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- Select the appropriate turtle or tortoise
- Create the perfect home for your pet
- Understand your turtle's nutritional requirements
Discover how to care for your pet turtle 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 clear, step-by-step instructions on how to set up a tank, maintain proper water conditions, and feed and care for your chelonian. With descriptions of over 80 species of turtles and tortoises and information on everything from heat lamps to photoperiods, you'll find all you need to keep your reptilian companion safe and happy throughout its life.
Inside... - Provide a suitable environment
- Care for a variety of species
- Supply a satisfying and healthy diet
- Maintain your pet's health
- Breed your turtle or tortoise
- Learn more with helpful top ten lists
List of contents
Introduction 1
Part 1: Deciding Whether a Turtle or Tortoise Is Right for You 7 Chapter 1: Understanding Chelonians 9
Chapter 2: Understanding What Turtle and Tortoise Ownership Requires of You 19
Chapter 3: Choosing the Right Turtle or Tortoise for You 35
Chapter 4: Finding Your Turtle or Tortoise 49
Part 2: The Who's Who of Turtles and Tortoises 57 Chapter 5: Aquatic Turtles 59
Chapter 6: Semi-Aquatic Turtles 73
Chapter 7: Semi-Terrestrial and Terrestrial Turtles 87
Chapter 8: North American Box Turtles 101
Chapter 9: Small Tortoises 115
Chapter 10: Medium-Sized to Large Tortoises 127
Chapter 11: Really Big Tortoises 137
Chapter 12: Special Tortoises 145
Part 3: Welcome Home! Creating a Safe and Healthy Environment 153 Chapter 13: Making a Home for an Aquatic or Semi-Aquatic Turtle 155
Chapter 14: Making an Indoor Home for a Terrestrial Turtle or Small Tortoise 165
Chapter 15: Keeping a Turtle or Tortoise Outdoors 173
Chapter 16: Lighting Up Your Chelonian's World 181
Chapter 17: Keeping Your Turtle or Tortoise Warm and Toasty 187
Chapter 18: Water: The Magic Liquid 195
Part 4: Open Wide! Turtle and Tortoise Health 201 Chapter 19: Making Sure Your Pet Eats the Right Things 203
Chapter 20: Monitoring Your Turtle's or Tortoise's Health 225
Chapter 21: Breeding Your Chelonians 243
Chapter 22: Sleeping the Winter Away 263
Part 5: The Part of Tens 269 Chapter 23: Ten Turtles and Tortoises That Make Great Pets 271
Chapter 24: Ten Turtles and Tortoises That May Be Difficult to Care For 275
Chapter 25: Ten Ways to Keep Your Pet Healthy 281
Chapter 26: Ten Common Mistakes to Avoid 287
Appendix A: Chelonian Terms and Scientific Names 293
Appendix B: Sources of Things Chelonian 303
Index 307
About the author
Liz Palika is the author of over 20 pet care books. She lives with a variety of turtles and tortoises, including sulcata and leopard tortoises and Gulf Coast box turtles.
Summary
Originally published: New York: Hungry Minds, 2001.
