The land turtle living in the house requires special conditions of detention. Despite the generally accepted practice, experts do not recommend letting her walk on the floor: this reptile is afraid of drafts and does not like cold air. In addition, the tortoise shell has a discreet color - you can step on it without noticing, or slam the door with a reptile. Therefore, she must have her own safe house - a terrarium, large enough and spacious.
Terrarium for the turtle should be horizontal. Its minimum dimensions are 80 by 40 by 40 cm, standard - 100 by 60 by 60 centimeters. From above, the terrarium is usually not covered with anything to provide an influx of fresh air. However, in the event that other animals live in your house, for example, a cat, it is better to cover it with glass - at least for the time of your absence, or purchase a lockable model.
Reptiles definitely need shelter: a terrarium for a turtle must have a house. It may not be very large, but stable so that the turtle cannot knock it over. Litter is poured on the bottom with a layer of 4-6 cm: leaves or hay, river gravel without sharp corners or pebbles, or special soil for reptiles. The litter should correspond to the natural habitat of the turtle. Before placing in a terrarium, it is advisable to calcine it. Instead of laying, you can lay a rug “artificial grass” - in the event that this type of reptile is not peculiar to rummage in the ground. Eating turtle litter or soil may indicate a lack of vitamins and minerals in its diet.
Terrarium for the turtle must be additionally heated. A special incandescent lamp is placed in one of the corners - so that the temperature in different places of the terrarium is different. The ideal combination is about +35 degrees under the lamp and +24 degrees in the corner farthest from the lamp. This is necessary so that the reptile can choose for itself exactly the temperature that it seems comfortable at the moment. To heat the terrarium, you can also use a special ceramic lamp, which only warms, but does not give light. Heated mats are also on sale - especially for terrariums.
In addition to the heat source, the terrarium for the turtle should also have a special UV lamp with a power of 15 watts. This is necessary in order for the vitamin D to be produced in the body of the reptile - otherwise it can get rickets. Its first symptoms are a softening of the shell, a distortion of its shape or a change in color. To prevent the disease, an ultraviolet lamp should be turned on daily for 10-12 hours. Only special reptile lamps can be used in terrariums - their light is not harmful to the eyes.
In addition to the opening cover, terrariums for land turtles should have ventilation openings. Poor ventilation leads to the multiplication of pathogens and fungi, therefore, can lead to disease and, ultimately, to the death of the turtle. Ventilation holes are usually made on the sides of the terrarium. Those that are located in its lower part must be protected so that cold air does not get directly onto the turtle - they are usually made in the form of pockets.
As for the reptile feeder, it can be a regular unbreakable small bowl. There is only one rule: it should not be placed under the lamp. In the terrarium for land turtles, you need to place a drinker, however, it is not necessary for the Central Asian tortoise - usually the animal needs enough liquid obtained from succulent feed.
The best place to place the terrarium is away from windows, radiators and drafts. Strong temperature drops are unacceptable, as they can lead to illness and even death of the animal - both from hypothermia and from overheating. Ideally, this should be a room facing north.