"There will be some bloodshed." Think tortoise breeding is all slow-motion romance? Think again. Forsten’s Tortoises are vocal, violent, and incredibly picky about who they date."Wendy Montroy sits down with breeder Stephen Sifuentes to pull back the curtain on one of the most aggressive yet rewarding species in the hobby. From the high-stakes "supervised dating" required to keep pairs from maiming each other to the surprising discovery of year-round egg-laying, Stephen shares his data-driven approach to mastering this challenging species.

You’ll hear about the comically loud breeding rituals, the "spicy" attitude of hatchlings fresh out of the egg, and how Stephen is using a rigorous data tracking system to build a genetic roadmap for the future of the species. Whether you’re a seasoned keeper or just curious about the wilder side of chelonians, this episode is a deep dive into the dedication required to establish assurance colonies for these golden gems.

Key Discussion Points

The Compatibility Crisis: Why simply having a male and female isn't enough; Forsten’s Tortoises require specific "compatible pairs" to avoid fatal aggression.

Supervised Breeding: The necessity of watching every interaction to prevent injury - including the risk of males losing their goods to an unimpressed female.

Atypical Nesting: Insights into their year-round laying cycle and why their biological clocks often mirror the opposite hemisphere.

Incubation Experiments: Exploring the wide range of incubation times (95 to 180 days) and the ongoing search for definitive Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination (TSD) parameters.

Hatchling Care: Managing "spicy" newborns that come out of the egg with an attitude, and the importance of using mushrooms as a high-value first meal.

Conservation & The CPP: The role of the Chelonian Propagation Program and the development of private studbooks to ensure genetic diversity.

Advice for New Keepers: Why beginners should always start with captive-bred animals and the critical questions to ask when transitioning a tortoise to a new home.

Connect with Our Guest

Stephen Sifuentes: Find him on ⁠Facebook⁠ or reach out via the ⁠TTPG Group Discussion⁠.

Visit ⁠turtletea.org⁠ for more resources and past episodes.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY:

TTPG Website: https://www.ttpg.org/

TTPG Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TTPGGroup

They are violent, they are beautiful, and they will absolutely bite your toes if you’re not wearing shoes. In this episode, we dive into the intense world of Forsten’s tortoises.

In this episode of Turtle Tea with TTPG, we go deep into the world of the Forsten’s Tortoise (Indotestudo forstenii). Host Wendy Montroy sits down with species specialist Stephen Sifuentes to discuss the highs, lows, and intense aggression of these Sulawesi natives. If you've ever considered specializing in a single species, this episode is a masterclass in commitment, habitat management, and the realities of working with a "feisty" tortoise.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• The Power of Specialization: How Stephen transitioned from a "mishmash" collection to a laser-focused Indotestudo program after a life-changing talk at the TTPG conference.

• The "Little Man Syndrome": Why these tortoises are known for their extreme aggression and why you should never enter their pens without sturdy shoes.

• Creating a Tropical Oasis: Stephen shares his ingenious setup, including 4x4 hydroponic reservoirs and a custom-piped DIY fogging system that services multiple cages at once.

• The Forsten’s Diet: Why mushrooms are a dietary staple and how tropical fruits like papaya are essential for maintaining health in these beautiful but misunderstood tortoises.

• The Challenges of Wild-Caught: An honest look at the difficulties of importing and rehabilitating wild-caught individuals, and why bloodline diversity is critical for long-term conservation.

• Breeding Realities: Expert advice on pairing, managing sexual maturity, and the absolute necessity of keeping these territorial animals separate to prevent fighting.

• IUCN Status: Indotestudo forstenii is listed as Critically Endangered due to deforestation, human encroachment, and the pet trade on Sulawesi Island.

• Habitat Tip: Replicate their native Indonesian climate - they need high humidity (80%+) .
• Housing Specs: Stephen recommends 1500g-2000g for breeding maturity. While babies can sometimes be raised in groups, adults require individual housing due to their highly territorial nature.

Connect with Our Guest

Stephen Sifuentes: Find him on Facebook or reach out via the TTPG Group Discussion.

Don’t Miss the Next Episode!

We are diving into Forsten’s breeding and hatchling care in our next installment of Turtle Tea. Make sure you are subscribed so you don’t miss the follow-up to this conversation!

Visit turtletea.org for more resources and past episodes.

Join us for International Turtle and Tortoise Week™ (ITTW) , April 20-24 2026! Host Wendy Montroy welcomes TTPG founder Russ Gurley and Ashley Rademacher, the Director of Animal Care and Education at Zoo Med Labs, Inc. ITTW provides FREE educational packets to thousands of students across fifteen countries. Educators of all types, homeschoolers, teachers, 4H groups, or after school clubs can register to receive digital downloads or physical materials like lesson plans and stickers.

The group discusses the evolution of the program from its roots and association with Earth Day, to its current status as a global outreach effort. They talk about ITTW's origins in inspiring and engaging young people and go over the packet contents, with a specific curriculum designed for students in second through sixth grade, although older kids have enjoyed it as well. They emphasize the importance of providing printed materials for schools with limited resources, especially with today's rising printing and shipping costs.

Want to get involved?

Register for ITTW: https://zoomed.com/international-turtle-and-tortoise-week-2026/

Buy Turtle Lovers Guidebook: https://zoomed.com/shop/posters-books/turtle-lovers-guidebook/

Not a TTPG member yet? ⁠⁠⁠Join us⁠⁠⁠! The ⁠⁠⁠Turtle and Tortoise Preservation Group⁠⁠⁠ is full of the kindest, most knowledgable and FUN turtle people on the planet!

For more information on turtle conservation and husbandry, visit ⁠⁠Turtletea.org⁠⁠ or join the ⁠⁠Turtle and Tortoise Preservation Group (TTPG) ⁠⁠community.

In this episode of Turtle Tea with TTPG, Wendy Montroy and Cameron Lamb discuss the practicalities of breeding and raising Three-toed Box Turtles. Cameron explains his preference for starting with hatchlings to better understand the natural history and care of the species before moving into breeding and producing offspring. The conversation covers the entire lifecycle, from the spring breeding season to the 70-day incubation period and beyond.

The discussion provides a detailed look at how to handle delicate box turtle eggs, which are more sensitive to moisture levels than many tortoise species. Cameron also shares his methods for starting hatchlings on pelleted diets, the benefits of raising young turtles in small groups to encourage feeding, and the safety precautions necessary when moving juveniles to outdoor pens where predators may be a factor.

Key Topics Include:

• Determining sex through incubation temperatures (82°F–88°F).

• Setup requirements for new hatchlings, including hydration and UV lighting.

• Timeline for maturity and average clutch sizes for healthy females.

• Winter brumation patterns and how they vary between individual animals.

Resources:For more information on turtle conservation and husbandry, visit Turtletea.org or join the Turtle and Tortoise Preservation Group (TTPG) community. You can find Cameron Lamb on Facebook and Instagram at Cameron Lamb Exotics.

Not a TTPG member yet? ⁠⁠Join us⁠⁠! The ⁠⁠Turtle and Tortoise Preservation Group⁠⁠ is full of the kindest, most knowledgable and FUN turtle people on the planet!

Ever wondered why a Three-toed Box Turtle might actually have four? Wendy Montroy and Cameron Lamb dive into the quirks and care of these favorites.

In this installment of Turtle Tea, host Wendy Montroy sits down with TTPG board member Cameron Lamb to explore the fascinating world of the Three-toed Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina triunguis). This episode is a special part of Podcasthon, an initiative where podcasts spotlight various charities. Wendy highlights how Turtle Tea functions as a nonprofit, using its platform to support conservation and education.

Cameron shares his journey from being the neighborhood reptile guy in California to directing the chelonian propagation and rescue programs. The duo discusses the natural history of these turtles, which range from the Florida Panhandle all the way to Kansas. A major point of interest is their naming, as some of these turtles actually sport four toes on their back feet, leading to plenty of confusion for new keepers.

The conversation also covers the serious side of turtle keeping, specifically the strict legal regulations in states like Florida and Arizona. Wendy and Cameron emphasize the importance of staying informed on possession limits and the ethics of keeping native species amidst threats like habitat loss.

For those looking for husbandry tips, Cameron provides expert advice on managing humidity and temperature in dry climates. He explains how to layer plants for shade and create microhabitats that help turtles feel secure. You will also learn about their opportunistic diet and how their behavior shifts from shy, hiding juveniles to engaging and visible adults.

You can continue the conversation and find more resources in the TTPG Group Discussion on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ttpgorg/.

Not a TTPG member yet? ⁠⁠⁠Join us⁠⁠⁠! The ⁠⁠⁠Turtle and Tortoise Preservation Group⁠⁠⁠ is full of the kindest, most knowledgable and FUN turtle people on the planet!

Unlock the secrets of breeding Bog Turtles as we break down everything from egg laying to hatchling care. In this episode, Wendy chats with Raul Gonzalez about the challenges and rewards of working with one of North America’s rarest and most coveted turtle species.

Raul pulls back the curtain on his breeding program, sharing everything from the subtle signs of nesting to the critical "penny-sized" hatchling care that follows. Discover the surprising maturation rates of captive females, the visual cues for sexing these animals, and why patience is the ultimate tool in a breeder's kit.

In this episode, we cover:

• Maturity & Sexing: How captivity accelerates maturity compared to the wild and the visual differences between males and females.

• Breeding Triggers: The simple approach to introducing pairs after brumation.

• Nesting & Incubation: Recognizing the "pacing" signs of a gravid female and the specific incubation methods Raul uses to avoid mold transfer.

• Hatchling Care: The "shoebox" setup strategy for tiny hatchlings and getting them started on food.

• The Breeder’s Mindset: Why passion, not profit, must drive the preservation of this species.

Connect with Raul: Find Raul Gonzalez in the TTPG Facebook Group or message him directly on Instagram and Facebook for questions about breeding and raising bog turtles.

Not a TTPG member yet? ⁠Join us⁠! The ⁠Turtle and Tortoise Preservation Group⁠ is full of the kindest, most knowledgable and FUN turtle people on the planet!

Tiny, elusive, and fighting for survival - Bog Turtles are one of North America’s most endangered reptiles. In this episode, host Wendy Montroy sits down with Raul Gonzalez to explore the fascinating and often stressful reality of working with bog turtles (Glyptemys muhlenbergii), a species few people ever encounter, let alone care for.

Raul shares his unexpected journey into bog turtle keeping, which began over a decade ago with a chance introduction to these remarkable turtles. What started as curiosity quickly became a long-term commitment, complete with legal hurdles, breeding challenges, and the responsibility that comes with caring for a federally protected species. Together, Wendy and Raul unpack why bog turtles are so rare in captivity, the strict regulations surrounding ownership, and how habitat loss remains their greatest threat in the wild.

The conversation dives into bog turtle natural history, wetland degradation, invasive plant species, and innovative conservation strategies like using grazing animals to restore habitat. Raul also offers firsthand insight into captive care, breeding limitations, diet, outdoor housing in warm climates, and why “too clean” water can actually cause health problems.

Throughout the episode, Wendy and Raul emphasize ethical sourcing, patience, and the importance of community within the small circle of bog turtle enthusiasts. Whether you’re a seasoned keeper or simply curious about one of the most secretive turtles in North America, this episode highlights the complexity, responsibility, and reward of protecting a species on the brink.

Have questions? You can find Wendy and Raul on the TTPG Group Discussion: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/TTPGGroup⁠⁠

Not a TTPG member yet? ⁠⁠Join us⁠⁠! The ⁠⁠Turtle and Tortoise Preservation Group⁠⁠ is full of the kindest, most knowledgable and FUN turtle people on the planet!

Flippers, snouts, and a reputation as the “holy grail” of turtles - Fly River Turtles are unlike anything else in herpetoculture. In this episode of Turtle Tea with TTPG, host Wendy Montroy sits down with longtime keeper Raul Gonzalez to explore the fascinating world of the Fly River Turtle, also known as the Pig-Nosed Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta).

Raul shares how childhood dreams turned into hands-on experience with one of the most sought after aquatic turtles in the hobby. Together, they dive into what makes Fly River Turtles so unique: their almost fully aquatic lifestyle, rapid growth, surprising omnivorous diet, and the reality of housing large, powerful turtles long term.

The conversation also tackles common challenges, including sexing difficulties, male aggression, enclosure size, and the responsibility that comes with keeping a species impacted by habitat loss and poaching. Raul discusses ethical sourcing, CITES regulations, and his hope to see more responsible captive breeding in the U.S.

Whether you are Fly River Turtle-curious or already keeping one, this episode offers practical insight, honest perspectives, and a deeper appreciation for one of the most extraordinary turtles on the planet.

Have questions? You can find Wendy and Raul on the TTPG Group Discussion: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/TTPGGroup⁠

Not a TTPG member yet? ⁠Join us⁠! The ⁠Turtle and Tortoise Preservation Group⁠ is full of the kindest, most knowledgable and FUN turtle people on the planet!