SDturtle Care Sheets

Care Sheets...

FOR ANSWERS ABOUT ANIMAL CARE
On this page are links to (view/print/download) our PDF turtle and tortoise care sheets. The care sheets are very detailed and contain practical advice from our experienced Care Coordinators. Take the time read through them and you will find many useful answers - maybe to questions you did not know you had!

Common Turtles and Tortoises...

WATER TURTLES A water turtle may venture away from its pond for some "sun and fun." But it still needs to be submerged a majority of the time to survive. Identify a water turtle by large webbed back feet. Water turtles must have water to swim in or their shells and skin will dry out. Care sheets:
SDTTS Outdoor Water Turtle Care Sheet (Ponds)
SDTTS Water Turtle Care Sheet (Indoor Aquariums)
FDA Salmonella Warning for Turtle Owners

LAND TURTLES OR TERRAPINS Land turtles include "box" turtles, because their shells are higher than other turtles, looking more like a WWII infantry helmet. This is typical of land turtles. They have back feet that may be slightly webbed, but not flat bottomed feet as a tortoise or as broad "paddle" feet like a water turtle. Land turtles do not have to live in ponds to survive, but should always have a shallow dish of water to soak in. Care sheets: SDTTS Box Turtle Care Sheet

SMALL TORTOISES - Tortoises are more land based than turtles. Adult tortoises are usually larger than turtles (but not so for juveniles.) But there are smaller viarieties of tortoises. Identify tortoises by their thick, stalky back legs that are shaped similar to a elephant's. Many tortoises have spiny scales on their front legs to help them burrow in the earth. Some favorite small tortoises include:
SDTTS Red Footed Tortoise Care Sheet
SDTTS Hermanns Tortoise Care Sheet
SDTTS Russian Tortoise Care Sheet
SDTTS Easy-to-Build Small Tortoise House Plans

LEOPARD TORTOISES

DESERT TORTOISES from the North American southwest are medium size tortoises and they have adapted to living in dry, arid climates. Endangered, and protected
by law, these interesting creatures should not be handled or disturbed in the wild. But numerous ones have reached civilization and you can get
California permits to legally care for those. Care sheets:
SDTTS Desert Tortoise Care Sheet
SDTTS Special San Diego Care Sheet - Desert Tortoise
About Bladder Stones In Tortoises
How to Obtain California Desert Tortoise Permits

AFRICAN SULCATA TORTOISES are the gentle giants you often see on display. Only the giant tortoises of the Galapagos and Aldabra Islands exceed the Sulcata in size. The adorable little hatchling that fits in the palm of your hand at the pet store, can in five short years weigh more than 50 pounds and when fully grown can weigh from 140 to 200 pounds. But these tortoises, when well cared for, can live for over 100 years. Care sheet: SDTTS African Sulcata Tortoise Care Sheet

More Information...

AZGFD Desert Tortoise Conservation Poster

AZGFD Native Plants for Desert Tortoises

Mohave Desert Conservation Brochure

Western Pond Turtles Brochure

Local Animal Control Agencies

Michigan Humane Society Disaster Planning Tool

Reasons to NOT release Turtles into the wild

SDTTS AVID Identification Microchips FAQs

SDTTS Good And Bad Garden Plants

SDTTS Hibernation FAQs

SDTTS Hibernation Warning

SDTTS The Importance Of Sunlight

FOR ADDITIONAL HELP - CONTACT US
We are an all volunteer organization with no paid staff. Please be patient.
The best way to contact us is by email. Include your (1) name,(2) phone number, and (3) the area of San Diego County where you are. Send your email to...

QUESTIONS ABOUT ANIMAL CARE We have turtle and tortoise care experts that can help you find the answers you need. Email: info@sdturtle.org

ADOPTION REQUESTS Go to our adoptions page, and follow the four-steps-to-adopt listed there. Then if you have questions: adoptions@sdturtle.org

LOST AND FOUND TURTLES If you are reporting a found turtle or tortoise, or want us to keep an eye out for a lost turtle, contact: lostandfound@sdturtle.org or rescues@sdturtle.org