For the most part, tortoises are undemanding pets. They don’t require daily walks like a dog does or need their keeper to monitor complicated water chemistry values like many fish do. But that doesn’t mean you can just bring home […]
Most tortoises are clad in colours that either help them avoid detection by predators or thermoregulate more effectively. For example, leopard tortoises (Stigmochelys pardalis) have very intricate markings, which make it easy for the animals to blend in with the
Unusual geographic locations tend to produce unusual animals. And this is especially true of islands. Take Madagascar, for example. The world’s fourth-largest island, it is home to a litany of spectacular animals, ranging from colorful panther chameleons (Furcifer pardalis) to
The Galapagos Island archipelago is made up of several different islands, with each exhibiting subtle differences that have shaped the evolution of the plants and animals living on them. This has led to several species – including, most notably, Galapagos
There are several tortoise species and subspecies in the world that exist in large numbers, and many of these are common in the pet trade. For example, Russian (Testudo horsfieldii) and red-footed tortoises (Chelonoidis carbonarius) are both common in the
One of the largest tortoises on earth, Aldabra tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) are some of the most awe-inspiring animals alive today. Stars of zoos, television shows, and wildlife preserves, these animals capture the imagination of all who see them. Some people
Though they’ve long been popular, Hermann’s tortoises (Testudo hermanni) have become even more celebrated among tortoise keepers in recent years. There are a variety of reasons these tortoises have started attracting so much attention, including their endearing personalities and attractive
Hermann’s tortoises (Testudo hermanni) are endearing animals, who’ve become quite popular with reptile keepers over the last several decades. But it is important for prospective keepers to note that there are two subspecies of the Hermann’s tortoise – the eastern
While there are nearly 50 different tortoise species in the world, beginning tortoise enthusiasts often find themselves choosing from a relatively small subset of this total. After all, some tortoises – such as Aldabra tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) – simply grow
Substrate selection is a pretty important consideration for tortoise keepers. After all, your animal will spend almost all of his time walking and sleeping on it – he’ll likely even burrow down into the substrate from time to time. So,
