Desert Tortoise (Gopherus morafki, Gopherus agassizii) Care

Species Overview

Common Name: Desert Tortoise
Adult Size: Up to 20 pounds
Captive Lifespan:60–100+ years — a lifelong commitment

The Desert Tortoise is a hardy, iconic species native to the arid regions of the southwestern United States. With proper care and a suitable outdoor environment, they can live for decades.

Housing & Enclosure

Indoor Housing

Indoor housing is appropriate only for hatchlings, juveniles, or sick animals.

• Enclosure: Minimum 4’ x 2’ tortoise table, Zoo Med Tortoise House, or terrestrial Waterland Tub.

• Substrate: Cypress mulch or coconut husk chip. Avoid gravel, sand, cedar, pine, or aspen shavings (risk of impaction or irritation).

Outdoor Housing

Healthy adult desert tortoises should be kept outdoors whenever possible for natural sunlight and exercise.

• Minimum space: At least 18 square feet per adult.

• Environment: Provide edible plants, shrubs, and a secure, shaded burrow to mimic their natural habitat.

Temperature & Heating

• Daytime:85–88°F

• Nighttime:75–80°F

• Basking Spot:95–100°F

Indoors, use a heat lamp positioned to one side of the enclosure to create a temperature gradient. Monitor with digital thermometers and use a thermostat to maintain safe, consistent temperatures.

Lighting

If kept indoors, provide UVB lighting to allow proper calcium metabolism and prevent metabolic bone disease.

• Use reptile-specific fluorescent UVB tubes or mercury vapor bulbs

• Follow manufacturer recommendations for placement, usage, and bulb replacement schedule

Diet & Nutrition

A desert tortoise’s diet should mimic what they eat in the wild — primarily grasses, weeds, and shrubs.

• Staple foods: Grasses, hays, native weeds, and edible desert plants

• Use grocery store greens sparingly(they are typically too rich compared to natural forage)

• Calcium supplementation: Dust food with calcium carbonate powder twice weekly for indoor-kept tortoises

• Hydration: Soak in shallow warm water for 15 minutes, 2–3 times weekly, to encourage drinking and proper bowel movements

Enrichment & Accessories

• Indoors: Provide multiple hides, including one “humid hide” with moist sphagnum moss to support shell health

• Outdoors: Offer a safe, artificial burrow, shaded areas, and edible bushes or grasses for grazing

Cleaning & Disinfection

• Remove droppings daily

• Disinfect bowls weekly

• Deep clean the entire enclosure every 1–2 months using Rescue disinfectant or dilute bleach (1 tbsp per 1 cup water). Rinse thoroughly and allow the enclosure to dry completely before returning your tortoise.

Key Considerations

• Desert tortoises are long-lived and protected wildlife species— check state regulations regarding ownership or adoption

• Outdoor housing is best for their physical and mental health

• Regular veterinary exams are recommended to monitor growth, nutrition, and shell health

📞 Call us:480-530-0370
🌐 Learn more:www.treeoflifeexotics.vet

Our veterinarians can guide you on proper diet, housing, and health care to keep your desert tortoise thriving for decades.