25/12/2025
Merry Christmas everyone!
Fireworks can be very stressful for tortoises because they’re sensitive to vibration, sudden light, and loud noise. Here’s what you can do to keep your tortoise calm and safe during Christmas fireworks 🎆🐢
Before the fireworks start
• Move your tortoise indoors
Put them in a quiet room, far from windows and outside walls if possible.
• Create a dark, secure space
Place them in their enclosure or a sturdy box with air holes, then cover part of it with a towel or blanket to block light and reduce noise.
• Add familiar bedding
Use their usual substrate, soil, or hay so it smells familiar and feels safe.
During the fireworks
• Reduce noise and vibration
• Close windows and doors
• Turn on a fan, TV, or soft music to mask sudden loud bangs
• Do NOT take them out to “comfort” them
Handling during stress can make it worse. Let them hide.
• Let them burrow or hide
This is their natural stress response and helps them feel secure.
Feeding & care
• It’s okay if they don’t eat during noisy nights—this is normal.
• Make sure fresh water is available, but don’t force drinking.
After the fireworks
• Check your tortoise for:
• Heavy breathing
• Limp posture
• Not moving at all for a long time
(Temporary hiding is normal, but extreme lethargy lasting days is not.)
• Resume normal lighting, feeding, and routine the next day.
