The Best Pet Tortoises

July 13, 2015March 3, 2023 ~ BackwaterReptiles

Have you ever wondered which species of tortoise makes the best pet? Tortoises are big sellers here at Backwater Reptiles. They make excellent starter pet reptiles and many people like to get them for their children. They’re also fun for lots of people because they can live outside, are easy to feed, and have very long life spans.

This blog entry is going to focus on our top three most popular pet tortoises. We’ll discuss what makes each tortoise different from the others and provide care information so that potential new tortoise parents can make educated and informed decisions about which type of tortoise would be best for their household.

**Sulcata Tortoise (Geochelone sulcata)**

Number three on our list of the best pet tortoises is the Sulcata (aka the African Spurred Tortoise, the Spurred Tortoise, and the African Spur Thigh Tortoise), which is probably the tortoise species that is bred the most in the U.S. and thus the most readily available as far as captive bred hatchlings are concerned. This means that not only are they generally affordably priced, but also some of the healthiest due to the refined techniques of captive breeding. It is against the law to import Sulcatas into the U.S., so you know that every one available within the country is captive bred.

sulcata tortoise pet — Here’s one of our captive bred hatchling Sulcata tortoises–one of the best pet tortoises in the world.

Like most tortoise species, Sulcatas can live outdoors. They get along with one another provided multiple adult males don’t occupy the same habitat (bullying can ensue if multiple males are kept together).

Keep in mind that Sulcatas can and will burrow, so make sure that your yard has a fenced perimeter both above ground and below ground if you want make sure your tortoise doesn’t go for a leisurely stroll outside your yard.

If you plan to utilize the outdoor tortoise enclosure method, it’s also best if you live in a climate that doesn’t experience harsh temperature extremes.

It’s estimated that Sulcatas live in the range of about seventy years. Hatchlings start off about one and half to two inches long and will grow into adults that weigh anywhere from seventy to 200 pounds (males).

Sulcatas are grazers and will eat grasses around your backyard. However, you should also be feeding them leafy green veggies and “salads” – the store bought grocery mixed greens that include kale, spinach, collards, etc. are great. Pre-made tortoise food is also a good supplement. No matter what, variety in the Sulcata’s diet is definitely a must.

Backwater Reptiles currently has captive bred Sulcata tortoise babies for sale.

**Leopard Tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis)**

Number two on our list of the best pet tortoises is the Leopard Tortoise. This is the second largest African tortoise – only the African Spurred/Sulcata is larger. Adults measure anywhere from ten to eighteen inches in length, whereas hatchlings range from one and half to two inches long – just the perfect size to fit in the palm of your hand.

Outdoor housing is the preferred way to keep a Leopard Tortoise and these tortoises are not aggressive so males and females will coexist peacefully in a backyard where temperatures don’t get too hot or cold. These tortoises are not escape artists like their cousins the Sulcatas, however they still need a fence to keep them from roaming beyond the walls of your backyard.

baby stigmochelys pardalis — Leopard tortoises can make exceptional pet tortoises. They generally thrive in captivity and grow to a reasonable size.

Leopard tortoises have similar diets to other tortoise species with leafy green veggies high in calcium being their staple food. You can also supplement their diets with fruit, but in moderation.

Leopard tortoises are grazers like most tortoises and will therefore “mow your lawn” and consume grasses around their enclosure as well.

In addition to hide spaces, dirt for laying eggs, and basking areas, Leopard tortoises will require some type of standing water. They drink readily from water dishes so you might need to provide several depending on the size of their enclosure/yard. Always make sure their water is clean and fresh.

At the moment, we offer captive bred hatchling Leopard tortoises for sale.

**Russian Tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii)**

The number one best pet tortoise is, in our opinion, the Russian tortoise. Of the three species detailed in this blog, Russians are the smallest and toughest. When they hatch, they measure about an inch long and grow to be around eight to ten inches at most, making them very manageable.

These little tortoises will live around 40-50 years provided they have a good diet and stress free environment.

Russian tortoises are also best housed outdoors when possible and are notorious diggers. Fencing above and below ground is required to keep them from burrowing out of their enclosure and placing rocks in each corner of their home is also recommended to discourage escape digging.

A mild climate also helps with the digging issue as these tortoises will burrow when the weather is either too hot or too cold to shield themselves from the elements. In fact, Russian tortoises are used to living in a climate with temperatures that dip far below freezing (they dig burrows and stay underground during cold stretches).

If you are planning to keep your Russian tortoise outdoors, be sure all plants in the environment are non-toxic to tortoises as these guys prefer leaves and vegetation to grasses. Like the other tortoises in this blog, Russians will eat leafy green salad mixes from grocery stores and commercial tortoise food. Just make sure they have variety in their diet and they should readily eat most vegetation you provide.

At the moment, Backwater Reptiles has medium-sized Russian tortoises for sale. These animals are approximately four to five inches long.

The Best Small Tarantula Enclosures

July 8, 2015January 14, 2016 ~ BackwaterReptiles

Are you looking for a top quality small tarantula cage? Any time you bring home a new pet, it’s essential that you also bring home everything your new pet will need – food, cage/kennel, toys, etc. Even though spiders are very low maintenance pets, you’ll still want to make sure your new arachnid has everything it needs to thrive, which is basically a good enclosure with the proper substrate and hiding places.

Guess what? Backwater Reptiles is pleased to announce that we now offer premium starter tarantula kits for sale! These aesthetically pleasing clear cube enclosures come with substrate(s), cork bark climbing/hiding accessories, silk plant decor, and even a miniature water dish.

tarantula terrarium kit — Pictured is the arboreal tarantula kit and all of the included components.

Because tarantulas are either arboreal and live in trees or terrestrial and live on the ground, we have two separate types of kits to suit either type of spider’s needs.

tarantula kit comparison — A comparison of the terrestrial and arboreal tarantula kits side by side.

The terrestrial kit is not very tall and has an air vent on top of the cube. Because your terrestrial tarantula won’t be doing any climbing, it provides plenty of crawling floor space for an animal with a leg span of four inches or less. The decorative cork bark piece provides a convenient hiding spot and the substrate provided is suitable for a land-dwelling spider.

The terrestrial tarantula kit fully assembled.

Vertical space is important to tree-dwelling spiders, so the arboreal kit is a bit taller and the air vent is positioned on the side of the cube. The decorative cork bark and silk plant pieces are tall and give the spider something to climb on.

arboreal tarantula terrarium kit — Arboreal tarantula kit fully assembled.

Overall, the goal with these tarantula kits is to provide an attractive starter home for your pet spider. The kit includes everything you need to give your spider a healthy environment in which to grow.

Keep in mind that as your spider does grow and mature, it will eventually require a larger enclosure. These kits are intended to be homes for spiders with leg spans of under four inches.

terrestrial tarantula terrarium — Terrestrial tarantula kit components.

In addition to these handy little kits, Backwater Reptiles offers plenty of feeder food for your tarantula to chow down on, whether it will be eating crickets or other invertebrates. We also recommend reading more about the best pet tarantulas.

What are the Largest Chameleons?

July 6, 2015November 19, 2015 ~ BackwaterReptiles

Ever wondered what species of chameleon are the largest in the world? There are many types of chameleons and each kind has unique traits and quirks associated with it. We’ve talked about pygmy chameleons in a previous post, which are some of the smallest chameleons, but this entry is all about the behemoths – specifically the four largest species of chameleon.

4. Veiled Chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus)

Veiled Chameleons, also known as Yemen Chameleons, are becoming popular pet chameleons due to captive breeding efforts. Wild-caught animals have a reputation for having a hard time adjusting to captivity, but ones produced by breeders like us are hardier than ever and thrive in the proper captive conditions. They are number four on our list of the largest chameleons.

A full-grown male Veiled Chameleon, one of our breeders, and one of the largest chameleons in the world. This species can be somewhat defensive and aggressive, but generally thrive in captivity. We have bred thousands of them over the years.

Male veiled chameleons can reach lengths of up to two feet with females being slightly smaller (approximately 18 inches in length). Hatchlings start off life at about three inches long, and do quite well right off the bat.

The life span of the veiled chameleon varies. Generally, males that are well cared for will live anywhere from five to eight years, whereas females will live shorter lives ranging from four to six years. This is because the process of reproducing takes a toll on the female, even if she just lays infertile egg clutches (much like a chicken).

large chamaeleo calyptratus — Some veiled chameleons can have attitude like this guy. He got stressed out when we tried to help him with those little pieces of shed skin behind his head.

3. Oustalet’s Chameleon (Furcifer oustaleti)

Number three on our list of the largest chameleons is the Oustalet’s. Also called the Malagasy Giant Chameleon, Oustalet’s chameleons (pronounced as “Ooh-stuh-lay”) can reach up to 27 inches long! Females are smaller and generally won’t surpass two feet in length. It’s interesting to note that although not the largest chameleon in terms of body mass, these guys are only surpassed by Parson’s chameleons in terms of length.

large oustalets chameleon — This female Oustalet’s Chameleon is slightly smaller than most males, but are still large as a species.

While they tend to stay in the brown color spectrum range, like all chameleons, Oustalet’s chameleons can adapt their coloration based upon moods and can exhibit blacks, rusty oranges, and sometimes even blues. Females tend to be brighter and more colorful than males. Males also have more pronounced head crests and ridge spines than the females.

furcifer oustaleti — This female Oustalet’s is currently our best eater–she’s always ravenous.

Probably due to their large size, these chameleons have voracious appetites. They will eat normal chameleon fare such as insects, but are adept hunters and will consume smaller lizards (including smaller chameleons) and even birds in the wild. The Backwater Reptiles Oustalet’s chameleons are fun to feed because they will snatch mealworms, crickets, and other large invertebrates from your hand. You’d be surprised how long their tongues are! The most aggressive feeding chameleon we have is our adult female Oustalet’s breeder (we crossed her with a Panther cham too).

2. Meller’s Chameleon (Chamaeleo melleri)

Meller’s Chameleon (AKA the “Bird-Eating Chameleon” and the “Giant One-Horned Chameleon”) is known to reach approximately two feet in length.

These chameleons are recognizable by their brilliant green, yellow, and black coloring, large occipital lobes (crest behind the ears), and single rostral horn (nose horn).

large mellers chameleon — Notice the nose horn and large occipital lobes on this light-colored Meller’s Chameleon.

One thing to watch out for with melleri chameleons is dehydration, so watch for sunken eyes or wrinkly, saggy skin and be sure to maintain proper humidity in their environment.

Meller's bird eating chameleon — When Meller’s Chameleons are threatened or stressed, they tend to exhibit bright green and black dots. They are large chameleons sometimes called “Bird-eaters.”

A fun fact about Meller’s chameleons is that their tongue can extend the length of their body and sometimes even longer! As far as feeding is concerned, Meller’s will eat large insects such as super worms, horn worms, large crickets, and roaches.

The melleri species is number two on our list of the largest chameleons in the world. They are wonderful animals that are full of spunk and have tremendous grip-strength.

huge mellers chameleon — This is one of our massive Meller’s chameleons. This large species is rarely captive bred.

And the largest chameleon in the world is…

1. Parson’s Chameleon (Calumma parsonii)

Parson’s Chameleons are true giants. The largest and heftiest of all chameleons, they can attain lengths of up to 28 inches and weigh anywhere from a pound to two pounds – basically they can be the size of a small house cat! It’s not just their impressive length, but their solid mass as well.

parsons chameleon - world's largest — The world’s largest chameleon is the Parson’s. Here is one of our female Yellow-lipped Parson’s chams.

Variable in color, males have ridges running from the side of their eyes down to their noses which form two blunt horns. Females don’t have horns, but do have small head crests and often times nose “bumps” on the tips of their noses.

parsons chameleon eggs — A collage of our female Yellow-Lipped Parson’s Chameleon and the 68 eggs she laid for us!

Parson’s are much less common within the pet reptile market, due to more strict regulations regarding their export, and the small number of captive breedings. Captive-bred animals are particularly valuable due to their rarity and lack of parasites. That’s why we were super excited to have our very own clutch of 68 Yellow-Lipped Parson’s eggs laid this year at Backwater Reptiles! If all goes well, we should have some babies born in 14-16 months. Fingers crossed.

If any of these chameleons interests you, we currently have all of these large chameleon species for sale.

Spanish Ribbed Newt Care (Pleurodeles waltl)

July 1, 2015November 19, 2015 ~ BackwaterReptiles

Wondering about Spanish Ribbed newt care? These newts make fun pets for amphibian fans because they grow to such a large size. Reaching lengths of up to twelve inches in the wild, Spanish Ribbed Newts generally stay in the range of six to eight inches in captivity, which is still very large for a newt.

Also known as Iberian Ribbed Newts and Sharp Ribbed Newts, these guys can be found in the wild in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. Their common names show a lot of variation, but they are all derived from the unique ability this newt has to puncture its own skin with the sharp points of its ribs as an interesting defense mechanism. In addition, during the process of ejection, the ribs are coated with a toxin or poison that would irritate a potential predator’s mouth. Not much is known about this behavior, however it’s very rare that rib ejection occurs in the captive animals and it is not harmful to humans.

ribbed newt rib defense — A photo of the Spanish Ribbed Newt’s defense mechanism of ejecting its ribs.

Ribbed Newts prefer an aquatic environment, so make sure that when housing these animals, their tank is equipped with a lot of water. Ideally, they should live in an aquarium with a small land mass to completely get out of the water if they desire. Temperatures should be kept below 72 degrees as these newts are very tolerant of cold but don’t do well in heat.

ribbed newt pet — Notice the orange tubercles where the ribs will protrude if this animal feels too threatened.

In the wild, Spanish Ribbed Newts are opportunistic eaters, chowing down on whatever stumbles across their path. When kept as pets, these newts will do well when fed pre-made shrimp/worm pellets, newt pellets, live worms, and other slugs and invertebrates. They are pretty indiscriminate when it comes to food.

Breeding these newts is very easy. In fact, Spanish Ribbed Newts have been taken into space on expeditions before just because they are so simple to breed. All that is required is a pair of healthy, sexually mature newts. Under normal conditions, the females will become swollen with eggs and the males will develop crests and nuptial pads. This is how you know its time to drain most of the tank’s water and allow the courtship ritual to begin. Within one week of successful mating, the female will begin to deposit her eggs, which are usually attached to an aquatic plant. Larvae will hatch in about seven to ten days! What a speedy reproductive cycle!

Like many designer reptiles, Spanish Ribbed Newts have even been bred to express the gene that causes leucism, but most are normally a brown or black in color with colored knobby warts.

Backwater Reptiles currently offers Spanish Ribbed Newts for sale. Get yourself a pair and start your own breeding project!

Most Popular Pet Monitor Lizards

June 29, 2015November 19, 2015 ~ BackwaterReptiles

Which monitor lizards make the best pets? We ship out a lot of monitor lizards here at Backwater Reptiles – they’re popular reptile pets! Because monitor lizards can grow to a large size quite quickly, we wanted to make sure potential new owners get as much info as possible and know exactly what they are in for long term. That’s why this blog entry is all about our most popular monitor lizards.

Black Throat Monitors (Varanus albigularis ionidesi)

Overall, Black Throat Monitors are docile lizards. With proper handling and care, they will overcome most aggressive behaviors and make excellent pet lizards. In fact, many people enjoy taking their Black Throat out for a stroll on a leash (always do so responsibly and securely). It’s healthy for the lizard to get exercise and natural sunshine, plus we guarantee people will stop and ask you questions! Remember, you’re a representative of the reptile community, so propagating a positive view of our hobby is hugely important.

Like most pet monitors, when full-grown, these guys will require a very large, spacious enclosure. In addition to invertebrates, they will eat whole rodents and other small mammals, including thawed mice and chicks (rodents are always better–their bones contain more calcium than bird bones), so make sure you don’t have a queasy stomach if you want a monitor of any kind.

Black Throats are not avid climbers nor particularly good at swimming, so it’s not necessary to give them climbing or swimming equipment like some monitors would require. However, a clean water dish is still a must.

All monitor species are very intelligent as far as lizards are concerned. However, Black Throats have been known to be able to internally count to seven! They can also recognize their keepers/owners, and can solve fairly involved food tests.

At our facility, we have a nearly five-foot long Blackthroat that is not only tame, but will walk to us when we slap the ground with our hand. We raised him from a baby that fit on our index finger, to a four-footer, inside one year. This should give you an idea of how quickly they can grow if provided with quality foods and heat.

Currently, Backwater Reptiles has hatchling and 14 to 18 inch long Black Throat Monitors ready to go. We get them in regularly, and cannot recommend them more highly if you are prepared for a large reptile pet.

White Throat Monitors (Varanus albigularis)

Also known as Cape Monitors, White Throats have larger, more bulbous noses than most other monitor species, particularly when they are mature. They have raised, almost cone-shaped neck scales and can be accented with yellowish-colored stripes, bands, or splotches. As suggested by their common name, their throats tend to be lighter in color than the rest of their body.

white throat monitor lizard — White throats can become very tame, albeit very large, pet monitor lizards.

White Throats grow anywhere from three to six feet long and will live around 12 to 20 years. Males are longer and heavier than females.

Although they are mostly diurnal, grund-dwelling lizards, it is not unheard of for White Throats to climb trees. This means that in addition to supplying a very large, spacious enclosure to keep your adult monitor, you should also provide some type of branch or safely secured climbing apparatus.

varanus albigularis pet — All monitors flick their tongues in and out to retrieve sensory data. They then place their tongue against something called a “Jacobsen’s organ” to interpret the data.

White Throats love to drink water, so be sure there is always a fresh supply in their enclosure. Keep the dish clean and remove any feces or food that might collect inside of it. Also be aware of how often your White Throat soaks in his/her water dish as this could be an indicator that there is not enough humidity present in his/her environment (this is true for most lizard species).

Backwater Reptiles currently has hatchling White Throat Monitors available. This species is not available nearly as often as the Black throat monitors. These little guys won’t need a gigantic enclosure for a while yet, although they do grow quickly!

Savannah Monitors (Varanus exanthematicus)

The highly intelligent Savannah Monitor requires stimulation and activity outside of its enclosure. Like all adult monitors, they will require a large habitat to live in, but they should also be given time outside their enclosure to exercise. They will thrive if their lifestyle is “exciting” – at least for a lizard.

Savannahs are probably the most manageable of the monitor lizards as far as size and enclosure size is concerned. Savannahs will grow to be an average of two and a half to three and a half feet in length and will live around twenty years if properly cared for.

If there is enough space, food, hiding space, and all other requirements are met, Savannah Monitors can even be kept communally, although it is not advisable to keep multiple males together.

Because Savannahs are avid burrowers, it is absolutely essential that their enclosure have a substrate that fosters this natural behavior. Cage decor should be minimal because burrowing will topple things and you don’t want anything to fall and harm the lizard.

The Savannah Monitor’s diet is very similar to that of all other monitor lizard species. Whole rodents and large insects should be the staples of a Savannah’s diet and fresh water should always be available.

Backwater Reptiles has hatchling and juvenile Savannah Monitors in stock and ready to ship. We’ve even got an anerythristic morph!

Nile Monitors (Varanus niloticus)

Of all the monitor lizards, Nile Monitors are probably the toughest to keep. They often times have aggressive temperaments (for the most part) and unless you’re an experienced herper, it’s best if they’re not handled. They tend to hiss, bite, and whip their tails at their keepers, even when handled consistently from a young age. They’re are always exceptions to every rule, but they generally make better display pets.

As their name suggests, Nile Monitors are excellent swimmers and even have flattened out rudder-like tails to assist them while in the water. This means that in order to keep a healthy, happy Nile Monitor, it should have an enclosure large enough to hold the six foot long adult lizard complete with an area for soaking and swimming. Make sure to keep the water container clean as these monitors will often defecate in the water.

Like all other monitors, the Nile Monitor’s diet should be as varied as possible, but include lots of large insects and whole rodents. These guys sure do have appetites!

Backwater Reptiles has very affordable hatchling Nile Monitors nearly year round.

pet nile monitor — Nile monitors can become tame, but generally they are a little more skittish. Starting with a baby is your best option for a pet monitor.

We hope we’ve taught you a thing or two about the most popular pet monitor lizards. What do you think the best pet monitor lizard is?

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