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.

• Introduction 1Part 1: Deciding Whether a Turtle or Tortoise Is Right for You 7Chapter 1: Understanding Chelonians 9Chapter 2: Understanding What Turtle and Tortoise Ownership Requires of You 19Chapter 3: Choosing the Right Turtle or Tortoise for You 35Chapter 4: Finding Your Turtle or Tortoise 49Part 2: The Who’s Who of Turtles and Tortoises 57Chapter 5: Aquatic Turtles 59Chapter 6: Semi-Aquatic Turtles 73Chapter 7: Semi-Terrestrial and Terrestrial Turtles 87Chapter 8: North American Box Turtles 101Chapter 9: Small Tortoises 115Chapter 10: Medium-Sized to Large Tortoises 127Chapter 11: Really Big Tortoises 137Chapter 12: Special Tortoises 145Part 3: Welcome Home! Creating a Safe and Healthy Environment 153Chapter 13: Making a Home for an Aquatic or Semi-Aquatic Turtle 155Chapter 14: Making an Indoor Home for a Terrestrial Turtle or Small Tortoise 165Chapter 15: Keeping a Turtle or Tortoise Outdoors 173Chapter 16: Lighting Up Your Chelonian’s World 181Chapter 17: Keeping Your Turtle or Tortoise Warm and Toasty 187Chapter 18: Water: The Magic Liquid 195Part 4: Open Wide! Turtle and Tortoise Health 201Chapter 19: Making Sure Your Pet Eats the Right Things 203Chapter 20: Monitoring Your Turtle’s or Tortoise’s Health 225Chapter 21: Breeding Your Chelonians 243Chapter 22: Sleeping the Winter Away 263Part 5: The Part of Tens 269Chapter 23: Ten Turtles and Tortoises That Make Great Pets 271Chapter 24: Ten Turtles and Tortoises That May Be Difficult to Care For 275Chapter 25: Ten Ways to Keep Your Pet Healthy 281Chapter 26: Ten Common Mistakes to Avoid 287Appendix A: Chelonian Terms and Scientific Names 293Appendix B: Sources of Things Chelonian 303Index 307

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.

• Introduction 1Part 1: Deciding Whether a Turtle or Tortoise Is Right for You 7Chapter 1: Understanding Chelonians 9Chapter 2: Understanding What Turtle and Tortoise Ownership Requires of You 19Chapter 3: Choosing the Right Turtle or Tortoise for You 35Chapter 4: Finding Your Turtle or Tortoise 49Part 2: The Who’s Who of Turtles and Tortoises 57Chapter 5: Aquatic Turtles 59Chapter 6: Semi-Aquatic Turtles 73Chapter 7: Semi-Terrestrial and Terrestrial Turtles 87Chapter 8: North American Box Turtles 101Chapter 9: Small Tortoises 115Chapter 10: Medium-Sized to Large Tortoises 127Chapter 11: Really Big Tortoises 137Chapter 12: Special Tortoises 145Part 3: Welcome Home! Creating a Safe and Healthy Environment 153Chapter 13: Making a Home for an Aquatic or Semi-Aquatic Turtle 155Chapter 14: Making an Indoor Home for a Terrestrial Turtle or Small Tortoise 165Chapter 15: Keeping a Turtle or Tortoise Outdoors 173Chapter 16: Lighting Up Your Chelonian’s World 181Chapter 17: Keeping Your Turtle or Tortoise Warm and Toasty 187Chapter 18: Water: The Magic Liquid 195Part 4: Open Wide! Turtle and Tortoise Health 201Chapter 19: Making Sure Your Pet Eats the Right Things 203Chapter 20: Monitoring Your Turtle’s or Tortoise’s Health 225Chapter 21: Breeding Your Chelonians 243Chapter 22: Sleeping the Winter Away 263Part 5: The Part of Tens 269Chapter 23: Ten Turtles and Tortoises That Make Great Pets 271Chapter 24: Ten Turtles and Tortoises That May Be Difficult to Care For 275Chapter 25: Ten Ways to Keep Your Pet Healthy 281Chapter 26: Ten Common Mistakes to Avoid 287Appendix A: Chelonian Terms and Scientific Names 293Appendix B: Sources of Things Chelonian 303Index 307

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.

• Introduction 1Part 1: Deciding Whether a Turtle or Tortoise Is Right for You 7Chapter 1: Understanding Chelonians 9Chapter 2: Understanding What Turtle and Tortoise Ownership Requires of You 19Chapter 3: Choosing the Right Turtle or Tortoise for You 35Chapter 4: Finding Your Turtle or Tortoise 49Part 2: The Who’s Who of Turtles and Tortoises 57Chapter 5: Aquatic Turtles 59Chapter 6: Semi-Aquatic Turtles 73Chapter 7: Semi-Terrestrial and Terrestrial Turtles 87Chapter 8: North American Box Turtles 101Chapter 9: Small Tortoises 115Chapter 10: Medium-Sized to Large Tortoises 127Chapter 11: Really Big Tortoises 137Chapter 12: Special Tortoises 145Part 3: Welcome Home! Creating a Safe and Healthy Environment 153Chapter 13: Making a Home for an Aquatic or Semi-Aquatic Turtle 155Chapter 14: Making an Indoor Home for a Terrestrial Turtle or Small Tortoise 165Chapter 15: Keeping a Turtle or Tortoise Outdoors 173Chapter 16: Lighting Up Your Chelonian’s World 181Chapter 17: Keeping Your Turtle or Tortoise Warm and Toasty 187Chapter 18: Water: The Magic Liquid 195Part 4: Open Wide! Turtle and Tortoise Health 201Chapter 19: Making Sure Your Pet Eats the Right Things 203Chapter 20: Monitoring Your Turtle’s or Tortoise’s Health 225Chapter 21: Breeding Your Chelonians 243Chapter 22: Sleeping the Winter Away 263Part 5: The Part of Tens 269Chapter 23: Ten Turtles and Tortoises That Make Great Pets 271Chapter 24: Ten Turtles and Tortoises That May Be Difficult to Care For 275Chapter 25: Ten Ways to Keep Your Pet Healthy 281Chapter 26: Ten Common Mistakes to Avoid 287Appendix A: Chelonian Terms and Scientific Names 293Appendix B: Sources of Things Chelonian 303Index 307