Is this okay?

[Thomas tortoise]

I have been trying to find things he can hide in, climb on, ect. And I don't want to waste my money getting a climbing toy of Amazon and realize he doesn't use it. So can I just find a piece of wood and wash it or should I cook it in the oven to kill the parasites?

 

[Maro2Bear]

Greetings. Yeah, don’t waste your money on “pet store” toys/hides….etc. I routinely use stones, logs, leaf litter, ferns, “stuff” from our back garden. If you are really paranoid - a good rinse in hot water. Most little bugs & stuff are actually good natural things for your enclosure. Just use common sense - nothing that has been sprayed with garden herbicides or pesticides, etc.

 

[Thomas tortoise]

okay thank you @Maro2Bear ! this was helpful and now his enclosure is so cool with all the logs I already put in. i would send a pic but my laptops a little on the funky side.

 

[LJL1982]

okay thank you @Maro2Bear ! this was helpful and now his enclosure is so cool with all the logs I already put in. i would send a pic but my laptops a little on the funky side.

Wild tortoises find just that, shelter from logs, stones etc in the wild and don't have it "cleaned". It's a great sentiment, and a valid concern, but generally "domesticated" tortoises have been very little changed in the way of domestication from both a behaviour or health perspective from wild tortoises, so invariably what you can create that replicates a wild or outdoor environment is the best you can have.

Bear in mind that plant wise a tortoise held in a smaller space than in the wild may get bored or hungry and chew plants if no food is available and consider check any place in the enclosure are non toxic to tortoises.

 

[Thomas tortoise]

okay thank you @Maro2Bear ! this was helpful and now his enclosure is so cool with all the logs I already put in. i would send a pic but my laptops a little on the funky side.

Wild tortoises find just that, shelter from logs, stones etc in the wild and don't have it "cleaned". It's a great sentiment, and a valid concern, but generally "domesticated" tortoises have been very little changed in the way of domestication from both a behaviour or health perspective from wild tortoises, so invariably what you can create that replicates a wild or outdoor environment is the best you can have.

Bear in mind that plant wise a tortoise held in a smaller space than in the wild may get bored or hungry and chew plants if no food is available and consider check any place in the enclosure are non toxic to tortoises.

Ya got it!

 

[Lyn W]

Don't have anything too steep that could be tipping hazard because if he falls on his back and can't right himself it could be fatal - especially if near a lamp.

 

[Cathie G]

I have been trying to find things he can hide in, climb on, ect. And I don't want to waste my money getting a climbing toy of Amazon and realize he doesn't use it. So can I just find a piece of wood and wash it or should I cook it in the oven to kill the parasites?

Like everyone says you probably don't have to bake the toys but if you want to it's not that hard. You just bake it in an oven around 125° for 2 or 3 hours. I used to do that for crafts with pinecones and such.

 

[Thomas tortoise]

Like everyone says you probably don't have to bake the toys but if you want to it's not that hard. You just bake it in an oven around 125° for 2 or 3 hours. I used to do that for crafts with pinecones and such.

Okay.

Don't have anything too steep that could be tipping hazard because if he falls on his back and can't right himself it could be fatal - especially if near a lamp.



Yes. I don't have it near a lamp and it isn't to steep. Thank you all!