Making an Indoor Home for a Terrestrial Turtle or Small Tortoise
You can house your terrestrial turtle or tortoise in a number of ways: glass aquariums, commercially designed reptile cages, home-built wooden enclosures, and plastic swimming pools. However, before you [more…]
Selecting an Aquatic or Semi-Aquatic Turtle
In the wild, aquatic and semi-aquatic turtles live wherever there is a constant source of water, coming out to forage, bask in the sun, or lay eggs. Quick-running rivers, slow, meandering streams, and [more…]
Understanding Turtles and Tortoises
When you think of turtles, do you think of the tiny quarter or half-dollar-sized turtles that used to be sold in pet stores (and in some places still are)? If so, you're not alone. That image is the one [more…]
Getting the Basics about Iguanas
The first thing to know when considering an iguana for a pet is that several different types of related lizards have the word iguana in their name, including the helmeted and casque-headed iguanas [more…]
Reading an Iguana's Body Language
Iguana communication is physical. Their words are formed by the arrangement of their body and body parts (posture), movements (stylized walking, strutting, bobbing), and use of three-dimensional space [more…]
Recognizing Common Iguana Injuries
An iguana can be injured several ways. Sometimes the injury is obvious; sometimes it's not. When the injuries are minor, you can often treat the injury yourself, but knowing whether an injury is minor [more…]
Giving an Iguana a Bath
Unlike mammals and birds, iguanas don't clean or groom themselves. Iguanas in the wild seem to rely on brushing against rough bark and plunging into bodies of water to remove the grime and parasites that [more…]
Feeding Your Pet Amphibian or Reptile
In the wild, reptiles and amphibians (collectively known as herps) tend to be wanderers, moving about during their active time. (Some herps are active at day, some at dawn and/or at dusk, and others during [more…]
Monitoring Your Turtle's or Tortoise's Health
As your turtle's or tortoise's caretaker, you are ultimately responsible for its good health. You aren't able to hear directly from your turtle or tortoise when it is unwell or has been hurt. In fact, [more…]
Choosing a Veterinarian for Your Pet
You and your veterinarian work together to keep your pet healthy, and you want to have a good working relationship. Choosing a reputable veterinarian requires your time and attention. [more…]
Finding a Reptile or Amphibian That's Right for You
You have to use your own judgment in selecting your reptile or amphibian, no matter where you buy it. Choose one with bright eyes, an alert demeanor, and no visible injuries; and if you can see the animal [more…]
Knowing When to Bring Your Amphibian or Reptile to the Vet
Sometimes, being a herp owner seems to require more knowledge upfront than you might have. You can discover a lot, however, about what to expect from your herp by watching him as he feeds, sleeps, moves [more…]
Getting Acquainted with Amphibians
Collectively, reptiles and amphibians are referred to as herps. That term comes from the Greek word herpes,which literally means crawling things. The term is applied equally to reptiles and amphibians. [more…]
Words Related to Your Pet Turtle or Tortoise
Turtles and tortoises are not your run-of-the-mill pets, and if you choose to add a chelonian (a turtle or tortoise) to your family, you may want to broaden your vocabulary beyond what you need when talking [more…]
Records to Keep on Your Turtle or Tortoise
Keeping records on your turtle or tortoise is a necessity. Do you remember exactly when you bought your pet? When were those eggs laid? In addition, with so many species protected by law, you need to be [more…]
Turtles and Tortoises For Dummies Cheat Sheet
Your shelled pet may not have the warm fuzzies of more ordinary choices, but turtles and tortoises definitely have a cool factor that mammals can’t touch. As the owner of a turtle or tortoise, you enter [more…]
