Turtles and Tortoises For DummiesCoexisting with a turtle or tortoise may not be a warm and fuzzy experience, but it definitely has its rewards. And with more than 250 species to choose from, you’re bound to find one that’s right for you. Looks-wise, they can range from very plain and unadorned to a brightly colored and embellished with every manner of crest, crown, spike, and dewlap. As for personality, you’d be amazed at how very different they can be, ranging from shy and withdrawn, to outgoing and friendly, to outright aggressive. And when it comes to longevity, well, let’s just say that when you commit to a turtle or tortoise, you’re in it for the long haul. For example, the standard American box turtle can live more than 125 years, a leopard tortoise has a life span of up to 100 years, and an aldabran tortoise can live to be more than 200 years old! This fun guide will help you choose the perfect turtle or tortoise for your lifestyle and give it the care it needs to thrive. Turtle and tortoise expert Liz Palika provides cl ear, step-by-step instructions on how to:
Generously illustrated with line drawings and high-quality photographs, Turtles & Tortoises For Dummies covers all the bases. Topics covered include:
Turtles & Tortoises For Dummies is your fun guide to selecting, caring for, and sharing your life with a chelonian. |
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80 percent humidity adult animals aquarium aquatic turtles basking area Box Turtle Terrapene cage or enclosure Captive environment captive-bred carapace carnivorous Chapter chelonians clean color commercial turtle food desert tortoises difficult dry dog food earthworms eastern box turtle eggs are laid errapene carolina feed females filter filtration system find fine first flowers fruits Geochelone or Chelonoidis Geochelone sulcata Geographical origin gopher tortoise habitat Hatchlings heat heater herbivore hibernate hiding places inches in length insects keep laid per clutch leopard tortoise live male mealworms Native habitat nutrition omnivorous outdoor enclosure pancake tortoise pet store pet’s plastic plastron Red-footed tortoise reptiles Russian tortoises salmonella scutes semi-aquatic turtles skin snails soaked dry dog species specific star tortoise sure tank temperature terrarium terrestrial turtles thicker tails tortoise Geochelone tortoise Gopherus tortoises need turtle Clemmys turtle or tortoise turtle’s or tortoise’s turtles and tortoises vegetables veterinarian vitamin wild wood turtle