Can you leave a tortoise for a weekend?
Emma Payne
Published Jan 12, 2026
On average a tortoise is able to survive 3 months (90 days) without food. The amount of time can increase or decrease based on factors like age, size, species, environment, and prior diet. If you were planning on leaving your tortoise home alone for the weekend you can do so without any worry.
How long can you leave a tortoise?
"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 stay alone?
Do tortoises need other tortoise companions? Tortoises, like many other reptiles, didn't evolve with a built-in need for companionship. They are perfectly happy on their own in the wild. Pet tortoises aren't that far removed from their wild cousins, so they too are just fine alone.
How long can tortoise go without eating?
Tortoises are robust creatures and, as long as their other needs are met, can go for several months without food. Although it is not recommended, it is possible for an adult tortoise to survive for 6 months of starvation.
Do tortoises like to travel?
Travelling With a Tortoise Isn't Generally Recommended
Sure a single trip to relocate is fine, but tortoises don't really enjoy the stress of moving too much.
39 related questions foundCan I leave my tortoise alone for 2 days?
On average a tortoise is able to survive 3 months (90 days) without food. The amount of time can increase or decrease based on factors like age, size, species, environment, and prior diet. If you were planning on leaving your tortoise home alone for the weekend you can do so without any worry.
How slow does a tortoise walk?
"New born hatchling turtles on average swim about 25 miles in 30 hours." "The average turtle swims at a pace of 10 to 12 mph and walks at 3 to 4 mph." "The tortoises of the genus Gopherus have been clocked at rates of 0.21 to 0.48 km (0.13 to 0.30 miles) per hour."
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 often should I bathe my tortoise?
Hatchling and young tortoises should be soaked daily decreasing this to every other day as they grow older. Older juvenile tortoises should be bathed 2-3 times a week and adult tortoises bathed weekly, but more frequently if kept indoors under heat lamps.
Can tortoises eat carrots?
Vegetables should be about 10-15% of the diet. These can include: grated raw carrots, winter squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, broccoli, corn on the cob; greens such as collards, dandelions, escarole, romaine, kale.
Do tortoises get attached to their owners?
In their own way, pet tortoises or turtles show affection to their owner. Of course, tortoise and turtle affection is quite different than mammal affection. But they do use body language, scent, and sound to show some sort of affection and love.
Do tortoises like being touched?
Just like some people like to hug their friends and other people don't like hugs, some tortoises really enjoy having their shells scratched and other tortoises don't like it so much. However, we have pretty good evidence that many tortoises enjoy being touched and getting attention.
Do tortoises smell?
Can tortoises smell? Yes, very well. They blow air from their noses and then smell.
Can you leave a turtle alone for a week?
You can leave a turtle alone for a week if you provide adequate food and clean water for that duration. You also need to ensure the turtle has ample space and facility for basking. However, if the turtle is very young or in poor health, you should not leave it unattended for that long.
How long can tortoises go without heat?
A baby tortoise cannot survive more than a few weeks without a source of heat in his vivarium/tortoise table. Heat is vital for aiding with metabolic processes including the digestion of food, so no heat will lead to malnourishment among other things.
Do tortoises take a lot of looking after?
Pretty awesome right? Tortoises are very interesting animals to care for, but they are also high maintenance, as they are kept outside of their natural climate.
Should I oil my tortoises shell?
Never clean your tortoise with oil - a build up of oil is harmful to a tortoise's shell, because it can clog the pores. Tortoises "breathe" through their shells as we do through our skin and a buildup of dirt or oil can block oxygen transfer and create other problems.
Do you dry a tortoise after a bath?
Once you have finished scrubbing your tortoise set them on a dry towel and very gently pat and wipe away the water. This would also be a good chance to let them walk around a warm room to dry off and get exercise.
Can I wash my tortoise with soap?
Soaps, detergents, and shell cleaners are not good for tortoises. In fact, they can be harmful, even killing your pet. Stick with plain water to clean your tortoise.
Can tortoises eat bananas?
Bananas can be eaten, and cherries, in strict moderation. Always remember to remove the cherry stone beforehand. These fruits should only be offered in moderation as part of a mixed diet to rainforest species such as the Red footed tortoise and Yellow footed tortoise. Any excess can easily result in diarrhoea.
Do tortoises sleep at night?
When they aren't brumating, tortoises have a regular sleep schedule of about 12 hours a night. They cannot rest comfortably with the lights on, so they may burrow into the ground if light is made available sooner than this. Moreover, baby tortoises can sleep for even longer, between 19-22 hours.
Do tortoises eat grass?
It is recommended to feed most grassland tortoises a diet high in fiber and full of nutrient-rich grasses and hays with a smaller portion of dark, leafy greens and vegetables added in for variety. Tortoises benefit greatly from a diet that contains a significant amount of foraging material such as hay.
Can I walk my tortoise on a leash?
You can take a tortoise for a walk, but it may not enjoy being out in the open due to people, animals, cars, and loud noises. Instead, block off access to unsafe parts of your yard and supervise the tortoise while it roams and explores. Using a leash is unnecessary as tortoises move very slowly.
Can tortoises jog?
Tortoises cannot run. They are slow reptiles, so you will not be able to see one 'running' in the true sense of the word. However, they are able to move faster than usual at certain times, despite them not being able to reach a spot as fast as other species might.
Do tortoises need exercise?
Exercise is essential for just about any animal, and tortoises are definitely no exception! Tortoises that regularly exercise are known to have better overall health, just like in humans. While we can't go for a run or put a tortoise on a leash, tortoises need adequate space for to walk, climb, and dig.