Meet Stanley… an LA tortoise living his best life.
I’ve always wanted to adopt a tortoise! (but waiting to get a yard of my own) They are fascinating creatures full of personality and love. I was so thrilled to ask his mom, Jill a few questions about what it’s like to live with a tortoise…
How/why did you acquire Stanley?
A friend of mine found Stanley walking across a very busy street in Los Angeles; she stopped her car and put him in her trunk. She walked around the neighborhood, trying to find out where he might have come from, to no avail. She called me, as I had always said I wanted a tortoise someday, and I said I would take him until we found his owner. After a week of no one claiming him, I tried to find him a new home. But after a couple weeks of having him, I had fallen in love. I’ve had him for 9 years now.
What’s his personality like?
People think turtles/tortoises are just rocks with legs. Not true! I treated Stanley like a dog from the start, and he began to act like one and “come out of his shell”....had to say that at least once! :) He’s very friendly, comfortable around people and dogs, and he loves to snuggle and be held.
Do you have any interesting/funny stories about Stanley?
Tortoises are notorious escape artists; they are strong and good diggers. When I first got him, he would watch the front gate; if anyone left it open at all, he would head out on an adventure. I finally figured out an safe secure enclosure for him, but before that, he did escape a couple times. The vet had suggested writing his name and phone number in nail polish pen on his shell, which I fortunately did. One time, I got a phone call from some guys saying that he had found Stanley, and that Stanley was currently joining them at a restaurant on their lunch break. I drove over, and sure enough, Stanley was hanging out with these business guys.
What’s hibernation like?
Stanley hibernates from early October through late March. He is asleep in a dog bed, with a blanket and pillow, in my house. A lot of people will put them in a drawer or box in the garage or something. But he seems to be comfortable and sleeps well. He’s pretty much zonked out, but he will shift around once in a while, and occasionally hisses if I’m being too noisy.
Any illnesses? Who’s your vet?
I’ve been lucky, Stanley has stayed pretty healthy. He did have a little bit of beak overgrowth (kind of like a bird can get) once, and the vet put him under and shaved it down. I took him to Stewart Veterinary Clinic in Santa Monica.
What kind of tortoise is he? Age? Expected lifespan? How big will he get?
He is a California Desert Tortoise, approximately 40-50 years old (it’s hard to tell for sure). He’s grown a bit over the years, but not too much. He currently weighs about 11 lbs. Desert Tortoises can live to 80 years or more. They are a smaller species, compared to Sulcata Tortoises, which are a common pet and can get to 150 lbs.
Does Stanley get out and about? Does he have friends?
He loves traveling in the car and loves going for outings. I have a dog car seat in my car and I plop him into it and he loves it. He sits calmly in it, looking out the window.
I just took him and his canine sisters up to see the poppy fields, and he enjoyed walking around and eating wildflowers. He also likes to hang out at Starbucks and check out everything going on. He has quite a few dog friends, and he does have a Sulcata tortoise friend, King Toot, who he gets to see on occasion.
What are the downsides of having a tortoise? Upsides?
Downsides: Well, they are only awake for half the year, which can also be an upside. lol. They live a long time, which is an upside, but is something to consider when adopting one. They may outlive their owners!
Would you recommend having a tortoise as a pet? Why?
I love Stanley. Tortoises are fascinating, peaceful creatures with unique personalities. Like very low-key dogs. However, they do need care and attention, and they need a spacious and secure area to live in. Keeping them in tanks is not ideal. They like to roam and be out in the sun. Like any pet, you need to really consider these things before getting one!
What’s Stanley’s average day like?
It depends on the time of year, but he usually gets up around 8am and heads outside to lounge in the sun. He likes to graze and lounge most of the day. I’ll give him a salad/fruit/ dandelions for lunch. He heads for bed around 5 or 6 pm.
I’d like to add that you shouldn’t buy a tortoise from a pet store... always rescue/adopt. There are tortoise rescues...always check them out first! And remember to do research and be aware of what your tortoise is going to need in so far as food, care, enclosures, etc. Remember some of them are literally a life-long commitment!!
Although there is a large captive population, the California Desert Tortoise is endangered in the wild and under federal and state laws, it is illegal to buy, sell, take or harm desert tortoises in California. You can adopt through the California Turtle and Tortoise Club Adoption Committees which finds homes for hundreds of abandoned, lost, seized, injured turtles and tortoises that have been turned in by government officers, humane organizations and veterinarians.
If you would like to see a California Desert tortoise in the wild, you can visit the Desert Tortoise Research Natural Area in the Mojave desert which is 39.5 square miles of prime natural habitat set aside for the local wild population of desert tortoise, the official California state reptile.