Tortoise Anatomy
Feeding and Diet
General Questions
Habitat and Burrow Questions
Tortoise Care
Tortoise Group Services
The Law and the Tortoise

Tortoise Anatomy

1. Can tortoises hear?
Yes. Very well. Their ears are covered by skin flaps.

2. Can tortoises smell?
Yes. Very well.

3. Can tortoises see color?
Yes. Very well. It's their ability to see color that allows them to find bright flowers and blossoms. Their depth perception is not very good.

4. Do tortoises bite?
No. They are not aggressive. If you are holding a tasty morsel, they may overreach and accidentally bite your finger. Be sure you have a long piece to offer.

5. What is that thing coming out of my tortoise's rear?
It's a penis. Sometimes the male displays briefly. Not to worry. He will retract the penis soon.

6. My tortoise's pee had white clay stuff in it
Normal. It's urate salts. Part is fluid and the white may even be crystalline. It's good that it's flushing out. Check Figure 20 in the booklet

Feeding and Diet

7. Is it okay to give my tortoise dog or cat food?
No. tortoises are herbivorous-they eat vegetables and no meat. Dog and cat food is made for carnivores (meat eaters). That food does not contain the proper amounts of fat, carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins and minerals for tortoises. A complete, balanced diet can be found in MegaDiet and forage.

8. Where can I get plants for my tortoise?
Information Sheet #21

9. My tortoise loves cantaloupe and strawberries. I give them to her along with the lettuce.
Fruits and lettuce are not healthy for a tortoise. It needs a good base in a tortoise chow and plenty of grasses and plants for browsing.

10. My little tortoise's shell is soft. What should I do?
Take it to a vet. You'll probably need to change its diet.

11. I am giving my tortoise fresh spinach. Is that OK?
No. Spinach contains a lot of oxalates the bind the calcium. Fast-growing hatchlings (and all tortoises) need lots of calcium.

12. Where can I buy MegaDiet?
At TG meetings and from Satellite Sellers (see website or newsletter)

13. What should I feed my tortoise?
A good tortoise chow and lots of grasses and native plants. No lettuce or fruits.

General Questions

14. How old is the tortoise?
Tortoises probably evolved from aquatic pond turtles of the family Emydidae. Tortoise lineage began about 65 million years ago in tropical forests. The earliest known Gopherus fossils (G. laticunea and G. praextons) are from 45 million years ago, in rocks of the White River Formation in Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, and South Dakota

15. How do you pronounce gopherus agassizii?
go-FER-uhs ag-uh-SEE-zee-eye.

16. What's the difference between a turtle and a tortoise?
They are all turtles. The one that walks on land is called a tortoise, and turtles swim in water.

17. How big do tortoises get?
Males are usually bigger than females. They can be a long a 12-15 inches and weight 15 or more pounds. They keep growing a little all their lives.

18. How long do tortoises live?
80-100 years

Habitat and Burrow Questions

19. How do I to build a burrow aboveground?
Refer to Information Sheet #10

20. Will a tortoise eat fake grass?
We hear that tortoises try fake grass. Soon they will find it not worthwhile (we hope). If you don't have it already, don't put it in.

21. My male tortoise keeps bothering my female. What can I do?
Please separate the sexes to avoid breeding. She will be very stressed and may become ill under those conditions. Please avoid breeding.

22. I just got two hatchlings. Now what?
Read about hatchlings in our care pamphlet, page 21 Prepare an outdoor habitat for them. In the meantime, you can keep them indoors temporarily in something not slippery that has a small "burrow" and water. Have a place to take them outside where they can go in and out of the sunlight as needed. Call TG to help.

23. I am using a dog igloo for a burrow. Is that okay?
No. A burrow needs to be snug with no air circulation with plenty of soil for insulation.

24. I have 2 inches of dirt on the board over cement blocks. Is that enough insulation?
No. You need at least 1 foot of earth on an aboveground burrow.

Tortoise Care

25. Where can I find answers to care questions?
In the Care Booklet. By calling the Hotline, or the Information Sheets

26. I need a vet for my pet tortoise.
Look for one on Information Sheet #24 on the website

27. We're going to do some traveling. What should we do with the tortoise?
Leave it at home. Have someone come by every few days to check to give it food. It will be fine if it has learned to browse and not always be dependent on you for food.

28. What temperature should the water be for soaking my tortoise?
Luke warm, in a pan large enough to sit in, and not deeper than the tortoise can easily lift the head out.

29. My tortoise isn't going into the burrow at night this spring.
That's okay. The burrow is still colder than the outside air. He probably is sleeping under a little cover.

30. My tortoise is sleeping outside at night this summer.
That's normal. The nighttime air is cooler than the inside of the burrow.

31. Is my 2-year old tortoise big enough to live outside now?
Your tortoise MUST live outside. It shell and organs will not develop properly inside.

32. Is it okay if my bunnies share the tortoise burrow?
Yes, as long as your tortoise has free access and the bunnies don't take up the best places.

33. It's raining and my burrow is flooding!
Quick dig it up. Call us to advise you on building a new one.

34. It's late July, very hot, and I'm worried because I haven't seen my tortoise is days.
Your tortoise is probably waiting out the heat in the relative cool of the burrow (a period of estivation). If it's a long hot spell, he may stay in the entire time. Look for him as soon as the weather cools.

35. I just pulled my tortoise out of the pool and I'm afraid she's dead.
Don't give up hope! First, hold the tortoise upside-down, open the mouth, and press on the flanks. Next try mouth to now resuscitation. Detailed instructions in Information Sheet #25

36. I see bubbles coming out of my tortoise's nose. What's that?
Your tortoise is probably sick with Upper Respiratory Tract Disease. It needs to visit the vet- Information Sheet #24

37. How do I mark my tortoise so I don't lose it?
Refer to Information Sheet #5

Tortoise Group Services

38. Will someone from TG come speak to our club?
Sure. Call the Hotline: 702-739-7113

39. My tortoise isn't out yet and I'm worried
We'll come with the Snooper that will look deep onto the burrow with its video camera. There is a small fee, less for members.

40. How can I adopt a tortoise?
First, please read pages 4-10 in our care booklet Desert Tortoises: Adoption and Care to see if a tortoise is the right pet for you. Then call Tortoise Group at 702-739-7113 to arrange for an Adoption Committee visit to talk about creating a tortoise habitat in your yard BEFORE you make any changes. Only one tortoise is allowed per habitat-a male, to avoid the possibility of breeding. Only Tortoise Group is authorized by the US Fish & Wildlife Service to perform desert tortoise adoptions in Nevada.

41. Can I adopt a tortoise if I have a dog?
Sure. If you can control your dog, it makes a good companion.

42. We have a pool, but we're going to fence it. Can we adopt?
Yes. As long as the tortoise does not have access to hazards.

43. I have been given a desert tortoise. Now what do I do?
Read our care booklet. Then all us for a Yard Consultation. In the meantime, make a temporary place for the tortoise to get out of the sun, provide water, and get some MegaDiet.

44. I want to adopt a second tortoise. I think mine is lonely.
Adoption regulations permit only one tortoise per habitat to avoid the huge problem of tortoise breeding in southern Nevada. Tortoises are loners and do not need the company of another tortoise. As you know, they enjoy sniffing around in the habitat, and they love your company and that of your pets.

45. I'm afraid to have Tortoise Group come to my house if I call for advice. They might not like my habitat, and I've heard that they could take my tortoise. Is it true?
Absolutely not. There is no reason to be afraid to call Tortoise Group. We want your tortoise to stay right where it is. We'll make suggestions on creating a wonderful, safe habitat for your tortoise. Call 702-739-7113 for a yard consultation.

The Law and the Tortoise

46. Stay tuned for new answers to Giving Up a Tortoise and Picking Up Wandering Tortoises

47. How do I treat a wild tortoise?
It is illegal to touch, disturb, harass, harm, poach, or bother a tortoise in any way. Leave a wild tortoise alone.

48. Can I pick up shells or other tortoise parts in the desert?
It is illegal to collect tortoise remains.

49. What do I do if I see a wild tortoise about to be harmed, like on a road?
If it is safe for you to stop, approach the tortoise from the front, pick it up, hold it level, and move it several yards beyond the side of the road or inside any fencing in the direction the tortoise was heading.

50. I've been told that it's illegal for me to have a tortoise. Is that true?
No. It is legal for you to be a tortoise custodian.

51. If the desert tortoise is listed as a threatened species at both the federal and state levels, how can it be available for adoption?
When the Mojave Desert population of the desert tortoise was listed in August 1989, the wild tortoise populations received protection under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (amended). Those tortoises legally held in captivity prior to the listing date were considered pre-Act tortoises, and are not protected under the Act. However, tortoises hatched in captivity after the listing date are protected under the Act. They may be maintained in captivity without a federal or state permit. Tortoises may be adopted, but only through Tortoise Group.

52. I am moving out of Nevada. May I take my tortoise?
No. The tortoise must remain in Nevada.

53. I am moving to northern Nevada. May I take my tortoise?
Yes. This is legal but you should contact the RENO TUR-TOISE CLUB (775) 972-0904 for information on the special care needed for tortoises kept in northern Nevada--outside the natural range of tortoises.

54. If I see a wild tortoise in the desert what may I do and what shouldn't I do?
Watch wild tortoises from a distance. If you are too close, the tortoise will pull in and there will be nothing to watch. Do not touch.

55. Where do I report a violation to a wild tortoise?
Call the Wild Desert Tortoise Assistance Line at 593-9027.

TG 03/12