In this episode of Turtle Tea with TTPG, host Wendy Montroy welcomes back veteran tortoise breeder Ralph Till for an in-depth look at one of the world’s most unique and small tortoise species: the Spider Tortoise (Pyxis arachnoides).
Native to the arid coastal scrublands of southwest Madagascar, spider tortoises face severe threats in the wild, like slash-and-burn charcoal production, making successful captive management and conservation breeding critical for their future. Wendy and Ralph discuss why these small, critically endangered tortoises require advanced husbandry, their mandatory seasonal brumation patterns, enclosure parameters, and proper diet requirements.
In This Episode, We Cover:
– Natural History & Range: The harsh, dry coastal scrublands of Madagascar and threats in the wild.
– Subspecies Differences: Comparing Pyxis arachnoides arachnoides, P. a. brygooi, and P. a. oblonga.
– Brumation Reality: Why spider tortoises bury themselves for 3 to 5 months at a time, and how to safely monitor them without causing unnecessary stress.
– Captive Care & Enclosure Setup: Lighting, UV, humidity, and group housing dynamics (including 2.2 setups).
– Diet & Nutrition: Daily green rotation, mushroom/fruit supplements, and commercial diet schedules.
– Why They Aren’t for Beginners: Managing delicate hatchlings and understanding their strict environmental needs.
About the Turtle & Tortoise Preservation Group (TTPG)
The mission of the Turtle and Tortoise Preservation Group (TTPG) is to ensure survival of the world’s turtles and tortoises through captive breeding. The TTPG supports the private ownership of chelonians and recognizes the substantial role that the private sector has played in the captive breeding and conservation of turtles and tortoises.
Contact Ralph Till: rascal1843@aol.com
TTPG Website: https://www.ttpg.org
Join TTPG or donate: https://www.ttpg.org/membership
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TTPGGroup
About Turtle Tea
Website: https://www.turtletea.org
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