Hi, I'm glad to see you have as much an interest in turtles as I do. I have had close to 30 turtles of different kinds in my lifetime, and I've learned a lot from my experiences--and mistakes--with them!
I have been dismayed to see how much "book" information isn't exactly quite right, and how many healthy animals sold from responsible pet stores and breeders apparently have not been given "mental attention". For example, one such Russian tortoise I now have slept alot at first, is afraid of water, wouldn't bask, and seemed to not know the difference between real food and plastic plants--she had to be hand-fed or she wouldn't eat. She was very healthy though, and with some time and attention she learned and is acting more normal every day. And so am I--she is my first tortoise and I am learning everyday how to "read" her better. I've fallen in love with her--she's "coming out of her shell"...
Turtles are very interesting animals and they bond well with people. I had one that would come when called and follow me around like a puppy, and he liked to have his neck scratched! However, they live much longer than dogs if cared for properly--40 to 100 years--and are much lower-maintenance than many other pets.
Sooo...I am a self-claimed turtle expert, and I want to help you locate the right information to keep yours happy. I also would like to share some things that I find interesting with you.
Let me warn you in advance, however, I am not a veterinarian. If a problem looks too serious, I'm just going to tell you you need to get your animal to a qualified herp vet... And since I cannot see your animal, I cannot be sure my advice is the right thing to do. So it's your own risk. I also have not had experience with all kinds of turtles, so sometimes I may say I simply do not know the answers. I'm going to try not to give you wrong information. But I will give suggestions whenever I can, and I will try to help you solve minor problems and prevent major ones. So, go ahead and ask me any questions you have, but be warned I'm not going to try and answer ones I can't answer.
I have had alot of experience with box turtles of different subspecies, red-eared sliders, and painted turtles. I've got my first tortoise--a Russian--so I consider myself knowledgeable about them but since I've only had her for one year I can't say I've had alot of experience with tortoises. (You'd be surprised how different tortoises and turtles are!) But alot of what I know is general to almost all our shelled buddies, so again, go ahead and email me.
Thanks for visiting my site! I'll keep posting new things as I learn them, so do come back.
Laws involving our shelled friends and YOU!
How do I know which kind is for me: Aquatic, terrestrial, or desert tortoise?
Turtles recommended for your level of experience
(AKA which ones are good for beginners, etc.)
Identify this turtle?
(especially important if yours is wild-caught!)
How do I know my turtle is healthy?
A few online breeders & stores I trust
Aquarium, terrarium, or rubbermaid storage tub? This section will tell you what kind of enclosure is best for your type of turtle or tortoise. It also gives ideas on how to set up and secure outdoors enclosures.
Outdoors enclosures for aquatic & semiaquatic turtles & terrapins
Outdoors enclosures for semiterrestrial & terrestrial turtles & forest tortoises
Outdoors enclosures for arid-land tortoises
Outdoors enclosures for our giant grassland tortoises
Indoors enclosures for aquatic & semiaquatic turtles & terrapins
Indoors enclosures for semiterrestrial turtles
Indoors enclosures for terrestrial turtles and forest tortoises
Indoors enclosures for arid-land tortoises
Indoors enclosures for giant grassland tortoises
This will give you a basic idea of what needs to go into your new pet's home and what equipment you need to buy. This is pretty much standard to every species within each category, but each one has different preferences so you still need to refer to the care sheets. For example, red-eared sliders, alligator snappers, and mud turtles all require water to swim in but each one has a different minimum/maximum depth range for how much water they should be provided with. So please read both everything in this section and the specific care sheet!
Lighting & heating
Appropriate substrates
Water/land requirements
Humidity control
Finally, make it feel like home!
Feeding & nutrition
Cleaning & prevention
Solve turtle problems
Last but not least,
understand Turtle-Speak!
Turtle products I recommend & where to get it
The Dictionary of Chelonia
(Definitions of turtle terms)
The Encyclopedia of Chelonia
(All the turtles that have existed in the world & their ID & info)
Endangered turtles list
A list of rare turtles & pictures
Some links on sea turtles I have enjoyed
My contact info
Meet my turtles!
