Many questions on turtles and torts.

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Posted by Christine on May 26, 2000 at 10:14:12:

Hello to all fellow turtle/tortoise owners! I am relatively new and inexperienced at this, so am going to rely on the help, knowledge and advice of the members of this forum.
I live in Key West, Fl and have 30+ Florida box turtles, and two yellow footed tortoises. They are kept in a large L shaped yard with rock gardens and also can hide under a small wood shed. There is lots of folliage for them to hide under.
1. Is there anything I can do to promote breeding? I am guessing this is the time of the year and I have put lot of fresh dirt in the rock garden to promote digging.
2. Is their an age when a female yellow foot is sexually mature. My male is very ready, but the female does not show any interest. The male is 31 years old and the female is slightly smaller than he is, but don't know her age.
3. The female yellow foot loves the chicken, hamburger meat, dog food that I put down for the turtles. I have been reading alot of pyramiding on this forum and think she already tends to have this condition. The male has a perfectly smooth shell, where hers is more pointed on each section of shell. I assumed it was a difference between the sexes. But I guess not.
4. The tortoises love hibiscus. Will fertilizing the plants, if they are not kept in the rock garden, cause any harmful effect if the flowers are eaten?
5. With so many box turtles, is their a good way to "mark" them so that I can identify them? Thought about writing a small number on their shell, but worry about it being toxic and absorbing into their system.
6. I have noticed a good amount of sites and information on Red footed tortoises, but very few on yellows. Is their a reason for this? Are Red's just more common, or easier or prefered?

Thank you so much for any information you are willing to share. And thank you for this site that allows support for each of us to learn about these fascinating creatures.
Christine

Follow Ups:

marking... Heather 05/26/00 (0)
Re: Many questions on turtles and torts. Terry 05/26/00 (1)
- Re: Many questions on turtles and torts./More Terry 05/26/00 (0)

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: Hello to all fellow turtle/tortoise owners! I am relatively new and inexperienced at this, so am going to rely on the help, knowledge and advice of the members of this forum. : I live in Key West, Fl and have 30+ Florida box turtles, and two yellow footed tortoises. They are kept in a large L shaped yard with rock gardens and also can hide under a small wood shed. There is lots of folliage for them to hide under. : 1. Is there anything I can do to promote breeding? I am guessing this is the time of the year and I have put lot of fresh dirt in the rock garden to promote digging. : 2. Is their an age when a female yellow foot is sexually mature. My male is very ready, but the female does not show any interest. The male is 31 years old and the female is slightly smaller than he is, but don't know her age. : 3. The female yellow foot loves the chicken, hamburger meat, dog food that I put down for the turtles. I have been reading alot of pyramiding on this forum and think she already tends to have this condition. The male has a perfectly smooth shell, where hers is more pointed on each section of shell. I assumed it was a difference between the sexes. But I guess not. : 4. The tortoises love hibiscus. Will fertilizing the plants, if they are not kept in the rock garden, cause any harmful effect if the flowers are eaten? : 5. With so many box turtles, is their a good way to "mark" them so that I can identify them? Thought about writing a small number on their shell, but worry about it being toxic and absorbing into their system. : 6. I have noticed a good amount of sites and information on Red footed tortoises, but very few on yellows. Is their a reason for this? Are Red's just more common, or easier or prefered? : Thank you so much for any information you are willing to share. And thank you for this site that allows support for each of us to learn about these fascinating creatures. : Christine

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