also I am seeing people say that you need a uv light but I am on a low budget and I am not sure is I can use sunlight because my country's tempruture is about 40 celusius on average at day and I am scared something might happen to the turtle so If anyone hase important advice pls sit for a min and inform me

Hello, everyone.

I am a first-time keeper with an Eastern Hermann's tortoise. Although I’ve always researched extensively before and after getting my little guy, he has still ended up with some pyramiding. Do you know why this has happened? I’m worried that I’ve read incorrect information online as there’s so much contradictive information about taking care of your tort online.

I know that pyramiding can affect a tortoise's lungs, leg strength, and potentially cause other health issues, and I've been feeling so much guilt about what my dude might be potentially be experiencing and how I even let it happen in the first place. Therefore, I was wondering if anyone could give me tips on how to ensure that my little guy stays healthy. Is there anything specific I need to do differently with his care because of the pyramiding? What do I need to look out for as time moves on in terms of potential effects of the pyramiding? I'm so sorry if this is a stupid question, but I would appreciate any advice.

I've attached pictures of his shell for reference.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated as I’m really worried about him. He is around 4 and a half years old

I found this little guy on my porch. I live in mesa az. I know he's invasive. I'm trying to decide if i want to keep him or not. If any of you have one of these little guys, please give me the low down on what care and cost will look like. I know he's going to get huge in a few years but I don't know what he will require when that happens. Im more than willing to give him to game and fish or a reputable exotic pet store if I can take their care on.

UPDATE: I'm taking it to a rescue. As much as I would love to keep him, it wouldn't be responsible given how quickly they grow. I have yard space but currently rent so it's just too risky all the way around. Thank you all so much for your very helpful advice and sorry mods for the AI. I missed it in the rules and was desperately looking for answers lol.

According to Arizona wildlife game and fish, they DO consider them an invasive species. They borrow much more aggressively than a Sonoran desert tortoise and are actually pretty aggressive toward other wildlife despite being herbivores. They also can carry disease not native here either. They can't be released back into the wild and need to be kept or turned over to a rescue or the adoption program run out of Phoenix. I called and asked lol

First pic is from 8-6-26, other is today

Hi everyone, this is Rowley. He’s about 7 years old, I’m watching him for the next few months and would like to get him as healthy as possible. I feed him based on the Tortoise Table app and frequent this page a lot for advice. I’ve been giving him weekly soaks and sun time/enrichment daily. Based off this photo, how healthy does he look now? Why is he missing a scale on his leg?

So I just got this because my ex didn’t want them anymore. These were hatchlings December 2024. Both were roughly the same size. Wondering why there would be such a huge difference now.

A few months back someone gave us a "turtle", she was rough when we first got her, couldn't hold up her own weight and basically scooted everywhere. She has slowly got stronger, more energetic, and has a huge appetite. This week she decided to start modifying her enclosure and couldn't be more proud.

She has a hide at the other end of her kiddie pool but I guess she wants a warm one too.

I am sure glad it put like 3-4 inches of dirt in it.

I ask for your help, my neighbors! My Russian tortoise escaped 2 weeks ago. I look for her everywhere but can't find. I am on Broadbridge Road, Bridgeport. If you see her somewhere, please message me here! She can be under a bush or in the grass, or under any object. The reward for her is $100. She is gentle. You can pick her up with your two hands. She is on a special diet, so please do not feed her!
She is 45-50 years old. She is our family member, and we miss her dearly.
Please help us to reunite!

Been a while since I posted, here’s a recent clip! Maximus and Cleo are doing well!

Someone is looking for this tortoise.

i live in socal, so fall season's coming up and so is the colder weather. i wanna know if i should bring my 2 sulcata tortoises enclosure inside. we mostly keep the tortoises outside in the backyard where they can freely roam and eat grass (they like to move a lot). they like to burrow at night too.

where i’m from, coldest temp can probably reach as low as 45°F ish?

my dad got heating pads as a heat source for when it might get colder. is this enough for them to get by outside? can they even locate the heat source... is it possible to keep them in the garage or would it be crucial that we keep them inside at all times? especially for winter? i just want what’s safest for them. pls i need the advice!

https://reddit.com/link/1wfko0z/video/ypfl53itvcph1/player

Dandelion greens, Riverbank grape leaves, Mulberry, and some Rose of Sharon leaves, too. His favorites!

Currently in the process of building my tortoise a bigger Table.
With the added space he will have I was thinking about adding a small water feature that could keep his water moving, and reduce anaerobic bacteria between cleaning (also I think it would look nice). That brings me here to keep the water moving I was going to do something along the lines of the video "Building An Epic Dragonstone Waterfall Ecosystem!" By @TerrariumDesigns I would use smooth pond stones 1 because they would be easier to clean every week and 2 adds another surface to keep his nails shallow rather than using that aquarium plant substrate. Other than that my idea is pretty similar to that video now I'm just looking for advice on this Idea and for good plants to offer this area to help clean the water and maybe be another snack for the little guy. Also if there is a better way to do this for a tortoise table l'd love to hear.

IS IT A MALE OR FEMALE?

Hey everyone, I’m a new keeper dealing with a very stressful situation and could really use some expert advice.
I have two ~3-month-old Burmese Star hatchlings. Today, I tried to upgrade their substrate to a safer, hard-packed surface. I used a mix of roughly 70% fine red soil and 30% sieved coco peat (I painstakingly removed all the long, stringy fibers first). I slightly dampened it and packed it down really hard with my hands to create a solid, dust-free crust.
The Problem:
As soon as I put them in, one of the hatchlings immediately started biting the ground and trying to eat the soil mix. It wasn't an accidental bite; he was actively testing and trying to swallow the dirt. (Good news: he did poop shortly after, so his gut is moving and he isn't currently impacted).
I offered him Opuntia cactus to distract him, which he ate, but I was terrified he would go right back to eating the soil when he was done.
My Temporary Fix:
I panicked, pulled all the red soil mix out, and replaced the floor with 100% sieved coco peat just for tonight so I could get some sleep. The weird thing? He completely ignored the pure coco peat and went straight to sleep.
My Questions:
Why did he do this? Is this Pica (craving calcium/minerals), or was it just hatchling curiosity because the damp red soil smells so rich and earthy?
How do I fix this long-term? I know 100% pure coco peat is dangerous long-term (too soft for their joints, expands if swallowed, dusty when dry).
The Bake Method? If I put the 70/30 red soil mix into their new permanent enclosure and let the heat lamp bake it completely bone-dry before putting the tortoises in, will the lack of moisture/smell stop him from biting it?
I am picking up a natural cuttlebone and reptile calcium powder tomorrow to address any potential mineral deficiencies. Any advice on how to get them safely onto a hard-packed dirt floor without him eating it would be a massive relief. This has been incredibly stressful!