Care Guides & Educational Articles
Practical tortoise and iguana information by Sam Pascucci and Florida Iguana & Tortoise Breeders.
Care, feeding, housing, climate planning, health conditions and specialized husbandry topics.
Tortoise and Iguana Species Covered
Tortoises: Aldabra Tortoises • African Sulcata Tortoises • Redfoot Tortoises
Cyclura Iguanas: Cuban Iguanas • Rhinoceros Iguanas • Grand Cayman Blue Iguanas • Cayman Brac Iguanas • Sister Isles Iguanas
Mexican Spiny-tailed Iguanas (Ctenosaura pectinata): Banana Pectinata • Pied Pectinata • Orange Tiger Pectinata
Other Spiny-tailed Iguanas: Baker’s or Utila Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura bakeri) • Roatán Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura oedirhina)
Other Iguanas: Saba Black Iguana (Iguana melanoderma) • Black Dragon Iguanas
Choose a subject below. Each article also identifies the animal or species to which it applies.
Care & Feeding Guides
Everyday care, feeding and long-term husbandry organized by animal and life stage.
Aldabra Tortoise Care Guide: 4 to 12 Inches
Daily care, diet, water, temperature, growth, health monitoring and safety for juvenile Aldabras.
Adult and Subadult Aldabra Tortoise Care
Care and feeding for larger Aldabras, including animals approximately five years old and older.
Aldabra Diet Transition: Juveniles to Hay and Grazing
How the diet changes as a young Aldabra becomes large enough to eat hay and rely more heavily on grazing.
Complete African Sulcata Tortoise Care Guide
Complete care from hatchling through adulthood, including feeding, soaking, hydration, temperature, measured UVB, safe substrate, indoor housing and long-term management for normal, Ivory and het Sulcatas.
Adult Sulcata Care and Enclosure Construction
Adult feeding, outdoor pens, opaque fencing, buried barriers, heated huts, winter protection, burrowing, handling and long-term management.
Redfoot Tortoise Care Guide, Including Andrews Redfoots
Care, feeding and management for Redfoot tortoises, including the Andrews form.
Cyclura Iguana Care Guide
General feeding, housing and daily management for Cyclura iguanas.
Lewisi Cyclura Iguana Care Guide
Species-focused husbandry and long-term care information for Lewisi iguanas.
Spiny-tailed Iguana Care Guide
Care, feeding and management for spiny-tailed iguanas, including information about our bloodlines.
Housing, Enclosures & Climate
Construction, indoor and outdoor housing, winter preparation and regional climate planning.
Indoor and Outdoor Aldabra Pens and Tortoise Tables
Planning indoor, outdoor and hybrid environments for young Aldabra tortoises.
Outdoor Tortoise Pen Construction
Materials, concrete corners, wooden walls, secure tops, shade and practical assembly.
Raising Giant Tortoises in Northern Environments
Long-term indoor space, heating, winter buildings, seasonal outdoor access and realistic growth planning.
Aldabra Care in Las Vegas and Desert Climates
Seasonal planning, dry-air management, shade, water, temperature extremes and heated shelter.
Best Habitat for Hatchling Rhino Iguanas
Practical enclosure planning for young Cyclura rhino iguanas.
Cold-weather Winter Guide for Banana Pectinata in the Mid-USA
Cold-season housing and environmental planning for keepers in the central United States.
Health, Medical Conditions & Safety
Focused articles about recognizing, preventing and responding to specific health or safety problems.
Treating Tortoise Shell Fungus
Recognizing suspicious shell changes and understanding treatment and prevention considerations.
Tortoise Shell Rot and Fungal Infections
Identification, treatment considerations, sanitation and prevention of shell infections.
Constipation in Aldabra Tortoises
Possible causes, warning signs, environmental factors and appropriate responses.
Sudden Death in Aldabra Tortoises
Conditions and husbandry problems that can contribute to sudden decline or death in Aldabras.
Plants Reported Toxic to Reptiles
Plants and plant groups that should be evaluated or avoided in reptile enclosures and grazing areas.
Buying Guides & Reference Articles
Resources for selecting animals and understanding specialized species or bloodline information.
Iguana Buying Guide
Questions to ask, information to verify and practical considerations before purchasing an iguana.
Lewisi Cyclura Iguanas: Species and Bloodline Reference
Background, husbandry observations and reference information about Lewisi Cyclura iguanas.
Our Spiny-tailed Iguana Bloodlines
Background and identifying information about the spiny-tailed iguana bloodlines maintained at our farm.