Recent content by ellen

A Dr. of zoology with 30+ years of exp. in herpetology told me I'm doing a great job raising my tortoises today.

I'm sorry I so deeply offended you. I understand you are very passionate about sulcatas, but you're wasting your time (and mine) by attacking me like that. Please calm down and don't use caps at me. I joined this forum for information and fun. Having people attack me online is decidedly UN-fun...

Tucson Herpetological Society 7:15 PM, April 13, 2016 Tucson City Council Ward 3, 1520 E. Grant Rd I hope to see you guys there! :D

Sulcatas are still technically a "desert" tortoise so you aren't wrong in my opinion. ;) He's just from a different desert... lol

Sorry for double posting but I have some updates. I went to the herp collection and sadly no one was around to let me in. Drats! However, one of my professors offered to introduce me to him. We're going to meet to talk next week. I'm going to finish reading the article in ZooKeys and one that...

It's so exciting! I attend the University of Arizona! I really want to meet this guy and I am planning on raiding the herp collection to see if we have a specimen. If we do I'll be sure to post pics.

https://uanews.arizona.edu/story/ua-researcher-discovers-new-species-of-tortoise "In the hot, humid climate of Sinaloa, Mexico, there is a place where the landscape shifts dramatically. Dense, nestled and inevitably thorny Thornscrub of the north gives way to tropical, deep-green deciduous...

Another great place to look for native plants is Native Seed Search. They have a desert tortoise seed mix as well as a bunch of other seed mixes and separate packs of seeds. They also carry a lot of native grass seeds. From time to time if you visit their retail store they'll even have plants...

For someone who's "not an expert on desert tortoises" you got it exactly right. Give yourself more credit! :) I don't know how hot it's been in California but over here in Arizona we've been having a heat wave with temperatures soaring up to 110F!

Oh I can't get over how beautiful their shells are! As for names... Hm. Perhaps names from mythology or literature? I went for Arthurian legend for my little ones. I'm still debating whether or not to adopt a King Arthur someday. :<3:

No way! The same thing happened to me today! I got so caught up trying to identify a new potential food that I forgot to give them food. Lol! I quickly fixed the situation since it had only been a couple hours, but they weren't too impressed. I never did find out what kind of plant it was...

Hi everyone! Long time no speak. So I was looking for information about MegaDiet RF. It sounded too good to be true and I almost ordered it earlier after reading that tortoises who eat MegaDiet don't get pyramiding. As Yvonne pointed out, Mega Diet is Monster Diet, but RF is Zoo Med Grassland...

G. agassizii vs G. morafkai according to the USGS http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=2842 G. agassizii: http://www.herptrips.com/CA409/CA409p2_files/Thumbs/31_425_G_agassizii_1b.jpg - Found north and west of the Colorado river - Box-like shell, high dome in California, low dome in Utah...

I may be a worrywart, but I can't be the only in existence. ;) I have my own chart for measurements started, admittedly not as much as I should chart but I've gotten better about it. I just want some kind of guide(s) to say okay, this is normal, these guys are on the right track, this is about...

http://bitmek.com/garrett/ It looks like this little boy, Garrett, got the coolest gift in 2005 from his kindergarten teacher. A tortoise he named Duke. I'm guessing his parents are the ones maintaining the website for him, but Duke is over 8 years old (and thankfully male to match his name!)...