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Southwestern Center for Herpetological Research

Tortoises - General

Archive (read-only): Viewing posts from 2003.
Photo courtesy of stephielynn
Photo courtesy of stephielynn

Tortoises are land-dwelling reptiles of the order of turtles (Testudines) and are shielded from predators by a shell. The top part of the shell is the carapace, the underside is the plastron, and the two are connected by the bridge. The tortoise has both an endoskeleton and an exoskeleton. Tortoises can vary in size from a few centimeters to two meters. Tortoises are usually diurnal animals with tendencies to be crepuscular depending on the ambient temperatures. They are generally reclusive animals. Most land based tortoises are herbivores, feeding on grazing grasses, weeds, leafy greens, flowers, and some fruits although there are some omnivorous species in this family. Certain species consume worms or insects and carrion in their normal habitat. Here you may post messages or questions pertaining to all aspects and issues regarding the keeping, breeding, health, and conservation of species and subspecies of Tortoises.
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Articles of interest:
The Desert Tortoise
Fire Safety
Finding a Good Herp Veterinarian
Preventing Transmission of Salmonella

Topic Replies Last Post
What is a good begginer-mid tortoise??
by jack7777766 - Jun 26, 2003 02:32 PM
12 Jun 28, 2003 03:39 PM
by EJ
is this piramiding on my radiated?
by wewantpeace2003 - Jun 26, 2003 12:46 PM
2 Jun 26, 2003 01:36 PM
by wewantpeace2003
need information on how to keep spider tortoise.
by wewantpeace2003 - Jun 26, 2003 12:23 PM
1 Jun 27, 2003 10:03 PM
by Danp
3 Jun 26, 2003 07:03 PM
by Niki
Red Foot Bedding
by DaGeckoGuy - Jun 25, 2003 07:43 PM
1 Jun 26, 2003 05:57 AM
by johlum
new to forum
by redfootguy - Jun 25, 2003 07:39 PM
1 Jul 04, 2003 10:13 AM
by geckoman2003
? about Hingeback and Russian living together
by Linda G - Jun 25, 2003 08:26 AM
6 Jun 25, 2003 09:49 PM
by KBuehler
Sulcatta's
by arboreals - Jun 24, 2003 11:09 PM
6 Jun 27, 2003 01:21 PM
by Niki
New baby!
by Michele2u - Jun 24, 2003 09:11 PM
0 No replies
Eastern/Western Hermann's ?
by prettykitty - Jun 24, 2003 08:22 PM
0 No replies
What species is this?
by Azooinaz - Jun 24, 2003 04:00 PM
4 Jun 27, 2003 11:11 AM
by geckoman2003
When are toenails too long?
by rudedogsurfrat - Jun 24, 2003 12:41 PM
0 No replies
Red Foot Torts.... dont yell at me
by Dageckoguy - Jun 24, 2003 08:19 AM
2 Jun 24, 2003 08:19 PM
by DaGeckoGuy
0 No replies
Alfalfa Pellets vs Timothy Pellets bedding
by benA - Jun 23, 2003 05:40 PM
4 Jun 24, 2003 08:05 PM
by Niki
Hemp bedding??????
by buckroebeardie - Jun 23, 2003 04:52 PM
5 Jun 25, 2003 09:01 PM
by buckroebeardie
2 Jun 23, 2003 11:18 PM
by JHMG
Is $20k too much for an Albino Indian Star?
by onlinepets - Jun 23, 2003 04:38 PM
4 Jun 24, 2003 04:19 AM
by tortsofturtles
Question re: Grasses & fertilizers
by herbie - Jun 23, 2003 02:20 PM
1 Jun 24, 2003 07:56 PM
by Niki
Elephant Grass?
by krim5 - Jun 22, 2003 07:37 PM
0 No replies
breeding stars
by richw - Jun 22, 2003 12:11 PM
1 Jun 23, 2003 04:28 PM
by onlinepets
Leopard Tortoise sex determination help please...
by paulina - Jun 22, 2003 10:45 AM
4 Jun 25, 2003 06:17 PM
by Kenny
Golden Greek respiratory, NEED HELP!
by c&f - Jun 22, 2003 10:41 AM
9 Jun 23, 2003 03:38 PM
by c&f
Grasses for a sulcata
by Slizarus - Jun 22, 2003 01:27 AM
3 Jun 24, 2003 02:02 AM
by Slizarus
Parrot Beaks?
by will a. - Jun 21, 2003 08:53 PM
0 No replies
My Redfoots eyes look teary.......Whats wrong?
by Shorty333 - Jun 21, 2003 02:24 PM
4 Jun 22, 2003 12:01 PM
by Shorty333
Tortoise/Turtle Law in Tennessee?
by addictedtoherps - Jun 20, 2003 05:41 PM
1 Jul 07, 2003 07:16 PM
by fatjayhawk
I need help--> How to issue CBW
by lullerby - Jun 20, 2003 02:32 PM
1 Jun 22, 2003 08:40 AM
by cwilder
I want a tortoise but I dont know what kind to get
by Shorty333 - Jun 20, 2003 12:58 PM
2 Jun 20, 2003 06:44 PM
by turtlemh
Sulcata
by cheappop77 - Jun 19, 2003 04:56 PM
2 Jul 05, 2003 09:16 PM
by menagerie
tortoises foaming at the mouth
by paulina - Jun 19, 2003 04:23 PM
3 Jun 20, 2003 06:02 PM
by katieb
NEW Sulcata - Questions! Sorry, long.
by sam_p - Jun 19, 2003 01:02 PM
3 Jun 20, 2003 09:30 AM
by sam_p
New to sulcata tortoise need help!
by ladysurvivor - Jun 19, 2003 11:39 AM
2 Jul 05, 2003 09:23 PM
by menagerie
wrong picture sorry
by leopard771 - Jun 19, 2003 05:08 AM
0 No replies
diffreent picture of my star
by leopard771 - Jun 19, 2003 05:06 AM
2 Jun 19, 2003 10:50 PM
by buckroebeardie
my group of c/b stars
by leopard771 - Jun 19, 2003 05:05 AM
1 Jun 20, 2003 08:35 PM
by johlum
Chronic runny nose syndrome????????????
by will a. - Jun 18, 2003 07:30 PM
8 Jun 19, 2003 09:20 AM
by will a.
Has anyone hatched Golden Greeks yet?
by LI Reptiles - Jun 18, 2003 02:29 PM
0 No replies
regular v. albino reptiles
by nikih - Jun 18, 2003 09:15 AM
0 No replies
Silly Sulcata
by Pamela - Jun 18, 2003 01:15 AM
1 Jun 18, 2003 12:29 PM
by Niki
Strange Yellowfoot
by Ophidiophile - Jun 17, 2003 10:19 PM
3 Jun 18, 2003 12:12 PM
by Ophidiophile
CB Russians?
by Nicodemus - Jun 17, 2003 01:22 PM
3 Jun 18, 2003 11:20 AM
by Jody
yellow/red foot torts
by johnslighthouse - Jun 17, 2003 09:59 AM
0 No replies
My Little Female
by bast - Jun 17, 2003 06:23 AM
7 Jun 17, 2003 05:10 PM
by mayday
Little Miss Piggy
by adiajsl - Jun 17, 2003 02:28 AM
6 Jun 18, 2003 06:09 PM
by adiajsl
Yellowfoot Questions
by bjc323 - Jun 16, 2003 11:09 PM
3 Jun 17, 2003 02:53 PM
by kyleontheweb
I still need to know!
by geckoman2003 - Jun 16, 2003 07:53 PM
7 Jun 18, 2003 12:23 PM
by cagrlalwys
star tortoise
by richw - Jun 16, 2003 05:22 PM
0 No replies
2 Jun 16, 2003 04:37 PM
by mayday
should i get a egyptian or a spider tortoise?need help fast.
by wewantpeace2003 - Jun 16, 2003 12:28 PM
4 Jun 17, 2003 03:44 PM
by johlum
Abandoned marginated turtle.
by burunx - Jun 16, 2003 10:10 AM
1 Jun 16, 2003 12:21 PM
by crocker
Are banana leaves safe to feed torts?n/p
by pfan151 - Jun 16, 2003 09:59 AM
1 Jun 16, 2003 04:36 PM
by mayday
i havent he grown
by zash - Jun 16, 2003 09:23 AM
5 Jun 17, 2003 07:04 PM
by Niki
Golden Pothos
by crocker - Jun 15, 2003 09:58 PM
2 Jun 16, 2003 03:40 PM
by teepee
Worming
by bast - Jun 15, 2003 08:58 PM
0 No replies
female star showing signs of respiratory problems
by trimtrig - Jun 15, 2003 08:20 PM
8 Jun 16, 2003 07:32 PM
by trimtrig
Can I get an opinion on sex of this Tortoise?
by Ophidiophile - Jun 15, 2003 08:36 AM
9 Jun 15, 2003 11:47 PM
by Brian-SFCRC
just got a russian tortoise
by carrotfairy - Jun 15, 2003 12:36 AM
1 Jun 15, 2003 11:14 AM
by Country-girl3
CITES interstate shipping - specifically Marginateds
by ballshaun - Jun 14, 2003 11:35 PM
1 Jun 15, 2003 09:07 AM
by EJ
How do you tell if a tortois is gravid?
by geckoman2003 - Jun 14, 2003 11:11 PM
0 No replies
Spur-Thigh Tortise ?
by Breaker4show - Jun 14, 2003 08:21 PM
4 Jun 17, 2003 06:47 PM
by Niki
Question about red foot tortoises
by Crocker - Jun 14, 2003 08:05 PM
2 Jun 16, 2003 02:50 PM
by johlum
Question about red foot tortoises
by Crocker - Jun 14, 2003 07:46 PM
1 Jun 14, 2003 08:29 PM
by gabycher
1 Jun 16, 2003 07:26 PM
by johlum
Anyone know of a........
by Tim Madsen - Jun 14, 2003 01:29 PM
6 Jun 16, 2003 02:02 PM
by mayday
0 No replies
Is a hybrid leopard/sulcata possible?
by rudedogsurfrat - Jun 13, 2003 11:12 PM
3 Jun 15, 2003 10:03 AM
by EJ
Plant Hardiness Zone Maps
by bast - Jun 13, 2003 09:28 AM
4 Jun 13, 2003 03:18 PM
by Niki
My Russian Tortoise Pen
by bast - Jun 13, 2003 09:14 AM
6 Jun 14, 2003 03:48 PM
by buckroebeardie
looking for Merri in AZ
by CraigStanford - Jun 12, 2003 11:54 PM
0 No replies
my yearling redfoot is not growing
by contemplate - Jun 12, 2003 09:10 PM
2 Jun 17, 2003 04:16 PM
by Linda G
Leopard Tortoise sex determination
by paulina - Jun 12, 2003 04:05 PM
1 Jun 15, 2003 01:00 AM
by rudedogsurfrat
Growing
by btc1.2 - Jun 12, 2003 03:22 PM
11 Jun 14, 2003 11:22 AM
by btc1.2
Lets see some pics!!!
by gidyen39 - Jun 12, 2003 12:53 AM
18 Jun 14, 2003 10:56 AM
by piglet
Happy ending but need info on shipping!!!
by daisy88 - Jun 11, 2003 11:28 AM
4 Jun 12, 2003 12:42 PM
by nathana
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