Tortoise Facts For the Tortoise Slayers

This is specially dedicated to all tortoise lovers whom tortoises apparently die because of their excessive love and care.(more like tortoise slayers !!hmpph)

During the recent family visitations, I got to visit my tortoises' relatives too- the same breed of family Pinky and Arlie came from!(yup, that's their brother and sisiter!!) My other cousin was keeping the other two shelled creatures and I could not help but be bothered by the fact that they do not expose their beloved pets to Uv light or even provide it with the essential drink they need.(yes, water!!!) So I decided to do my research this time again and I had this strong promptting in my heart to just share my tortoise knowledge with everyone!(coughcoughtortoiseslayerscoughcough) After all, caring is sharing mah...

SUNLIGHT MOU?

Natural sunlight contains UV-B radiation which is required by the tortoise to internally synthesize vitamin-D3. This is required by the tortoise to enable it to use the calcium it consumes in its food. Without an adequate level of D3, this calcium is useless for building bones. In order to synthesize D3 properly, both UV-B radiation and radiant heat is required.
*see see what did i tell you????*

Most Mediterranean tortoises fare best when allowed to graze, offering the other listed items as occasional supplements. Do not routinely offer cabbage, spinach, chard, bok choy, or any vegetable related to these, as they inhibit calcium absorption and can cause serious health problems. This is particularly critical in the case of juveniles or egg-laying females. The regular use of a cuttlefish bone or calcium block left in the enclosures allows tortoises to regulate the amount of calcium in the diet. *this applies to desert tortoises too*
We recommend the use of a good quality phosphorus free calcium and vitamin D3 supplement at least twice per week, more frequently for juveniles and egg-laying females. A “raw” calcium supplement may safely be used on a daily basis. If the tortoise is maintained indoors for any significant period, be sure to make provision for UV-B exposure
TORTOISES: Do They Need To Drink ? *YESYESYESSSS!!!!!*
Just because they are able to tolerate water deprivation for a substantial period is not reason to deprive them of it deliberately or permanently. Water deprivation is a sub-optimal state which, if extended beyond certain limits, results in serious health problems. Food alone is not normally an adequate source of the total water requirement of semi-arid habitat reptiles.
They frequently pass urine at this time as well, and will simultaneously dispose of the chalky white uric acid residues which form in the bladder. It is categorically not true that wild tortoises rarely drink.
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/webdiet.htm
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/drink.html
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/lp_health_care/article/0,2041,DIY_14063_2271604,00.html
*clickclick! you know you want to!*

If you truly love(or loved) your tortoises, you would go the extra mile to google for vital tortoise care-taking information so they can go about their tortoise leaf-eating lives for tons of years to come.( like me!)
Its a sad world we live in, where people just allow their poor tortoises in their pathetic boxes or cages to live the rest of their boring days goodbye.