While wild and captive tortoises are susceptible to developing bladder stones (also known as uroliths), they’re most commonly seen in tortoises living in captivity. When tortoises urinate, they produce a […]
Health
How To Prevent Pyramiding in Tortoises [Unnatural Scute Growth]
Tortoises are susceptible to shell problems, especially during their formative years. Shell pyramiding occurs due to dietary, sunlight, substrate, or humidity oversights. Unfortunately, pyramiding can’t be reversed, but you can […]
How To Tell If A Tortoise Is Dead or Hibernating
Tortoises don’t technically hibernate; they brumate. A tortoise will reduce its activity to almost zero, hold still, and avoid eating. It’ll still wake up at times for water, but any […]
Do Tortoises Need Direct Sunlight?
As cold-blooded reptiles, tortoises rely on external heat to regulate their internal temperatures. This usually comes from exposure to direct sunlight. Tortoises rely on UVB rays, basking for hours at […]
Can Tortoises Get Heatstroke?
Unlike turtles, tortoises cope better in hot climates. The desert tortoise is native to the Mojave and Sonoran deserts, where rainfall is limited and scorching heats are frequent. Even still, […]
Can A Tortoise Be Overweight?
Weight gain or obesity occurs when a tortoise is fed too much food too frequently. It can also occur when the tortoise is inactive and doesn’t burn enough calories each […]
Why Did My Tortoise Vomit? [12 Common Causes]
Vomiting is the body’s way of forcibly ejecting harmful foods and substances from the stomach. Unfortunately, this process can be dangerous for tortoises, leading to dehydration. Also, if the tortoise […]
17 Warning Signs of An Unhealthy Russian Tortoise
Russian tortoises are small with a remarkably long life span, averaging 50 years. However, they’re prone to certain illnesses, which can be fatal if left untreated. Tortoises don’t always show […]
Do Female Tortoises Have Periods?
Knowing when your female tortoise is mature is important if you want her to lay fertile eggs. Due to the lack of sexual dysmorphism, it can be difficult to identify […]