Turtle Tea with TTPG

"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...

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 workin...

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. Th...

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...

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...

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.

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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 wi...

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 omni...

Breeding padlopers isn’t optional - it’s essential. In this episode, host Wendy Montroy sits down with Dirk Barnard to unpack what it really takes to breed parrot beak tortoises successfully.

Founder of Tortoise Conservation South Africa and a keynote speaker at the 2025 TTPG Conference, Dirk shares hard-won insights into why captive breeding is now inseparable from the survival of the common padloper. Together, they explore the challenges facing breeders worldwide, from limited genetic diversity and information-sharing barriers to the real risks of inbreeding.

Dirk dives deep into practical husbandry, including temperature cycling, diet, egg...

Host Wendy Montroy welcomes Dirk Barnard, founder of Tortoise Conservation South Africa and a keynote speaker at the TTPG Conference, for a fascinating deep dive into one of the world’s smallest and most misunderstood tortoises: the common padloper (Homopus aureolatus).

In this episode, Dirk shares the personal journey that led him into tortoise conservation, beginning with a childhood encounter alongside his father in rural South Africa. That early experience sparked a lifelong passion and a deep respect for the fragile balance that padlopers depend on to survive. Dirk unpacks the complex legal landscape surrounding tortoise ownership in...

Join us as we talk to Jason and Tara Troxell of Arctic Reptile Ranch about life with Galapagos tortoises. We'll talk about how they ended up on the islands to begin with (hint, it's not island gigantism!) and earned the nickname "Galap-holes". We go beyond the standard nature documentary fare to dig into what life with these magnificent animals is truly like. It’s a story that begins in an unlikely place, finding Galaps in Alaska.

Beyond their personal journey, we dive deep into the natural history of the species and exploring how humans drove giant tortoises to...

Wendy sits down with long-time keeper and founding member of the Kleinmanni Assurance Project (KAP), Ralph Till, for a deep dive into breeding the critically endangered Egyptian tortoise. Ralph shares decades of hands-on experience, including ideal female size and age, seasonal breeding behaviors, how to set up reliable nest boxes, incubation best practices, and what to expect from hatchlings during their first fragile month of life.

They also explore the origins and goals of KAP - an initiative built to establish genetically diverse assurance colonies across the United States following the ESA regulation changes. Ralph explains how...

Ever wondered how to care for one of the world’s smallest and rarest tortoises? Join Wendy Montroy and Ralph Till as they dive deep into the hidden world of Egyptian tortoises (Testudo kleinmanni), exploring what makes them so fragile, fascinating, and vital to save.

In this episode of Turtle Tea with TTPG, host Wendy Montroy talks with lifelong TTPG member and Kleinmanni Assurance Project founder Ralph Till about the rare and critically endangered Egyptian tortoise (Testudo kleinmanni)—the world’s smallest tortoise species.

Ralph shares his nearly two decades of experience breeding these fragile desert...

Wendy Montroy sits down with Michael Thathuvaswamy to dive into the fascinating world of Tabasco Mud Turtle breeding (Kinosternon acutum). Building on the previous episode about husbandry and care, this discussion explores everything about breeding and hatchling care.

Whether you’re a long-time turtle keeper or just starting out, this episode is packed with practical, field-tested insights to help you raise healthy, thriving Tabasco Mud Turtles.

You can find both Wendy and Michael in the ⁠TTPG Group Discussion on Facebook⁠.

Host Wendy Montroy sits down with Michael Thathuvaswamy of Shelled Friends to explore the fascinating Tabasco Mud Turtle (Kinosternon acutum). Native to the lowlands of Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala, this small, colorful mud turtle is both beautiful and underrated. Michael shares how he fell in love with the species, how they thrive in captivity, and why they make an excellent choice for new keepers interested in aquatic turtles.

You can find both Wendy and Michael in the TTPG Group Discussion on Facebook.

Host Wendy Montroy kicks off the podcast by introducing our mission: to build a digital library of real-world care and breeding information for turtles and tortoises. This show is brought to you by the Turtle and Tortoise Preservation Group (TTPG) and aims to equip keepers, from beginners to experts, with the knowledge needed to ensure the survival of these incredible animals through responsible captive breeding.

Future episodes will feature deep dives into specific species, covering everything from lighting and diets to breeding and hatchling care, and spotlighting often-overlooked species. Join Wendy for conversations with innovative keepers, and...