They manage to eradicate this nuisance by soaking themselves in shallow warm puddles and in this way the plastron is kept clean, supple and any insects inside the shell, drown . They also forage and eat vegetation under shrubs and bushes. Egg shells found in the wild and sun dried soft bones also supplement the calcium necessary to keep a healthy strong shell. Even in winter conditions tortoises will emerge and browse for a few hours if the weather is warm enough. It is fair to say they are solar powered and react with the temperatures around them.
Tortoises change sleeping places occasionally in order to outwit any predators.
Male tortoises have a long tail and females have a short fat tail. The females live harmoniously with each other and you will notice very quickly if you have a male among the females. The males are very territorial and in summer have a strong mating urge. They are very strong and if another male is encountered during this time they will readily do battle, the one trying to overturn the other on its back. The mating habits are strange to say the least.