Wisdom From The Experts Pt 4 & 5 Two Turtle and Tort experts, two related pieces of wisdom to share about turtle and tortoise anatomy! Lori Neuman-Lee, PhD (@CheloniaGirl ), prof at Utah State University, says – “I wish people knew that turtles can’t come out of their shells…because their shells are part of their...
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Words of Wisdom from the Experts Pt 3- “I wish people knew how smart turtles are. They learn quickly where their food comes from; if from a human then they learn that specific person” Is what Michelle Kelly (@MichelleKellyCW), public speaker about Reptiles and amphibians, wishes more people knew about turtles and tortoises. Those of...
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Words of wisdom from the experts pt 2 Check out this INCREDIBLE photo by Amanda Hipps, @biophilamanda, one of the experts who responded to our #worldturtleday question. Amanda studies the animals that live in gopher tortoise burrows. In case you didn’t know, gopher tortoise burrows are home to hundreds of other animals. Their status as endangered directly...
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This year, in honor of #WorldTurtleDay, we asked herpetologists, biologists, rescues, and rehabbers, to tell us what they wish more people knew about Turtles and Tortoises. Starting today we’ll be sharing a few responses a day! Let’s learn more about the animals we love from people who have devoted their lives to protecting them. Biologist...
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Just FYI: to sample and get these cuties out of the funnel traps we need to put thick rope in their mouths and firmly but gently tie it at the end of the carapace. This way no one is getting hurt and we can get the data we need. Never ever pick up turtles or snakes or any herp by their tails it is harmful to them. I always make sure to put the animals back exactly where we found them take a few cute pics and send them love on their journey back 🙂
I include this because sometimes people don’t understand what we are doing and become concerned. I became a herpetologist/ecologist bc I love animals and our world more than anything and all I want to do is conserve and advocate for those who don’t have a voice. I sometimes get made fun of for baby talking everything I find but I can’t help it. They are all so fascinating and just innocent to me. They need all the love 💕
Its sort of a moral thing for myself, especially if they are fairly common in the hobby. If they are readily available, why keep one from the wild when there are healthy captive bred ones? Especially if they are adults, it is a little more difficult to get them to acclimate to captivity as well. *shrug* 🙂
My turtle was born and spent most of his life on the wild. He was taken from the wild, and kept in captivity too long to be released. He went to an adoption, and then to me.
I love him to pieces, but there’s always this part of me that wishes I’d never met him. I see what he has now (the best I can give him), and know how it pales in comparison to the life he could have had. So much space. So much freedom. Everytime I see him bask, scratch at the walls of his tupperware, soak. Everytime I see him stare out at the trees (when I take him out for exercise), I’m reminded of the life that was stolen from him.
So yeah, definitely a moral thing. When I initially got him, I was so desperate for a boxie, I probably would’ve kept a wild one if I’d found it. Looking back, I’m horrified at the thought.
My point is; taking animals from the wild (when the wild is safe for them, when they are not endangered, and when they are healthy) is going to change the animal’s life permanently, in a way you’ll never be able to understand. Even the best captive situations do not compare to the wild. I understand where you’re coming from! Totally! But I think you might regret it later.
If I though Irwins hurt finger 2 weeks ago was bad I was wrong.
This Saturday he woke up nibbled some breakfast and then started running round straining to poop.
He does this sometimes so I wasn’t too worried and left him to it.
A couple of hours later I came back to check on him and he was still straining. That’s NOT normal. So I immediately put him in a warm soak.
He carried on straining for another hour as I kept him topped up with warm water.
I picked him up to check his cloaca for a blockage or something.
And there was a blockage, a hard white blockage bigger than his head.
I applied a little olive oil and set him on a clean towel in his enclosure while I called the emergency reptile vet who is an hour’s drive away.
Whilst I was on the phone Irwin started running around erratically very distressed.
The vet came on the phone with me just as Irwin passed a stone the size of a 10p.
He had torn his cloaca with the effort and so I rushed him to the emergency vet.
The vet examined him and the stone and said it looks like a ball of hard urates or a kidney or bladder stone.
He’s always super hydrated and loves a drink so it’s unlikely to be urates. Plus his diet his perfect and varied, so it could likely be a result of the existing damage to his organs (from his previous owners before I adopted him) and perhaps that near kidney failure means he will be prone to stones.
They didn’t want to x-ray him then and there because he was too swollen and distressed (plus there was a traffic accident with a dog so I think the x-ray lab was in use.)
The vet gave him a stitch to his torn cloaca and gave an injection of anti-inflammatory and an injection of antibiotics.
He has to go back again tomorrow (tuesday) for the second antibiotic injection and an x-ray.
If this is the only stone I can take him home.
If there is more stones in him then there is an option of surgery which would be very expensive and very risky considering how small Irwin is.
Or there’s the final option.
Which I can’t think about right now.
He’s my best friend. I just want him to be okay. I will sell everything I own to pay for his surgery just to make him okay.
Tomorrow’s appointment feels like doomsday.
Scan was inconclusive, but that means there are no urate masses (as those would be visable on xray).
The stone he passed is going to the lab and I need to get a sterile urine sample from him for urine analysis. That as well as blood work will check for tumours, renal diseases and infections.
Our heart is breaking for our friend Irwin and his human.
If you follow Irwins adventures here you know he found his human after living in a home that did not provide him the care he needed to grow healthy and strong. After finding his forever home his health improved incredibly and he became the happy tort we’ve watched grow handsome and strong.
Its frustrating to see that even the best care cannot reverse the lasting impact of poor care on a growing tort. The issues are long-lasting. Also, a difficult reminder that our shell friends hide their symptoms so very well even when they are struggling with something like this.
We are crossing all our fingers toes and tails and sending the strength of the #turtpocalypse your way Irwin! You’ve gotta pull through this and get back to all noming, climbing, and stomping around. Your human needs a lot more snuggling too. So hang in there.
Please send all the good thoughts to Irwin and his human!! And please remember to always spread the word about how important proper care is. For Irwin and for all our shell friends. They deserve the very best.
Irwin doesn’t have a birthday and I don’t know his hatchday… but it was the 1st of Jan two years ago that I adopted him.
He’s about roughly 4-5 years old now I reckon but when I got him he was about 3 months away from dying.
He had Severe MBD and multiple leg bone fractures. He was as soft as a squeaky toy and his shell would flex as he struggled to breathe.
He couldnt walk properly or lift his shell off the ground, and for the first 6 weeks I had him he dragged his back legs behind him while he kinda swam with his front legs. I used to have to sink his food bowl right into the substrate so it was level because he couldn’t climb over the ‘lip’ to reach his food.
I spent 8 months syringe feeding him liquid calcium before he stopped being at risk of just dropping dead.
I had to learn a lot about reptiles and fast.
And I’m still learning.
But my God, what a rewarding two years it’s been. Who could have known how important this little creme brulee booger would become to me??.
He is fascinating,determined, weird, adorable and funny!. (And now that tortoise puberty has hit he is also a bit gross at times).
The trust he shows me blows my mind and my endlessly thankful he came into my life.
Reptiles are hard work, don’t ever be fooled into thinking they’re an easy pet just because they’re quiet.
They need specialist lighting and supliments, specific heating and humidity. I have found myself growing weeds in windowsill pots and worrying about the dangers of pesticides or pollution. Searching tirelessly for the first and last Dandelions of the season. I have had full blown panic attacks over poops…or lack thereof. Sometimes even now if he is sound asleep, basking with his little neck lolling to the side a sudden fear grips me and I have to gently blow on him to see him twitch so I know he’s alive.
And Christ…I haven’t even attempted hibernation yet.
We will see what comes. But I am very thankful I get to see it with Irwin
😭😭🙌🙌 ❤️❤️❤️
We are so happy you and Irwin found each other and so thankful to you for sharing him and your journey with all of us!! Happiest Irwinversary!
Honestly, If I had to pick a post that best captured the reality of caring for a tort, it’s this one. The worry, the struggle, the FEAR that always lingers, the learning, the awe, the joy… it’s every single one of these emotions in a shell made of gratitude and love. It’s not easy. if you think it is you better stick to pictures on the internet. Nope, not easy but man is it rewarding.
Oh, Irwin you found yourself an incredible forever home and a human that would do whatever it takes to make sure you’re happy and healthy.
Take a look at this shell friends. Having a tortoise is a real commitment. You’ll be rewarded in spades for it but you have to be ready to provide the absolute right care for you shell friend or the outcome can be tragic.
@rambosaysso you are an incredible example to all shell parents! And man that little face looking at you … Irwin is thankful too. <3 <3
Irwin doesn’t have a birthday and I don’t know his hatchday… but it was the 1st of Jan two years ago that I adopted him.
He’s about roughly 4-5 years old now I reckon but when I got him he was about 3 months away from dying.
He had Severe MBD and multiple leg bone fractures. He was as soft as a squeaky toy and his shell would flex as he struggled to breathe.
He couldnt walk properly or lift his shell off the ground, and for the first 6 weeks I had him he dragged his back legs behind him while he kinda swam with his front legs. I used to have to sink his food bowl right into the substrate so it was level because he couldn’t climb over the ‘lip’ to reach his food.
I spent 8 months syringe feeding him liquid calcium before he stopped being at risk of just dropping dead.
I had to learn a lot about reptiles and fast.
And I’m still learning.
But my God, what a rewarding two years it’s been. Who could have known how important this little creme brulee booger would become to me??.
He is fascinating,determined, weird, adorable and funny!. (And now that tortoise puberty has hit he is also a bit gross at times).
The trust he shows me blows my mind and my endlessly thankful he came into my life.
Reptiles are hard work, don’t ever be fooled into thinking they’re an easy pet just because they’re quiet.
They need specialist lighting and supliments, specific heating and humidity. I have found myself growing weeds in windowsill pots and worrying about the dangers of pesticides or pollution. Searching tirelessly for the first and last Dandelions of the season. I have had full blown panic attacks over poops…or lack thereof. Sometimes even now if he is sound asleep, basking with his little neck lolling to the side a sudden fear grips me and I have to gently blow on him to see him twitch so I know he’s alive.
And Christ…I haven’t even attempted hibernation yet.
We will see what comes. But I am very thankful I get to see it with Irwin
😭😭🙌🙌 ❤️❤️❤️
We are so happy you and Irwin found each other and so thankful to you for sharing him and your journey with all of us!! Happiest Irwinversary!
Honestly, If I had to pick a post that best captured the reality of caring for a tort, it’s this one. The worry, the struggle, the FEAR that always lingers, the learning, the awe, the joy… it’s every single one of these emotions in a shell made of gratitude and love. It’s not easy. if you think it is you better stick to pictures on the internet. Nope, not easy but man is it rewarding.
Oh, Irwin you found yourself an incredible forever home and a human that would do whatever it takes to make sure you’re happy and healthy.
Take a look at this shell friends. Having a tortoise is a real commitment. You’ll be rewarded in spades for it but you have to be ready to provide the absolute right care for you shell friend or the outcome can be tragic.
@rambosaysso you are an incredible example to all shell parents! And man that little face looking at you … Irwin is thankful too. <3 <3
They capture these poor torts and ship them to stores as adults.. dont support local pet shops
It’s true. I don’t know anything about this shop. There are a few (very few) legit places but in general, they poorly kept, illegally captured and provide people with incredibly poor information on care. Pet shops are not good places. Consider adopting from a rescue or finding a reputable breeder. ALWAYS research ahead of time.
It’s been almost seven years since I got this dork. He was so happy when we took him from a woodchip filled vivarium to a proper table with soil substrate, and he has enriched our lives so much. I got him a dandelion flower for his birthday. Can’t believe he’s turning ten already! They grow up so fast. ;’)
Happy birthday Fitzy!!!
Happy Birthday, Fitzy!!!
I’m so happy you found a forever home with humans willing ti give you the care you need to grow happy and healthy! It’s incredible what a difference proper husbandry makes. Heres to another 10 years!
Piggy was so excited when I found our first dandelions of the spring
She’s pretty dirty… she was taking a snack break from working on her burrow
NO TIME FOR BATH! MUST NOM DANDIE! OMNOMNOMNOMNOM
Piggy is a 10 yo sulcata. She was rescued by my family as a hatchling with shell rot, soft shell, and a severe respiratory infection from extremely poor care and neglect in what was essentially a puppy mill for tortoises. Her underbite was likely caused by these poor conditions and she occasionally needs to be taken to get it filed down, not a fun task with a 60lb monster. She was originally rescued along with one more sulcata tortoise who died from her illnesses shortly after despite the expensive veterinary care and medication.
Sulcata tortoises are unfortunately frequent victims of impulse buys from people who simply think they’re cool and don’t bother to learn proper care for the species. These are the third largest species of tortoise, getting up to around 150lbs. By the time the tortoise reaches 30lbs it’ll need at least a 10x10ft area it can roam, and by the time it’s 60lbs it’ll need a whole yard to roam and a large heated and sheltered shed. They are very expensive to provide proper heating, lighting, and housing for. These are not a species for just anyone and I personally don’t think they should be kept as pets at all by anyone. They can be quite aggressive and are strong enough that even a 60lb tortoise like piggy can walk straight through the average chain link fence like a piece of tissue… this is a tortoise that is only 10 years old. They are thought to have the potential to live well over 100 and they are constantly growing. A sulcata WILL get large and you NEED to have a plan should you die or be otherwise unable to care for the tortoise. If you don’t have someone reliable that is able will gladly care for your tortoise for the rest of their lives, should something happen to you, don’t get one, no matter how capable YOU alone might be. If properly cared for the tortoise WILL outlive you and you WILL need a plan for it.
VERY important response by a committed sulcata owner!
The “I Probably Shouldn’t Own Turtles” Starter Pack
This post is not pretty but it is SO important.
you MUST do research before adopting a turtle or tortoise. Know their housing needs, temperature needs, and proper diet. The majority of ‘care sheets’ handed out at pet stores are completely inaccurate. Those “starter kits” that pet stores sell? They are death sentences for your shell friends. They grow, they grow A LOT. Know how big your shell will grow, make sure you can accommodate their needs for many MANY years and at their biggest potential size. They might be fine for a month or two, but not for long and the outcome is sick, dead and/or disposed of turtles and torts.
A little research, talking with experienced keepers, and you can find the right info for your shell and create a home that works for them and for you, probably for less money than those kits cost and a happy, healthy shell friend is the gift you’ll get every day for a very very long time. If you aren’t willing to do that? You shouldn’t own a turtle or tortoise. End of story.
