Turtle Tea with TTPG

Welcome back to Turtle Tea with TTPG - the definitive Turtle and Tortoise Podcast! In this episode, host Wendy Montroy sits down with Chris Leone of Garden State Tortoise to do a deep dive into the complex and often confusing world of Mediterranean tortoises. Chris shares the incredible personal story that sparked his lifelong obsession with the Testudo genus, involving a 1990s flight from Italy a...

Are leopard tortoises one of the world's worst pet tortoises? Or are they just deeply misunderstood, notoriously sensitive giants? In this episode of Turtle Tea with TTPG, host Wendy Montroy sits down with dedicated keeper and breeder Cliff Graham-Lee (Pink Tortz) to unlock the mysteries behind Stigmochelys pardalis . From navigating the confusing genetic mix of South African versus East African l...

In this follow-up episode of Turtle Tea with TTPG , Wendy Montroy and Anthony Pierlioni move from basic care into the specialized world of breeding McCord’s Box Turtles. This conversation goes beyond simple husbandry to explore the evolving mindset of the modern keeper and the critical role the private sector plays in keeping this species from vanishing forever. Anthony reflects on his personal jo...

In this episode of Turtle Tea with TTPG , Wendy sits down with Anthony Pierlioni of Just Turtles and The Turtle Room to discuss one of the most enigmatic and charismatic species in the hobby: McCord’s Box Turtle ( Cuora mccordi ) . Once so common in their native range that they were reportedly "more numerous than rocks," these stunning yellow-headed turtles haven't been seen in the w...

"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...

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, a...

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 regis...

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 se...

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 initia...

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-s...

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,...

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 in...

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 pad...

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...

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 unlikel...

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 dur...

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 foun...

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 he...

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 ke...

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 c...