Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Clipping Turtle Nails
While most of these shelled reptiles are pretty low maintenance, from time to time, they do require some additional care such as nail trimming or beak trimming. Most of the time, trimmings won’t need to occur more than once or twice per year, and the process will be quick and easy to perform. Once you’ve determined which type of nail clipper works best for you and your animal, you will simply trim the nail as close to the quick as possible without actually hitting the quick itself. The quick of the nail is the portion that still receives blood flow. It’s essentially a blood vessel within the nail or claw. Keep in mind that turtles and tortoises, in particular, can be shy animals. They will likely do everything in their power to tuck in their feet as much as possible when you try to trim their nails. Please be patient with your pet and don’t attempt to trim their nails if you don’t feel you are capable and prepared for this measure. There are plenty of veterinarians who will perform this process for a small fee and we highly recommend taking your turtle or tortoise to the vet if you are nervous about doing the procedure on your own. Adopt ~ Breed ~ Rescue ~ Transport ~ Rehabilitate Crazy Critters Inc. was established to provide non-domestic, non-releasable animals with a safe and permanent home. The sanctuary has adopted animals including reptiles, birds, and assorted wildlife. Once brought to the facility, these exotic animals are housed in naturalistic settings. Allowing propagation that is used for conservation. Currently, this facility houses 16 species of animals listed on CITES. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is an international treaty to prevent species from becoming endangered or extinct because of international trade. Adding, the Crazy Critters organization has produced offspring from species currently found on the IUCN's Red List. Established in 1964, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species. Crazy Critters Inc. is a self-funded organization that depends on the greenhouse nursery to pay for the cost of housing exotic animals. The facility grows and sells species of plants such as succulent and cactus to support the care of the animals. Many too are listed on the IUCN's Redlist. We Grow Crazy Plants So We Can Care For Crazy Critters! Follow us on our journey as we build our Herp Haven called Crazy Critters! We share as we build, make mistakes, learn, and grow! Find us on most social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and more! WEBSITE: https://www.crazycrittersinc.com/ Crazy Critters on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/CrazyCritter... Crazy Plants on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/CrazyPlantsN... Crazy Critters on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/crazy_critt... YOUTUBE: https://goo.gl/V2bF1o PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/CrazyCritte... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/CrazyCrittersFL/ TUMBLR: https://crazycrittersinc.tumblr.com/ GOFUNDME: https://is.gd/STh3H5 We even have a BLOG https://goo.gl/TwBLnX Please like, share, follow and subscribe. If you or your company would like to help a cause like ours, please contact us. Or use our donation page! https://crazycrittersinc.com/donate-t... Feel free to contact us with questions requests and comments. Crazy Critters Inc. 22921 County Road 44a Eustis, Fl 32736 We are Amazon Affiliates! Here are links to our recommended products. Shop from here and we will receive ten percent commission! That is the same as making a donation!! If you do not like our recommendations, that is ok! Choose the brand of product you like after clicking these links We will still receive two percent commission! It is a win-win! Plants! Succulents https://amzn.to/2TrqQly Cactus https://amzn.to/2DNNGPU Orchids https://amzn.to/2TrkAKu Soil https://amzn.to/2FyE0u3 Succulent & Cacti Care Book https://amzn.to/2qVQrGj Animal Care Products Reptile Calcium https://amzn.to/2qWCtnt Reptile Lighting https://amzn.to/2OUP2sX Reptile Water & Food Bowl https://amzn.to/2PGInYP Soaking Pond https://amzn.to/2qXGZ5o Aquarium Heater https://amzn.to/2OT4ENV Pond Heater https://amzn.to/2qWmgin Aquarium Filter https://amzn.to/2KpWKuR Starter Kits For Your Animals! Baby Tortoises https://amzn.to/2DOPVSX Bearded Dragons and Other Desert Reptiles https://amzn.to/2Tt1tzN Snakes, Frogs and Lizards https://amzn.to/2S3dvhP Geckos and Insects https://amzn.to/2RYhlc6 Books! Miles and Miles of Reptiles. Dr. Suess Book https://amzn.to/2PEDuPP Turtles, Tortoises, and Terrapins Natural History Book https://amzn.to/2DBFoJI Diagnostic Imaging Book for adults https://amzn.to/2DzFxxC
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
A Day At Crazy Critters... Inside The Incubator And Petting Jamie Before...
We have been pretty busy here at Crazy Critters. Today we share with you the incubator. And I pet Jamie aka J'Normous The Tortoise as our mulch was delivered. We had mulch delivered by Atkins Tree Care. http://www.atkinstreecare.com/ We need the mulch for the food forest we are creating. Click over to the website to our page that talks about how and why we are creating one. Crazy Critters Inc. was established to provide non-domestic, non-releasable animals with a safe and permanent home. The sanctuary has adopted animals including reptiles, birds, and assorted wildlife. Once brought to the facility, these exotic animals are housed in naturalistic settings. Allowing propagation that is used for conservation. Currently, this facility houses 16 species of animals listed on CITES. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is an international treaty to prevent species from becoming endangered or extinct because of international trade. Adding, the Crazy Critters organization has produced offspring from species currently found on the IUCN's Red List. Established in 1964, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species. Crazy Critters Inc. is a self-funded organization that depends on the greenhouse nursery to pay for the cost of housing exotic animals. The facility grows and sells species of plants such as succulent and cactus to support the care of the animals. Many too are listed on the IUCN's Redlist. We Grow Crazy Plants So We Can Care For Crazy Critters! Follow us on our journey as we build our Herp Haven called Crazy Critters! We share as we build, make mistakes, learn, and grow! Find us on most social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and more! WEBSITE: https://www.crazycrittersinc.com/ Crazy Critters on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/CrazyCritter... Crazy Plants on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/CrazyPlantsN... Crazy Critters on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/crazy_critt... YOUTUBE: https://goo.gl/V2bF1o PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/CrazyCritte... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/CrazyCrittersFL/ TUMBLR: https://crazycrittersinc.tumblr.com/ GOFUNDME: https://is.gd/STh3H5 We even have a BLOG https://goo.gl/TwBLnX Please like, share, follow and subscribe. If you or your company would like to help a cause like ours, please contact us. Or use our donation page! https://crazycrittersinc.com/donate-t... Feel free to contact us with questions requests and comments. Crazy Critters Inc. 22921 County Road 44a Eustis, Fl 32736 We are Amazon Affiliates! Here are links to our recommended products. Shop from here and we will receive ten percent commission! That is the same as making a donation!! If you do not like our recommendations, that is ok! Choose the brand of product you like after clicking these links We will still receive two percent commission! It is a win-win! Plants! Succulents https://amzn.to/2TrqQly Cactus https://amzn.to/2DNNGPU Orchids https://amzn.to/2TrkAKu Soil https://amzn.to/2FyE0u3 Succulent & Cacti Care Book https://amzn.to/2qVQrGj Animal Care Products Reptile Calcium https://amzn.to/2qWCtnt Reptile Lighting https://amzn.to/2OUP2sX Reptile Water & Food Bowl https://amzn.to/2PGInYP Soaking Pond https://amzn.to/2qXGZ5o Aquarium Heater https://amzn.to/2OT4ENV Pond Heater https://amzn.to/2qWmgin Aquarium Filter https://amzn.to/2KpWKuR Starter Kits For Your Animals! Baby Tortoises https://amzn.to/2DOPVSX Bearded Dragons and Other Desert Reptiles https://amzn.to/2Tt1tzN Snakes, Frogs and Lizards https://amzn.to/2S3dvhP Geckos and Insects https://amzn.to/2RYhlc6 Books! Miles and Miles of Reptiles. Dr. Suess Book https://amzn.to/2PEDuPP Turtles, Tortoises, and Terrapins Natural History Book https://amzn.to/2DBFoJI Diagnostic Imaging Book for adults https://amzn.to/2DzFxxC
Monday, July 29, 2019
How To Build A Frame For A Greenhouse
A greenhouse also allows you to get a head start on spring planting and to extend the growing season well into the autumn. The problem is that traditional greenhouses are quite expensive and typically too large for the average backyard. Fortunately, there are two do-it-yourself options: buy a ready-to-assemble greenhouse kit or purchase plans and build the greenhouse from scratch. Click for more about greenhouses from our website...https://crazycrittersinc.com/building... Crazy Critters Inc. was established to provide non-domestic, non-releasable animals with a safe and permanent home. The sanctuary has adopted animals including reptiles, birds, and assorted wildlife. Once brought to the facility, these exotic animals are housed in naturalistic settings. Allowing propagation that is used for conservation. Currently, this facility houses 16 species of animals listed on CITES. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is an international treaty to prevent species from becoming endangered or extinct because of international trade. Adding, the Crazy Critters organization has produced offspring from species currently found on the IUCN's Red List. Established in 1964, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species. Crazy Critters Inc. is a self-funded organization that depends on the greenhouse nursery to pay for the cost of housing exotic animals. The facility grows and sells species of plants such as succulent and cactus to support the care of the animals. Many too are listed on the IUCN's Redlist. We Grow Crazy Plants So We Can Care For Crazy Critters! Follow us on our journey as we build our Herp Haven called Crazy Critters! We share as we build, make mistakes, learn, and grow! Find us on most social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and more! WEBSITE: https://www.crazycrittersinc.com/ Crazy Critters on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/CrazyCritter... Crazy Plants on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/CrazyPlantsN... Crazy Critters on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/crazy_critt... YOUTUBE: https://goo.gl/V2bF1o PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/CrazyCritte... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/CrazyCrittersFL/ TUMBLR: https://crazycrittersinc.tumblr.com/ GOFUNDME: https://is.gd/STh3H5 We even have a BLOG https://goo.gl/TwBLnX Please like, share, follow and subscribe. If you or your company would like to help a cause like ours, please contact us. Or use our donation page! https://crazycrittersinc.com/donate-t... Feel free to contact us with questions requests and comments. Crazy Critters Inc. 22921 County Road 44a Eustis, Fl 32736 We are Amazon Affiliates! Here are links to our recommended products. Shop from here and we will receive ten percent commission! That is the same as making a donation!! If you do not like our recommendations, that is ok! Choose the brand of product you like after clicking these links We will still receive two percent commission! It is a win-win! Plants! Succulents https://amzn.to/2TrqQly Cactus https://amzn.to/2DNNGPU Orchids https://amzn.to/2TrkAKu Soil https://amzn.to/2FyE0u3 Succulent & Cacti Care Book https://amzn.to/2qVQrGj Animal Care Products Reptile Calcium https://amzn.to/2qWCtnt Reptile Lighting https://amzn.to/2OUP2sX Reptile Water & Food Bowl https://amzn.to/2PGInYP Soaking Pond https://amzn.to/2qXGZ5o Aquarium Heater https://amzn.to/2OT4ENV Pond Heater https://amzn.to/2qWmgin Aquarium Filter https://amzn.to/2KpWKuR Starter Kits For Your Animals! Baby Tortoises https://amzn.to/2DOPVSX Bearded Dragons and Other Desert Reptiles https://amzn.to/2Tt1tzN Snakes, Frogs and Lizards https://amzn.to/2S3dvhP Geckos and Insects https://amzn.to/2RYhlc6 Books! Miles and Miles of Reptiles. Dr. Suess Book https://amzn.to/2PEDuPP Turtles, Tortoises, and Terrapins Natural History Book https://amzn.to/2DBFoJI Diagnostic Imaging Book for adults https://amzn.to/2DzFxxC
Sunday, July 28, 2019
How to get your exotic animal to eat Mazuri diet
We have a new redfoot tortoise named Daisey. She is too small to live outdoors. Which makes her our largest indoor tortoise. However, we take all indoor tortoises outdoors a few times per week. Ensuring the saftey of them has been made more difficult due to a hawk, The hawk is such a problem that he attacks Jo Jo the Crow when he is outside flying around. We are always with the babies when they are outdoors because we do not have the proper environment to leave them to nature. With the new tortoise, I noticed ours looking a little drab. Being under UVB/UVA bulbs and being misted daily with the water that comes from our well, which is on the hard side, caused them to look boring. A very tiny bit of vaseline will save the day. We had been asked on our website if there are any other formulas to use on these tortoises shells. And there is a long list. We have personally found a very think coat of petroleum-based jelly only once or twice a year is what works for us. We are a show you how we do it... not show you how to do it kind of place. We have found huge successes using the product which we learned about while watching Kamp Kenan, Click to see the video where we show you this procedure and share how we get new tortoises to eat commercial foods. Because it is so very important! Especially, indoor animals. Click to purchase Repcal...https://amzn.to/311qc1e Click to purchase Mazuri...https://amzn.to/2yi6BgP Crazy Critters Inc. was established to provide non-domestic, non-releasable animals with a safe and permanent home. The sanctuary has adopted animals including reptiles, birds, and assorted wildlife. Once brought to the facility, these exotic animals are housed in naturalistic settings. Allowing propagation that is used for conservation. Currently, this facility houses 16 species of animals listed on CITES. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is an international treaty to prevent species from becoming endangered or extinct because of international trade. Adding, the Crazy Critters organization has produced offspring from species currently found on the IUCN's Red List. Established in 1964, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species. Crazy Critters Inc. is a self-funded organization that depends on the greenhouse nursery to pay for the cost of housing exotic animals. The facility grows and sells species of plants such as succulent and cactus to support the care of the animals. Many too are listed on the IUCN's Redlist. We Grow Crazy Plants So We Can Care For Crazy Critters! Follow us on our journey as we build our Herp Haven called Crazy Critters! We share as we build, make mistakes, learn, and grow! Find us on most social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and more! WEBSITE: https://www.crazycrittersinc.com/ Crazy Critters on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/CrazyCritter... Crazy Plants on FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/CrazyPlantsN... Crazy Critters on INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/crazy_critt... YOUTUBE: https://goo.gl/V2bF1o PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/CrazyCritte... TWITTER: https://twitter.com/CrazyCrittersFL/ TUMBLR: https://crazycrittersinc.tumblr.com/ GOFUNDME: https://is.gd/STh3H5 We even have a BLOG https://goo.gl/TwBLnX Please like, share, follow and subscribe. If you or your company would like to help a cause like ours, please contact us. Or use our donation page! https://crazycrittersinc.com/donate-t... Feel free to contact us with questions requests and comments. Crazy Critters Inc. 22921 County Road 44a Eustis, Fl 32736 We are Amazon Affiliates! Here are links to our recommended products. Shop from here and we will receive ten percent commission! That is the same as making a donation!! If you do not like our recommendations, that is ok! Choose the brand of product you like after clicking these links We will still receive two percent commission! It is a win-win! Animal Care Products Reptile Calcium https://amzn.to/2qWCtnt Reptile Lighting https://amzn.to/2OUP2sX Reptile Water & Food Bowl https://amzn.to/2PGInYP Soaking Pond https://amzn.to/2qXGZ5o Aquarium Heater https://amzn.to/2OT4ENV Pond Heater https://amzn.to/2qWmgin Aquarium Filter https://amzn.to/2KpWKuR Starter Kits For Your Animals! Baby Tortoises https://amzn.to/2DOPVSX Bearded Dragons and Other Desert Reptiles https://amzn.to/2Tt1tzN Snakes, Frogs and Lizards https://amzn.to/2S3dvhP Geckos and Insects https://amzn.to/2RYhlc6
Friday, July 26, 2019
The Yellow-Footed Tortoise (Chelonoidis denticulatus) Care and Information
The Yellow-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis denticulatus), also known as the Brazilian giant tortoise, is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae and is closely related to the red-footed tortoise (C. carbonaria).
These tortoises are found in deep, humid rain forest areas of southern Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, Brazil, and Bolivia. They spend a great deal of time in and around water and in the leaves and undergrowth of moist tropical forests.
Originally, Karl Linnaeus assigned all turtles and tortoises to the genus Testudo and identified this species as Testudo denticulata in 1766 with testudo meaning turtle, and denticulata meaning “tooth-like”, referring to the jagged or serrated edges of the shell.
Soon the term Testudo was only being used for tortoises as opposed to all chelonians, with tortoises defined by completely terrestrial behaviors, heavy shells, and elephant-like limbs with nails but no visible toes.
The species got several other names, as well, for several reasons such as difficulty in distinguishing it from the red-footed, confusion over locations, researchers thinking they had discovered a new species in collections or in the field, etc.
With an average length of 15.75 inches, The largest known specimen is 37 inches long. Yellow-footed tortoises are the sixth-largest species of tortoise. After the Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea), Galapagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra), African spurred tortoise, the leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis), and Asian forest tortoise.
The shell is thick and heavy with dark brown with patches of yellow. The limbs and head are brown with some orange scales and markings. Its skin is black with yellow markings on the head and lower jaw. You will find some scales on the limbs and tail are bright yellow. The head is relatively small and longer than wide.
The upper jaw has three tooth-like points. There are large black eyes with a tympanum behind each eye. The skin of the head and limbs is black with yellow to orange scales on top and around the eye and ear.
The forelimbs have five claws, are long and slightly flattened. They are covered with fine, dark scales and slightly overlapping larger scales on the front in the same color as the head.
The hind limbs are elephant-like with four claws and are covered in small scales colored like the forelimbs. The tail varies in length by gender and has a row of colored scales on the sides.
The yellow-footed tortoise is also called the yellow-foot or yellow-legged tortoise, the Brazilian giant tortoise, or South American forest tortoise, as well as local names such as morrocoy, woyamou or wayamo, or some variation of jabuta.
Many of the local names are shared with the similar red-footed tortoise. There is some disagreement as to which habitat is the preferred type for yellow-footed tortoises.
Some people feel they prefer grasslands and dry forest areas, and that rain-forest habitat is most likely limited.
Others suggest humid forest is the preferred habitat. Regardless, they are found in drier forest areas, grasslands, and the savanna, or rainforest belts adjoining more open habitats. The red-footed tortoise shares some of its range with the yellow-footed tortoise.
Housing Yellow-Footed Tortoises…
When housing a Yellow-Footed Tortoise indoors, you can use an enclosure that is about 8’x4’ for an adult. Provide your pet with a dish that is filled with fresh, clean water at all times. This dish should be shallow so that your tortoise will not drown, but it should be big enough that he can soak in it. Click to read Why Soaking Tortoises Is Important ~ Crazy Critters Inc.
When it comes to a substrate, mix peat moss and sand and then add a top layer of cypress mulch in order to trap moisture.
There should be a heat lamp in one area of your Yellow-Footed Tortoise’s enclosure so that he can bask, and the temperature should be around 90°F in this basking area.
Also, include a UV light and a cooler area complete with a damp hiding place that is located away from the basking area.
These animals are shy, so it is a good idea to provide a variety of hiding places for security and comfort.
They can use everything from piles of grass clippings or hay, to big banana leaves and pieces of cork bark as shelter.
If you are planning on housing your Yellow-Footed Tortoise outside when the weather is warm, just make sure that the enclosure is properly secured so that he will not be able to escape and so he will be protected from predators.
These enclosures should have plenty of plants, such as ferns and low bushes, to block out the sunlight and provide your pet with a place to retreat to when he doesn’t want to be in the sun.
Click to read Housing Tortoises Using Tortoise Tables and Yards.
Diet Requirements For The Yellow-Footed Tortoise…
Yellow-foot Tortoises are omnivores. The wild tortoises will find a diet of grasses, foliage, fallen fruit, carrion, plants, bones, mushrooms, excrement, and slow-moving invertebrates such as snails, worms, and others they are able to capture.
You can feed your pet a mix of greens, vegetables, and fruits, as well as flowers, each day or every other day. Good options include collard greens, mustard greens, watercress, escarole, kale, romaine, squash, carrots, pumpkin, zucchini, mango, melon, kiwi, papaya, cantaloupe, and hibiscus. Click to read What Is The Best Diet For My African Sulcata Tortoise?
Avoid giving this tortoise animal protein often. Instead, every three weeks or so, you can provide him with a commercial diet designed for tortoises. We suggest Mazuri Brand Tortoise Diet.
Behavior Of Yellow-Footed Tortoises…
The Yellow-Footed Tortoise is shy. They are considered nomadic in their movements.
So these animals will not like being handled. Often, they will end up retreating into their shells. However, some animals might be tame and outgoing, particularly if they were born and raised in captivity.
Breeding Yellow-Footed Tortoises…
Like most species, you can tell what sex a yellow-footed tortoise is by the tail length is a quick easy way to determine the sex. Male yellow-footed tortoises tails will be long and thick and will curve tightly against the back leg.
Yellow-footed tortoises males, as adults, will have a strong concave stomach, where females will be flat on the bottom. Females will have a shorter distance between the tail tip and the “vent. A females tail comes to an abrupt end, where males have a longer, thinner tail tip. This isn’t reliable at all until the tortoises are in the 4-5” range.
Yellow-Footed Tortoises are sexually mature at 8-10 years. They can mate year round. Breeding is synchronized with the onset of the rainy season (from July to September) when a general increase in activity occurs.
Males identify each other by eliciting a characteristic head movement, a series of jerks away from and back to mid-position. Another male will make the same head movements. No head movement in response is the first indication that the other tortoise is a female.
Scientific experimentation and observation have also indicated head coloration has to be correct. The male will then sniff the cloacal region of the other tortoise. Copulation usually follows, though sometimes there is a period of biting at the legs.
During courtship and copulation, the male makes clucking sounds very much like those of a chicken, with a set pattern in pitches of the clucking sounds. Rival males will battle, attempting to overturn each other, but neither the males nor females will defend a territory.
After breeding, the female excavates a nest in leaf litter and lays a clutch of five to 15 eggs. During the nesting season, she might lay several clutches. She does not incubate the eggs, so they must be well-disguised to avoid predators.
Hatching Yellow-Bellly Tortoises…
The fruitfulness of a female generally depends on her size; the bigger they are, the more eggs they can produce. On average, a female will create about six to 16 eggs per year, although some female individuals may not reproduce each year.
The elongated to spherical eggs are about 3–6 cm in diameter. The egg size will increase with the body size of the tortoise. An incubator soil is mixed using combinations of perlite, vermiculite, bark, etc.
The eggs have brittle shells and incubation lasts an average of 150 days, but can take as little as 105 days or as much as 202 days to hatch. As is the case with many reptiles, the eggs of red-footed tortoises are temperature sex-dependent.
Incubation periods with temperatures above 88° Fahrenheit result in the hatching of females. Incubation periods with temperatures below 82° Fahrenheit result in the hatching of males.
At incubation temperatures between these ranges, mixed sexes will hatch. Excessively high temperatures can cause lower hatch rates and deformed hatchlings.
After pipping, the neonate red-footed tortoise may remain in the egg for several days while absorbing most of its yolk sac, The young are completely self-sufficient at the time of hatching.
Conservation status
Chelonoidis denticulata is an endangered species. The major populations located in South America are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, Appendix II.
The yellow-footed tortoise is not currently endangered, however, if over-hunting and habitat loss continue, it will most likely make the list. Conservation efforts include the establishment and protection of wildlife reserves and national parks, where yellow-footed tortoises and other animals are protected from hunting.
In its range, the biggest threat to the survival of yellow-footed tortoises is over-hunting by man. Yellow-foots are collected in large numbers and shipped to many different South American cities to be sold as a delicacy. Another threat facing yellow-foot populations is the ever-present habitat loss and disturbance.
This species of tortoise is a popular pet. Exportation for the pet trade also has a negative effect on yellow-footed tortoises, although it is much less of a threat to their survival than either hunting or habitat loss. The natural history of the yellow-footed tortoise provides insight into two areas, the susceptibility of this species to over-hunting and habitat loss, and captive husbandry and reproduction.
In ranges shared in Surinam, the red-footed tortoise has moved out of the forests into grasslands (created a result of slash and burn agriculture), while the yellow-footed tortoise has remained in the forest.
As with many species of turtles and tortoises, many yellow-footed tortoises end up as food items in local markets.
In some parts of Venezuela, the local people may set fire to entire hillsides so that they are able to harvest exposed (and presumably often roasted) tortoises.
Tortoises are considered “fish” by the Catholic Church and during holy week, red and yellow-foots are consumed in huge quantities.
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