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Are you thinking of buying a tortoise to keep? If so there are a number of important things to consider. Caring for a tortoise takes some planning if you want to be successful as they may appear at first to be an easy pet to care for.

Firstly, you will need to decide if a tortoise the right pet for you to get. If you have researched your pet of choice deeply enough you will find that even though tortoises do appear to be quiet and requiring little attention they do in fact require a considerable amount of care. Tortoises also need a lot of space to be healthy. Read the rest of this entry »

If you are looking for a truly amazing and intriguing pet, you might want to consider purchasing a tortoise. At the same time, it is important to note that tortoises do require following special dietary guidelines and other special care. Therefore, before you head out the pet store and bring home a cute little tortoise, be sure to learn more about the species you are purchasing and whether or not you are truly prepared to care for it.

Considering the Size

Many people fail to realize just how big most tortoises become. It is easy to be fooled by the size of the tortoises you see in the pet store, as many are quite young and small. Even the larger ones you find in the pet stores may seem to be a reasonable size, but most species of tortoise grow to be very large. Therefore, you will need to create a large pen for your tortoise to enjoy. For this reason, many tortoise owners create outdoor pens for their pets. If you live in an area with cold and snowy winters, however, your tortoise will not be able to stay outdoors throughout the entire year, which means you will need to have an indoor pen for your tortoise as well. Read the rest of this entry »

Tortoises and dragons have been known to be the two immensely powerful symbolic items of Feng Shui. The dragon alone has several symbolic meanings and it stands for wealth, positive energy, fertility and immortality, to mention a few. The dragon is believed to have a positive influence on humans according to the Chinese mythology. Read the rest of this entry »

I am sure you have heard the fable about the Tortoise and the Hare. It is a story about an improbable race with an unexpected outcome. The lessons we learn from this fable is not to diddle dawdle when we should keep moving persistent and consistent toward our goals.

Well, let’s twist this fable a little. What if it was a story about two salespeople and one of the salespeople had the qualities of the Hare. You know what I mean, a salesperson that appears to have everything going right. This would be someone with all the qualities of a super star. The image that comes to my mind is the vision Hollywood would likely cast for the role of a superstar salesperson. You can spot this person in a crowd as someone with good looks, charming to everyone and impressive in stature. Read the rest of this entry »

A growing number of people are deciding to keep tortoises as pets. After all, they are fairly low maintenance and there are about 250 different types to select from. Before you decide to bring a tortoise home as a pet, however, it is important to know what to expect from your pet and how to properly take care of it. Read the rest of this entry »

Dragons and tortoises are two of the most powerful symbols in Chinese mythology. The Dragon itself stands for many things. Wealth, fertility, positive energy and immortality are but a few of the symbolic meanings. The Dragon is a positive influence, most often a benevolent creature in Chinese mythology, unlike the fire-breathing evil dragons as portrayed in Western mythology.

The tortoise represents longevity, of steadfast effort, of deliberate action that inevitably leads to success. The combination of the Dragon and Tortoise combines the qualities of both animals into a potent symbol of success and longevity. Read the rest of this entry »

Where exactly do you get a title at? The Lion is the King of the Jungle right? How cool is that? If I had one it probably would not be so flattering, alright now keep the wise cracks to you self! Knowing my friends I can guarantee it would be less than flattering. This brings me to an animal that has been given a title with some authority. The Gopher Tortoise, Nature’s Landlord or maybe the Landlord of the Sand hills, either way it’s definitely better than the moniker that I would probably end up with. The Gopher Tortoise is an obligate burrower with very stout and strong limbs. Its’ claws are wide and flat with small protective scales extending up the tortoises shovel like front legs. Read the rest of this entry »

My mother used to affectionately refer to me as a turtle because at swim lessons, while the other kids eagerly jumped right into the pool ready to start, I stood near the edge, waiting. I wasn’t afraid of the water. Rather, I was taking time to prepare for the event. Then, when I was good and ready, I jumped right in and swam.

Thus began my relationship with the fable “The Tortoise and the Hare” found in the much beloved bedside collection The Fables of Aesop. “The Tortoise and the Hare” is perfect for illustrating sound start up practices. Read the rest of this entry »

General Information

Also known as Russian Tortoises, these are among the most commonly seen tortoises in the pet trade today. Thousands of juveniles are exported from Russia every year. Horsfields tortoises are small, reaching approximately 15cm long or a maximum of 20cm. Being a Russian species, they make an excellent choice for UK keepers. They can tolerate the English weather and will hibernate over the winter period. The shell is a light olive brown colouration, with darker brown blotches. The head and legs are a lighter, yellowish brown. Read the rest of this entry »