My Collection

Egyptian Tortoise

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Testudo kleinmanni, Leith’s tortoise

These cute little tortoises are the smallest Mediterranean species with males reaching 3-4 inches and females around 4-5 inches. Originating in coastal areas of Egypt and Libya and unfortunately in great decline, this species is critically endangered. They are fascinating tortoises preferring a drier habitat overall.

They enjoy being outdoors only on warm dry days in the summer. Kleinmanni thrive on a strictly herbivorous diet including some dry plants and blooms.

Hermann’s Tortoise

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Testudo hermanni boettgeri,

Eastern Hermann’s

A personable small sized, hardy Mediterranean tortoise species originating in Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Romania, Serbia, and Turkey. Reaching a size of 6-8 inches sometimes a little larger. Friendly and curious tortoises and relatively easy to care for given a correct environment. I have personally known specimens upwards of 70 years old. Feeding a herbivorous diet and access to natural grazing and sunlight is very beneficial to this species.

Hinge-back Tortoise

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Kinixys nogueyi, Western Hingeback, Hinged Tortoise

Kinixys zombensis, South Eastern Hingeback Tortoise

A beautiful and interesting, rare African tortoise species of a medium size 8-9 inches. Kinixys nogueyi from Western Africa, Senegal to Cameroon and the Central African Republic. Kinixys zombensis Southeastern Africa from North Eastern Tanzania South to Northeastern South Africa, introduced on Madagascar. These tortoises develop a hinge situated to the rear of the carapace to enable them to protect their rear legs and tail area. An omnivorous diet and humidity are necessary for this species. Amusing to watch as they hunt down live insects and raise their bodies up high moving relatively quickly to catch them. Crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk, and stimulated by rainfall.

Pancake Tortoise

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Malacochersus tornieri

Not commonly seen, an attractive flat soft shelled African tortoise originating from Tanzania and Kenya. They inhabit rocky crevices and tightly wedge themselves in for safety and shelter. Faced with danger they can run surprisingly quickly and probably a good thing as they lack the toughened shell of most species. We find them to be a curious species.

Agile tortoises who have no problem climbing and righting themselves if flipped over. 6-7 inches in length but barely 1.5 inches high. They lay usually one (rarely two) large egg comparative to their size with a varying incubation period of 6 mths and even up to 12 mths. They enjoy a rocky terrain with access to real sunlight and grazing in the summer, enjoying a herbivorous diet. Sadly, these tortoises are in rapid decline in their relatively small, localised geographic areas.

Radiated Tortoise

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Astrochelys radiata

A large beautifully ‘star patterned’ Madagascan species growing to roughly 16 inches carapace length and weighing approximately 16 kg. They thrive with access to large grazing areas providing multiple wild plant species and places to shelter from the hottest part of the day. They drink lots of water and enjoy the rainfall too raising their whole bodies off the ground as high as they can in a happy response. Eating a wide range of plant matter including grasses and especially enjoying cacti pads and a little fruit. We provide hay throughout the winter too to ensure they have a high fibre diet. Unfortunately, they are critically endangered in their homelands, keepers are increasingly raising captive bred specimens.

Redfoot Tortoise

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Chelonoidis carbonaria

A personable medium/large tortoise originating from South America, Panama, Argentina. They can weigh up to 9kg and measure up to 16 inches, but many are smaller depending on their locale. We keep both the brighter colored locale often referred to as a ‘Cherry Head’ with vivid red markings on their heads and the regular and often larger type, but both are scientifically the same and care is identical. A tropical humidity loving tortoise eating an omnivorous diet with a particular fondness for mushrooms and fruits such as melon. They do consume a higher percentage of fruits than other tropical species. In the wild they have been known to consume carrion as an extra form of protein. Friendly and curious souls who are somewhat semi social as a group preferring to be in proximity and sharing favourite basking resting places. Outdoors they love a large well planted area and access to a shallow water source and occasion use of sprinklers simulating rainfall.

Russian Tortoise

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Testudo horsfieldii, Afghan Tortoise, Central Asian Tortoise, Steppe Tortoise,

Four Clawed Tortoise

A small 6–10-inch tough personable tortoise that is very adaptive not needing high humidity. Natural range Russia, Afghanistan, China, Iran, Pakistan, they live in extreme conditions and may only be active for 3 mths of the year in the wild, the rest of the year they would hibernate at high elevations up to 7000ft. In captivity they are happy with either a short hibernation or equally happy without too. Russian tortoises eat a herbivorous diet and enjoy outdoor time in the summer with access to varied grazing area. Indoors they prefer a well-lit environment as it stimulates their activity levels.

Be aware that they are excellent excavators so be mindful of this when designing a safe outdoor enclosure as they can dig down into the ground a few feet deep.

Gulf Coast Box Turtle

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Other Exotics

Prehensile Tail Skink, Corucia zebrata, Monkey Tail Skink

Crested Gecko Correlophus ciliatus

Plated Lizard Broadleysaurus major

White’s Tree Frog Ranoidea caerulea

Hog Island Boa Boa constrictor imperator