care sheets
These care sheets are very detailed and contain practical advice from our experienced Care Coordinators. Take the time to read through them and you will find many useful answers - maybe even some answers to questions you did not know you had!
land turtles
Land turtles include "box" turtles, so named because their shells are higher than other turtles, with a profile looking more like a WWII infantry helmet. This is typical of many land turtles.
Land turtles have back feet that may be only slightly webbed, but not flat bottomed feet as a tortoise or broad "paddle" feet like a water turtle. Land turtles do not have to live in ponds to survive, but should always have a shallow dish of water available to soak in.
All Box Turtles
Care Sheet
water turtles
Water turtles have large webbed feet and live in water most of the time, coming out occasionally to bask in sunlight. Captive care of water turtles is typically in ponds or large aquariums.
Water turtles in outdoor ponds
Care Sheet
Water turtles in indoor aquariums
Care Sheet
small tortoises
Tortoises are more land based than other turtles. Identify tortoises by their thick, stalky back legs that are shaped similar to an elephant's. Many tortoises have spiny scales on their front legs to help them burrow in the earth.
russian tortoise
Care Sheet
Red Footed / Yellow Footed Tortoise
Care Sheet
Hermann's Tortoise
Care Sheet
leopard tortoise
Care Sheet
north american desert tortoise
These medium size tortoises have adapted to living in dry, arid climates.
Endangered, and protected by law, these interesting creatures should not be handled or disturbed in the wild. Numerous ones have reached civilization and you can get California permits to legally care for those.
desert tortoise
Care Sheet
california permits for keeping a desert tortoise
Permits
hibernation tips
Learn more about this natural cycle of turtles and tortoises
medium tortoise house plans
Housing
building a burrow for your desert tortoise
Housing
african "sulcata" desert tortoise
The adorable little hatchling that fits in the palm of your hand at the pet store, can in five short years weigh more than 50 pounds and when fully grown can weigh from 140 to 200 pounds.
Sulcata Tortoises are the gentle giants you often see on display. Only the giant tortoises of the Galapagos and Aldabra Islands exceed the Sulcata in size. The adorable little hatchling that fits in the palm of your hand at the pet store, can in five short years weigh more than 50 pounds and when fully grown can weigh from 140 to 200 pounds. But these tortoises, when well cared for, can live for over 100 years.
african desert tortoise (sulcata)
Care Sheet
large tortoise house plans
Housing
plants that poison
Care Sheet
solar panels for tortoise house
Housing