Tortoises make awesome pets.
It's true. Even for kids! They never bite, they move slow, and they have hard bodies that cant be squished by young hands. They don't have any dander to cause allergies, and they don't eat anything 'creepy' like other reptiles who require mice or bugs. So no worries about their food getting out and running around your house.... They come in many different colors and sizes, from as small as 4" to giants so big you could ride on their backs!
On this page, I cover the types of tortoises I keep and breed, right here in Alaska. Be sure to head over to the Care page for some links, advice, and documents that I find useful for overcoming the challenges Alaskan keepers specifically face when raising these amazing animals in our not-so-forgiving climate.
On this page, I cover the types of tortoises I keep and breed, right here in Alaska. Be sure to head over to the Care page for some links, advice, and documents that I find useful for overcoming the challenges Alaskan keepers specifically face when raising these amazing animals in our not-so-forgiving climate.
Russian TortoisesRussian tortoises are the most commonly kept tortoises here in Alaska. This is mostly because they are the only species usually sold by major pet store chains like petco. However, it has been my experience that these pet store tortoises are wild caught animals often harboring parasites contracted from the wild which, left untreated in captivity, make them difficult to acclimate, sluggish, fearful, "pet rock" type animals.
Captive born Russians on the other hand, do not suffer these issues, and are plenty lively. My Russian pair often come right up to me and beg for food, pace the cage for attention, and seem to enjoy head scritches. These guys stay really small, so are a good choice for those who don't have a whole lot of space. |
Greek TortoisesAnother excellent small tortoise choice is the Greek Tortoise. My pair happen to be the Golden variety, but there is also a wild type, and a black Greek variety as well. These guys are curious, voracious eaters, and my young daughters personal favorite. Although they get slightly larger than the Russian tortoise, they make excellent captives.
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Herman's TortoiseHerman's tortoise stay very small indeed, but they have a lot going on in that small package. They can have a touch of an attitude towards other tortoises. So you definitely want to keep them to their own species, and only one male in a herd, which is always a good idea any way. Having that said, they are exceptionally outgoing. My adult male here, Dozer, was so named for his comical tendency to plough through cage furniture and anything else in his way to get to dandelions. What a character! These torts seem to genuinely enjoy the company of people.
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Marginated TortoiseA lot like the Herman's tortoise in temperament, but the exact opposite in size. Marginated's are the largest of all the Mediterranean species, and males should really never be housed together. Like the herman's their aggression only extends to other tortoises, and not to people. The large male in this picture is Koopa, and he has been my mascot tortoise for years now. He understands his name, and responds to basic commands like "here koopa" or "no". Every year in the summer, I take a new picture of him and my daughter together, and every year she gets a little bigger, and he is still the same ole Koopa we love.
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Yellow & Red Foot TortoiseThese beautiful tropical specie are great animals for those who are willing to give them the space, humidity, and enrichment, they absolutely do need.
I say "enrichment" because the redfoot tortoise is exceptionally highly intelligent. So intelligent that they have already clinically proven themselves capable of mastering touchscreen technology, even faster than dogs in some cases. They have also mastered radial mazes faster than mice. They have also clinically proven themselves capable of social learning by imitation, the same way primates do. These studies earned their researchers the Nobel Prize in zoology for that year. Personally, I have witnessed from my adult female Cere, that they recognize their own names and owners, understand and respond to the terms "no" or "stop", and appear to be able to suffer from loneliness. So if you intend to acquire one, be aware that you will do them a disservice if you don't interact with them, but they are truly rewarding captives for those who can give them what they need. Some links on tortoise intelligence: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21228440.500-coldblooded-cognition-tortoises-quick-on-the-uptake.html?full=true#.VZCBWvlViko http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10071-014-0803-7#page-1 |
Elongated TortoiseThese torts are simply beautiful as babies and as adults. The males faces even turn pink in the breeding season resembling blushing. A word of advice though, you must- must- must get them captive bred! The wild caught animals of this species are notoriously poor to acclimate. Most wild caught animals of this species simply will not survive, but captive born animals are rock solid hardy. It's a night and day difference. Temperament wise, they are a lot like cats in the sense that they tend to choose one keeper and be a "one person" animal that is outgoing and friendly towards them, but shy towards others. These are tropical torts, so need a little extra care in terms of humidity, but can be a good choice for the beginner that's willing to provide them with what they need.
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Foresten's TortoiseAlthough closely related to the elongated, these torts are endangered and are not for the beginner. Unfortunately, wild caught animals are still available because smugglers will find people that are willing to pay for them. Other than the ethical concerns about contributing to the extinction of the species, this practice is not in the keepers best interest any way because these animals don't acclimate well from the wild due to susceptibilities to viruses. Captive babies are occasionally available, but to compound the problem males have a high mortality rate so its exceptionally difficult to gain access to one in order to breed them responsibly in captivity as well. This has been my hang up as well, so I haven't had the opportunity to breed them yet either.
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Sulcata TortoiseThe first thing that should be said about sulcata's are "these get huge". I mean really really big. The hatchlings tend to have an unfortunately high mortality rate in captivity as well. Probably the most difficult thing about raising giants in Alaska is the diet. As a grassland species they need to eat a lot of well, grass- year round. This can be very difficult for the Alaskan keeper once they get large in winter, but its not impossible. Dried bremuda and orchard grass hays work beautifully for this purpose (more on this in the care page). A lot of keepers in the states feel that keeping a sulcata in cold climates can not be done, but if you are dedicated to raising a giant, and have the space and resources to provide for one. It most certainly can, and its worth doing, as sulcata are simply awesome.
They really seem to bond with their owners, and will even fight to protect them. I heard a story of a sulcata that saved a young boy by charging a dog that broke into the play yard and was attacking the child. He then stood over the child and protected it, as the dog was biting his shell, but he didnt move until the dog was subdued. That tendency to become territorial over their "herd" can become a problem however, if they feel they need to protect you from other humans and snap at their feet. Try to socialize them young, especially males, in order to prevent this. I have raised many sulcata, but due to their really large space requirements have never successfully bred them. |
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Pancake TortoiseThese guys are really cool. The shell is both flat and a little flexible. They use this in order to wedge themselves into rock outcrops in the wild which you really should replicate in captivity if you want them to eat for you. So they have specialized care requirements, and cant be housed with other species, at all, but after you have their enclosure set up properly they are actually very easy. If it wasnt for the fact that they are so expensive to acquire I would probably have a whole colony. My adult pair, Flapjack and Mrs buttersworth, had their first and only hatchling, Shortstack, two years ago. Unfortunately, due to an error while I was moving, I no longer have the pair, so I will have to acquire another pair before I will be able to breed them again.
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Hingeback TortoiseAlthough they are commonly imported into the states in mass for relatively inexpensive prices, these tortoises are exceptionally difficult captives. Usually parasite ridden, and very difficult to get to eat, they have exceptionally high humidity requirements, but are prone to respiratory infection at the humidity levels required to keep them hydrated. They are also very shy, and spend much of the day hiding. Unfortunately, their low price tag often attracts well meaning but unprepared beginners to buy them only to suffer a frustrating loss when they refuse to acclimate.
I really do not recommend this tortoise to anyone who isn't fully dedicated to the species, as they will need a very specialized enclosure ( including an automated misting system), a very specialized diet (you will want to consider how you will keep a year round supply of Canadian nightcrawlers before getting one), some extra veterinary care upfront (often deworming, probiotics, and antibiotic shots for the respiratory issues), and even if you do everything right- you might still lose them anyway. :( As far as I'm aware there has never been a successful captive breeding of them that has resulted in offspring that survived to adulthood. |
Ok so the following aren't exactly tortoises.... but they are land turtles....
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Three Toed Box TurtleAhh the three toes. Such small wonderful animals. Personable, intelligent, little critters. My babies come from these high colored adults.
They have different dietary requirements, requiring protein, and much higher humidity requirements as babies than as adults (more on this in the Care page). They are smart and people do train them. Not redfoot tortoise smart per se, but at 4" in size versus the 14" that a redfoot gets, they are much easier to house than the redfoots. Raising one from baby is really the only way to go if you want them to learn tricks though. This is the same species as the one in the video here. |
Central American Wood TurtleThese guys are exceptionally beautiful, but also in my experience so far with them, exceptionally cranky. The female we keep (aptly named Mr cuddles by my five year old) is probably the meanest turtle i've ever experienced. She bites... hard. So I will never breed her simply because I wouldn't want to further her temperament. However, If i did find a pair that had manners I would consider it, because they are soo pretty.
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If you have an unwanted tort or turtle...
I am happy to take in tortoises of any species, even if in not good health, with no questions asked. If your animal came from me, I also will help with your animal's health care to the best of my ability. (See the about me section for more on this).
I do keep and breed mud and musk turtles... However, I must make clear that I do NOT keep fully aquatic large turtle species. If you are unsure if your turtle is a water turtle, check to see if it has fully webbed feet. if it does, it is. If you are still unsure, contact me and I will help you identify your turtle.
I just need to say that I do not take in, rehome, rescue, or otherwise accept into my home under any wording, any animal that's common name ends in "slider" or "cooter". Sorry. I am asked very often to take in unwanted red eared sliders and the like, and my answer has to be no. I am not set up to house the sheer number of large water turtles that are in need of homes. I do not have the space, water supply, proper filtration systems, lighting, feed, and everything that goes into it to take in sliders. If I were to keep sliders, I would want them to have a huge pond where they could swim all day and bask on logs and do all the things that make sliders happy. I cant provide that for them at this time, so the answer has to be no.
If you have any questions about this, or anything else turtle/tortoise related feel free to contact me. The button below will take you to the contact page. Thanks.
I do keep and breed mud and musk turtles... However, I must make clear that I do NOT keep fully aquatic large turtle species. If you are unsure if your turtle is a water turtle, check to see if it has fully webbed feet. if it does, it is. If you are still unsure, contact me and I will help you identify your turtle.
I just need to say that I do not take in, rehome, rescue, or otherwise accept into my home under any wording, any animal that's common name ends in "slider" or "cooter". Sorry. I am asked very often to take in unwanted red eared sliders and the like, and my answer has to be no. I am not set up to house the sheer number of large water turtles that are in need of homes. I do not have the space, water supply, proper filtration systems, lighting, feed, and everything that goes into it to take in sliders. If I were to keep sliders, I would want them to have a huge pond where they could swim all day and bask on logs and do all the things that make sliders happy. I cant provide that for them at this time, so the answer has to be no.
If you have any questions about this, or anything else turtle/tortoise related feel free to contact me. The button below will take you to the contact page. Thanks.