Questions
These are real questions from real people, at expo tables and in our inbox. The answers are ours, not a search engine's.
The books are based on real tortoise behavior, good and bad, as well as care and feeding and enrichment. Tertl lives in a real garden kingdom in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Plainly, it is a coloring book series based on a true tortoise. But it is also a way for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, and friends to connect with kids over a shared interest. Every parent has said: "They grow up so fast." They do. Time spent doing one thing is time not spent doing something else. JJ made these books and puzzles because the time spent together is how we look back when they are grown, cherish that time, and are glad we spent it a little slower.
Reptiles live at a different pace from mammals, and they thrive when their owners understand their needs. The world moves fast today. Kids need the opportunity to slow down or they will not do it. Gifts that encourage them to slow down, be thoughtful, and use their creativity give them that chance. Coloring books and puzzles are the perfect way to find your inner tortoise and let life move a little slower for a while.
Reptiles have lots of needs. They are NOT low-maintenance, they are DIFFERENT maintenance from most pets. Kids who are learning to take care of a reptile will have ongoing needs: food, dietary supplements, lights and replacement bulbs, substrate. They need more than you might think. That is why we tried to organize it for you.
Finn's Frog Farm in Cottage Grove, Minnesota carries both books on the shelf. You can also buy them from JJ in person at any Adventures of Tertl event. The events page lists what is coming up. Online, both books are on Amazon and the rest of the shop is on Etsy.
Russian tortoises can tolerate a wider range of conditions than their tropical counterparts, but they still need the right conditions. Below 45F they will start to find a place to brumate. Brumation is controversial. If you and your tortoise are not prepared to brumate, bring them indoors.
Brumation is quite controversial. We cannot recommend brumation for captive tortoises, because every tortoise's situation is different. Brumation can come with some very serious risks and should not be done without the guidance of an exotic-species veterinarian. Generally, if a tortoise is not going to breed, they do not need to truly brumate.
In Tertl's case, she comes inside for the winter. Her indoor enclosure is kept at a cool but not cold average temperature for the season, and the lighting runs a shorter cycle. She spends much of her time burrowed, but not to the extent she would if she were truly brumating for the whole winter.
In the wild, they will dig a deep burrow below the frost line and stay there for months. That can be dangerous for their health, and some tortoises do not survive the process. That is why in captivity you have to be extra diligent about creating the right conditions at the right time. And why you should really talk to your vet about it.
Still curious? The Care Guide goes much deeper.
Read the Care Guide