Popcorn’s Close Call: Why We Say “No” to Burrows
Last night, I noticed Popcorn, our 125lb sulcata, hadn’t eaten his breakfast. That is a major red flag. When I checked his 12-foot house, he was almost invisible, buried deep below the dirt level. I was terrified he was digging a tunnel or, worse, was upside down and suffocation.
Hibernation and Brumation: The Winter Slowdown
When the weather turns, you’ll see your turtles and tortoises slowing down. This is natural. Even our residents in the Malibu sanctuary and pond start feeling sleepy.
The Desert Tortoise Masterclass: The 75/15/5 Diet
Desert tortoises have very specific needs, and it all starts with the sun. They must live outside. UVA promotes appetite and normal behavior, while UVB is the only way they can synthesize Vitamin D3 to process calcium.
Two-Legged and Four-Legged Predators: Protecting Your Sanctuary
Ensuring a safe enclosure is the most important job of a turtle parent. We’ve seen firsthand how heartbreaking a breach can be. Years ago, we lost seven turtles in one night because raccoons climbed a 6-foot fence to get into our pond.
Meet Evil: The Russian Tortoise and the Reality of “Small” Pets
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when you mix a tortoise with a mischievous sense of humor and a bulldozer’s attitude, let me introduce you to Evil, the resident comedian of American Tortoise Rescue. Evil is a Russian tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii), and he is proof that “small” does not mean “subtle.”
Ask Susan Anything: Russian Tortoise Care, “Friends,” & Vitamin D
We have a Russian tortoise named Ivan. We’ve had him since 2008, and he’s moved with us from Texas to Alaska and Arizona. We take great care of him, but does he need a companion? Does he need to hibernate? Sometimes I feel like he would be better off at a sanctuary than in captivity at our house.
Debunking the Top 10 Turtle Myths
At American Tortoise Rescue, we’ve seen it all. Over the decades, we’ve rescued thousands of animals that were the victims of simple misinformation. People often get a turtle because they think they are “low-maintenance” or “starter pets.” False. To save lives, we have to bust these myths wide open. If you are thinking about bringing a turtle into your life, or if you already have one, read this carefully.
Fire and Ice: The Cinderblock Rules for Sulcata Housing
Sulcatas come from the Sahel—the hottest, driest area in Africa. Some regions there don’t see rain for years. Because of this, their skin is resistant to fluid loss, but they are incredibly sensitive to dampness. In captivity, they cannot be allowed to get both chilled and wet.
Sulcata Nutrition
African Spurred Tortoises (Sulcatas) are massive, voracious eaters—I often call them the “vacuums” of the sub-Sahara. In their native Sahel, food is scarce and very high in fiber. In captivity, however, we have a tendency to “kill them with kindness” by overfeeding the wrong things.
