Season 1

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more

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 … Read more