoise Facts

Mercury vapour bulbs, although they have a long lifespan, can seem quite temperamental. Knocks, tilts and loosening of the bulb/lamp can cause the bulb to flicker or cut out. Your lamp needs to be suspended vertically, with the bulb screwed in tight. Tightening regularly will help avoid cutting out in the middle of the day (only tighten your bulb when it is switched off and cooled down).

If your bulb is flickering, it can seem like wiggling the wires is connected to the flickering in your bulb and seems to “fix” the issue. However, all you are doing is damaging your lamp. The bulb will flicker when the gasses are unbalanced, as a result of any kind of knock, tilting or loosening of the lamp. It is pure coincidence that moving the wire settles the gasses and your bulb stops flickering. This is all down to the movement of the bulb itself.

Your lamp will not switch on instantly after being switched off. Mercury vapour bulbs contain a small amount of gas, this needs to have cooled completely for the bulb to work. Always allow 20 minutes for your bulb to cool down, before attempting to switch it back on.

Reptile lamps are equipped with a failsafe, this means that sometimes when your lamp blows, the next bulb you put in may not work. This is unlikely a fault with your lamp, but the failsafe, which blows the fuse to prevent any serious incidents. Check your lamp with a household bulb before putting a new mercury vapour bulb in and then change the fuse if necessary.

If you are blowing multiple bulbs, we recommend investing in a surge protector. You may think surges do not affect you, due to your tortoise lamp being the only electrical in the house effected, however, this is down to the sensitive nature of reptile lighting, they will feel a surge a lot more than your household bulbs, as they are built for heat, rather than light and have higher failsafe sensitivity.

So you have finished reading the how long can tortoises go without food topic article, if you find this article useful, please share it. Thank you very much. See more: how long can tortoises go without food and water, how long can tortoises go without water, how long can a baby tortoise go without food, how long can a baby tortoise go without water, how long can a sulcata tortoise go without food, how long can a hermann tortoise go without food, how long can a desert tortoise go without food, how long can a tortoise go without a heat lamp

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