Me, Santa Barbara Zoo, 1995
These pages began as a listing of my hobbies, as they have progressed, I decided this space is best used for education. As I find information pertinent to the health and well being of the California Desert Tortoise, I will add it to this page. My immediate focus is the Desert Tortoise in captivity.
Me, Santa Barbara Zoo, 1995
I am the care taker... well I guess I should say I was the care taker of two juvenile California Desert Tortoises. They were hatched in captivity around September of 1988. While they were still small they lived with me in Northern California, but as their space requirements began to be more then an apartment dweller could accommodate I decided they needed to be returned to their hatching ground in Southern California and have since entrusted them to my parents. Mom and Dad are the providers for many tortoises... the numbers of tortoises in their care has ranged anywhere from 4 to 20.
Currently they have 4 California Desert Tortoises living in the the yard... Jeep and Speedy (my two), Fremont and Dandelion. Fremont is the father of Jeep and Speedy and many more. There are 2 Mediterranean tortoises (Myrtle and Hector) that share the yard. Information on incubation and the care and feeding of hatchlings.
One of my juvenile tortoises. This is a California Desert Tortoise, hatched in captivity. In this picture it is approximately 4 years old.
This is a new idea, I have decided to add a list of books I have used and find helpful. Over time I will add in all of my favorite books on Turtles and Tortoises.
This is the best book for looking up the type of turtle or tortoise you might have.