Tortoise shells consist of hard scales or scutes that look like segmented sections, and their function is to protect the bones inside the shell. You may also hear scutes called […]
Health
Can A Tortoise Pass A Bladder Stone or Does It Need Surgery?
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 […]
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 the wrong diet, sunlight, substrate, or humidity. Unfortunately, pyramiding can’t be reversed, but you […]
How To Tell If A Tortoise Is Dead or Hibernating
Tortoises brumate, which is different from hibernation. Some tortoise species never brumate, like the leopard tortoise, African spurred tortoise, red foot tortoise, and hingeback tortoise. A brumating tortoise will reduce […]
Do Tortoises Need Direct Sunlight?
As cold-blooded reptiles, tortoises rely on external heat to regulate their internal temperature. This usually comes from exposure to direct sunlight. Tortoises rely on UVB rays, basking for many hours […]
Can Tortoises Get Heatstroke?
Unlike turtles, tortoises cope better in hot climates. The desert tortoise is native to the Mojave and Sonoran deserts, with limited rainfall and frequent scorching heat. Even so, tortoises can […]