Tortoises kept as companion animals have highly specific environmental and dietary needs that are frequently misunderstood, leading to chronic welfare problems and shortened lifespans.
Most tortoise welfare problems stem from inadequate knowledge at the point of acquisition. Small enclosures prevent normal thermoregulation behaviour; low-quality lighting causes chronic vitamin deficiency; inappropriate diets high in fruit or protein cause liver damage and shell deformities. Tortoises in inappropriate conditions often exhibit reduced activity, refusal to eat, respiratory infections, and pyramiding shell growth — signs of chronic stress. Because tortoises are long-lived and slow to show acute distress, welfare problems often go unrecognised until they become severe. Owners who acquire tortoises impulsively, particularly large species like sulcatas, frequently surrender them to rescues when welfare needs become apparent.