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Turtles and Tortoises - Pet Advice

Septicemia in Tortoises

November 16th 2010 13:31
If you think that you have a sick tortoise, you need to take it to the vet as soon as you can. Typically, pet turtles and tortoises do not show signs of illness until it is a more severe issue.

One of my red foot tortoises was treated for an ear abscess, and he ended up developing septicemia. I didn't pay close enough attention, and by the time I made it back to the vet, he was too severe that I just had to have him put down.


Septicemia is a blood infection, where a wound becomes infected. It is more common among turtles that are housed with other turtles.

Signs of septicemia can include, odd skin discoloration, lethargy, difficulty breathing, skin issues, and overall weakness.

Septicemia in Pet Tortoises

I just want to repeat that if you think your tortoise is sick, see a vet that is knowledgeable with reptiles so that you can start treatment sooner than later.

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Turtles Need Room to Grow and Exercise

November 12th 2010 13:04
If you have a pet turtle or tortoise, or if you're thinking about getting one, the most important thing that you need to do is evaluate how much space you have. No matter what species of turtle or tortoise you have, it's going to need room to grow and exercise. Even a Russian tortoise, which is a smaller pet tortoise species needs a fairly large outdoor enclosure for when the weather is nice.

You just can't buy a turtle and hope that it'll live in a small 10 or 20 gallon tank its entire life... If you do, the turtle won't live happily or healthily, and it certainly won't live very long.


Turtles are a huge commitment in terms of care and space. They're not the best pet for those who live in apartments because it is ideal that they get outside time.

If you don't have the time to sit and watch your turtle or tortoise walk around a yard, you'll need to build an outdoor enclosure for the tortoise, and turtle proof it so that the animal can't get out.

The following species are relatively common and popular, and when housing one outside, I've included basic minimums.
* Russian tortoises - at least 5' x 3' outdoor enclosure
* Greek tortoise- at least a 5' x 3' outdoor enclosure
* Redfoot tortoise- at least a 6' x 4' outdoor enclosure
* Box turtle- at least a 5' x 2' outdoor enclosure
* Sulcata tortoise- an entire yard that is turtle proof, as these guys get rather large and they can be quite destructive

There are many other pet turtles and tortoises that can be and are pet turtles, and depending on the size of the turtle you'll need to decide how much space it will need and how much space you can offer.




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Pet Turtles are a Big Commitment

November 9th 2010 18:02


I've always been into reptiles, but caring for pet tortoises is a newer thing for me. I did my research and bought two Russian tortoises. Shortly after I purchased a few baby Brazilian red foot tortoises. I've here to tell you that caring for pet turtles and tortoises is not the easiest feat, even for me.

I've had bearded dragons live until old age, and I've cared for many leopard geckos, crested geckos, snakes, and other reptiles. When I was younger, I did care for a few small box turtles before releasing them back into the wild, but caring for turtles or tortoises is much different than caring for other reptile species.

It takes research to ensure that you're meeting the proper space requirements, heating, lighting, humidity, and dietary requirements.

Turtles and tortoises need a lot of space, which must be met. Their diet cannot be composed solely of commercial turtle pellets or iceburg lettuce. If you follow the basic instructions that many pet stores give their customers, using 20 gallon tank and turtle pellets, the pet will not thrive healthily by any means.

Pet turtles are a commitment.

Another concern besides basic care is the lifespan. Turtles are not quick throw-away pets that last a year or two. These guys can live over 20 years, depending on the species.

My dad has a friend that has a 30 year old turtle. He has no clue what species. All he knows is that he's had it for over 30 years, and it is perfectly healthy and chases the dog around the yard.

Turtles and tortoises are not the most conventional pet, but for those who appreciate an animal that carries his home on his back, they can make great pets.


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Safe Plants for Tortoises to Eat

March 2nd 2010 19:25
If you have pet tortoises, you know that they love to eat and graze, well most do, and whether you house your tortoises inside the house or outside, it's a good idea that you know which plants, flowers, and grasses, your tortoise can eat.

If you're creating an outdoor tortoise enclosure, it's especially important that your set up an area that has plenty of edible plants and grasses. When it comes to tortoises that spend most of their time inside, it's a good idea to have an area outside where you can grow fresh grasses and plants for them to have in addition to their greens.

You will find variety is a good key to a happy, healthy tortoise, so knowing plants that they can eat will help provide that varied diet.

Don't assume, "Well, he wouldn't eat it, if it wasn't safe for him" because sometimes tortoises like to test things. My baby red foot tortoises like to try anything that looks edible when they're outside, and sometimes that includes dead leaves, but that doesn't mean that the dead leaves are good for them.

Know what is safe for your tortoise to eat and what isn't. This will help you design your outdoor enclosure or just help you vary your tortoise's diet.

Edible Plants for Tortoises




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Leopard Tortoises As Pets

February 25th 2010 18:58
If you're looking for a large tortoise to keep in your backyard and you don't want a Sulcata tortoise, you may want to consider a leopard tortoise. These tortoises have a little more color than sulcatas, but they can be just as big. Although, in some cases they may only average around 30 pounds, leopard tortoises have the potential to be over 100 pounds.

You can house babies and juvenile tortoises in indoor enclosures, but as the tortoise grows, you'll need to put him outside. You will need to set up a secure fence so that the tortoise doesn't knock the current fence down. These guys can be quite destructive, especially if they don't have enough room.

Some people set up an outdoor dog kennel or run with a base so that the tortoise can't see out and want to bulldoze through. Sometimes these just aren't big enough for full-grown adults though, and it's just best to secure your entire yard.

So, as you can see, leopard tortoises just aren't a pet that you can expect to care for easily. They really do need housing considerations taken into thought before you bring one home.

And because the species grows fast, you'll need to make sure that you offer plenty of calcium and cuttlebones.

But other than that if you think that you can house and feed a leopard tortoise, they can make good pets. Just make sure that you let the tortoise come to you versus you go to them. You can't force a relationship with the tortoise.

On average, the species is not as outgoing, especially when compared to Sulcata tortoises, but that doesn't mean that with time your tortoise won't follow you around the yard to get your attention.




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Adopt a Sulcata Tortoise

February 20th 2010 16:57
If you're thinking about getting a big tortoise, don't go out and buy a baby Sulcata just because they're cheap. Sulcata tortoises are one of the most thrown away pets, not literally, but they're bought and tossed away like nearly none other.

In a way, green iguanas and sulcatas are about the same. People buy them when they're small and cute, but the second they start to grow and become large, they are no longer wanted. That's not the way to be a pet owner by any means. When you bring a pet home, you are under the understanding of size, diet, husbandry, and overall care and health. You aren't supposed to just drop off the pet at a shelter because you don't want to deal with it anymore


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Health Problems with Red Foot Tortoises

February 20th 2010 16:36
Red Foot tortoises are usually pretty hardy tortoises. They're considered more hardy than their yellow footed cousins, but if they're not being houses properly or fed the right diet, then the species is going to get sick.

Not every species is going to be prone to the same illnesses. In a way, it's like how dog breeds are each prone to different illnesses. Tortoises are the same way


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Caring for a Red Foot Tortoise

February 15th 2010 15:37
Red foot tortoises are a little larger than your Russian and Hermann's tortoises, but this species is very rewarding to have as a pet. I have two baby redfoot tortoises that are the cutest things on the planet, but just because they're cute doesn't mean that they're a good choice for everyone. This species gets a little larger than most people have the accommodations for. They can average anywhere from 10" to 15" and weigh up to 20 pounds, which is pretty substantial if you live in an apartment or have a small yard.

Red foot tortoises have pretty basic care but the main and nearly most important aspect is going to be humidity! You want to remember that the species is native to rain forest type areas. They need high humidity levels or you'll see detrimental health problems


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Caring for a Hermann Tortoise

February 10th 2010 14:44
Another small tortoise species, that I've considered getting as a pet, but decided against only because space is really a concern when you have pet tortoises. Even if you only have one small species tortoise and you're thinking about getting another small species, you still need another enclosure. You can't house them together.

Hermann's Tortoises originate from Tugoslavia, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Croatia, Romania, Macedonia, Albania, Greece, Turkey, Hungary, and the southern Italy region. This species is about 5" to 10" as an adult, and is native to Mediterranean oak forest areas, arid, rocky hillslopes with scrubby vegetation, which is fairly easy to achieve in captivity


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Caring for a Greek Tortoise

February 5th 2010 20:59
Greek tortoises are another small tortoise species that are pretty popular pets. They come in a few general colors, that are dependent on their location. For the most part though, you'll find the Golden Greek tortoise and the Iberia Greek tortoise. Both are are shades of mustard yellow, but the Iberia Greek is generally going to have much more brown coloring on the scutes, whereas the Golden is a more solid gold-mustard color.

Greek tortoises average about 6" to 10" in length as an adult


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