Stomatitis, commonly known as ‘mouth rot’, is a common condition caused when pathogens such as bacteria, fungi or viruses get into an open sore in the mouth and cause infection in the oral tissues. This unpleasant condition is most common in […]
When discussing the size of different tortoises, most people refer to straight-line shell length. This makes sense, as a tortoise’s length is generally the metric by which enclosure size is determined. It’s also easy for many people to estimate length.
Buying your first pet tortoise is certainly an exciting endeavor. However, you’ll need a variety of supplies to ensure your new pet remains healthy and enjoys a high quality of life. In this article, I’ll be explaining some of the
There are a variety of tortoise husbandry tasks that you can schedule whenever you like. For example, you should replace your tortoise’s full spectrum lights every six months or so, but it doesn’t matter what month of the year you
To properly care for a tortoise, you must provide a habitat and care regimen that mimics several of the environmental parameters your pet would experience in the wild. For example, you’ll need to provide your tortoise with appropriate temperatures, a
When you’re new to keeping tortoises, you quickly learn that monitoring your pet’s bathroom habits is part of responsible care. Your tortoise’s poop tells you a lot about their overall health, and knowing what unhealthy tortoise poop looks like can
Knowing which tortoise safe plants you can use in your enclosure is absolutely essential, yet it’s one of the most overlooked aspects of tortoise care. Live plants are a vital part of any tortoise’s natural habitat, and the more you
Tortoises are very prone to conjunctivitis, or the swelling of the eyelids. Many cases of conjunctivitis are caused by bacterial infections and need prompt diagnosis and treatment to get better. In this article, I cover the most common tortoise eye
As much as we love them, tortoises aren’t exactly brimming with energy. But that doesn’t mean a tortoise’s life should be boring! There are many activities and supplies you can use to enrich your tortoise’s day-to-day routine. The right enrichment
Tortoises are famous for living long lives. For example, a Seychelles tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea hololissa) named Jonathan lived for an estimated 191 years, and there is no shortage of anecdotal accounts of other, much older, chelonians. And this often means
