Amboina Box Turtle (Cuora amboinensis)

Burmese Star Tortoise



Tampa Bay
Turtle & Tortoise
Society, Inc.


Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle

Concentric Diamondback Terrapin


Monthly Newsletter
August 2019 Issue
Date: August 10th 2019, starts at 7:00pm.
Guest speaker: Jordan Donini on The Natural History and Reproductive Biology of Diamondback
Terrapins. Jordan grew up in Southwest Florida and began keeping and working with reptiles from
a very early age. He attended FGCU and received a bachelor’s in biology with focus on organismal
biology. He also worked at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) on Sanibel Island for
several years before attaining a master’s degree in biology at Southeastern Louisiana University.
Currently he is a Professor of Biology at Florida Southwestern State College in Naples, Florida. His
research focuses on reproductive biology and physiology in turtles, with major emphasis on
Diamondback Terrapins, Box Turtles, Mud Turtles, Gopher Tortoises, and Chicken Turtles.
Diamondback Terrapins have an interesting and variable life history, living in coastal environments
from the Texas Gulf, up though the Northeastern United states. In this talk we’ll discuss a little
about their life history, their reproductive biology, and their role in human history itself, along with
my personal experiences with their reproductive physiology with some interesting notes from the
field.


Misc Notes
Please update your email information with Ralph Till at rascal1843@aol.com. We only use this
information for club business and it helps for club members to stay up to date on any last minutes
changes that may occur. It will also help ensure that you receive your electronic copy of our
monthly newsletter.
If you would like to submit an article or pictures to be published in the next upcoming newsletter,
please email it to Kim at sparty@tampabay.rr.com. Please submit by the end of the month to be
published in the next month’s newsletter.


If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any of the officers listed below:
Elected & Appointed Officers
President - Ralph Till
727-515-7443 Rascal1843@aol.com
Vice President – Mark Randall
20smoke@mindspring.com

Treasurer - Ralph Till
727-515-7443 Rascal1843@aol.com
Secretary/Memberships/Public Relations - Kim Illum
sparty@tampabay.rr.com

Newsletter Editor – Mark & Kim Illum
sparty@tampabay.rr.com
Facebook Coordinator – Ralph, Mark R & Kim
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TBTTS
New Website under construction:
http://www.tbtts.org/

Note from the Newsletter Editor
Hi Everyone,
Our website is still under construction and I would like to start adding some stuff to it. Here
are a few things I was thinking about adding:
1) Native Turtles & Tortoises – if anyone is out and about taking pictures or has pictures of
any of our native turtles & tortoise, pls send them to me.
2) Edible plant list
3) Local wildlife rescue centers or a Veterinarian’s office that treats exotics by county – if
anyone has a vet’s office that you go to, pls email me over their contact info (name, address,
& phone number).
Would there be anyone else who would be willing to help get this info on our website? Also,
any other suggestions or comments?

Thanks,
Kim Illum
sparty@tampabay.rr.com
RALPH'S RAMBLINGS

Hello Everyone.
Gosh! One week it's 95 degrees plus, and the next week we have a foot of rain. Hopefully everyone kept
their animals safe and secure. Remember that they are in our care so it's imperative that we do what is
needed to ensure their safety, especially the ones kept outdoors.
I was super impressed with our speaker last month. Adam Ermerick of Articulate Reptiles gave a rather
stimulating and detailed presentation on the processes needed to create his skeletal re-creations. Who
knew that someone would maintain a large group of working beetles just to clean bones. Amazing!
The National Reptile Breeders Expo in Daytona is coming up in several weeks. August 16-18th. Friday
night is Turtle Talks at the Hilton, and Saturday & Sunday are show days at the convention center. It's
arguably one of the largest reptile shows in the country, plus a great place to network.
Those who attended our last meeting got to see our new club tee shirts. We're making them available to
everyone for only $10.00 ea. I ordered multiple sizes, so there should be enough for anyone who wants
one. We can always order additional sizes if needed. I think they came out pretty good.
This month our speaker is Jordan Donini, a professor of Biology at Florida Southwestern State College.
His topic will be: The Natural History and Reproductive Biology of Diamondback Terrapins. This should
be an exciting presentation and I anticipate a great turnout.
Finally, don't forget that September is our annual auction. I've already been in contact with many of the
major suppliers and the items are starting to arrive. If anyone has any thing that they would donate,
please do so.
Enough for now, see you on August 10
th

Ralph Till
Rascal1843@aol.com









Re-Cap from last month’s meeting
Last month’s guest speaker was Adam Emerick with The Articulate Reptile, skeletal taxidermy &
display. We learned the different stages for taxidermy (preparation, maceration, degreasing, and
structuring) and how the dermestid beetles play a great role with helping cleaning of the skeletons.









Upcoming Club Speakers
September 14, 2019 – No guest speaker, this is our annual Auction
October 12, 2019 – TBA
November 9, 2019 – No guest speaker, this is our annual election night (current members only).
December 14, 2019 - No guest speaker, our annual Christmas party (current members only).
NOTE: Our annual auction is next month. If you have any new or gently used turtle related items
that you would like to donate for our auction, please bring them with you on our auction night. If
you are unable to come that night but do have items that you would like to donate, you can bring
them with you to the August meeting.

Upcoming Club Events
Upcoming reptile shows
Daytona National Reptile Breeders Expo – August 16th – 18th 2019
Repticon FIRE show – September 7th & 8th 2019
Repticon New Port Richey – September 21st & 22nd 2019
Repticon Kissimmee – October 12th & 13th 2019
Repticon Tampa – November 9th & 10th 2019– volunteers needed
Repticon Orlando – December 7th & 8th 2019

Please stay tune for other events/field trips that we are working on.
NOTE: If you would be interested in doing a talk, pls contact Ralph Till at Rascal1843@aol.com for
additional information.


Turtle/Tortoise Videos
Tortoise shellabrates his birthday:

https://www.facebook.com/KATVChannel7/videos/1146630812191371/?v=1146630812191371

Baby sea turtle tries to eat go-pro::

https://www.facebook.com/1920270791534312/videos/333578594222928/?v=3335785942229
28




Turtles/Tortoises in the News
An innovative underpass keeps turtles from being roadkill:

https://www.wpr.org/innovative-underpass-keeps-turtles-highway-its-saved-dozens-becoming-
roadkill?fbclid=IwAR1qwG9TPmX1FpPGikyf_jEKOoXRugUS4XgncrIT3sG7H6dIbz4X5Uja1TE

Jonathan, the 187 year old tortoise:

http://justsomething.co/this-is-jonathan-the-187-year-old-tortoise-photographed-in-1886-and-
today/?fbclid=IwAR1gR_TnN5H2gq3Kdi7M54-kckzlZ47xEFuTEYwahlqeXSxDnRPjP3mY3q8

90 year old tortoise gets a new set of wheels:

https://www.buzznick.com/tortoise-outfitted-with-
wheels/?utm_source=sharebuttons&fbclid=IwAR0m2ycjun8kC0AEUMVgT6zcW8fCf7UpMg6sUImUw
VPcfrYK4TPm58-tQB8
Kidz Korner

Turtle/Tortoise Tender Tales (rescue stories)
This rescue story is brought to you from Central Florida Wildlife Center:





Nina the day we got her 2014 Nina enjoying mud time 2016 Nina at Christmas 2015 Nina hiding in plants

As a turtle and tortoise rescue it’s not uncommon for our organization to receive calls to rehome captive
tortoises owners can no longer keep. One particular call is still fresh in my mind. Our organization
received a call about a red foot tortoise that was kept as a class room pet for several years. The class
room tortoise was in the Tampa area and our own Kim Illum went to rescue her. Shockingly the tortoise
was in horrible condition and crammed into a small aquarium, only a 10 or a 20 gallon tank. There were
two of them but one had died before help was sought.
The remaining tortoise was pathetic. She had extremely dry skin and horrible disfiguring pyramiding. Her
tank was void of any lighting what so ever. She was so mangled and deformed from metabolic bone
disease she could not walk only mercifully tried to push herself around with her small weak legs.
Kim brought her to me for rehabilitation. She was placed in a proper set up with lots of damp moss and
a humidity holding substrate but she still barley moved. We put her on a calcium supplement
immediately.
The new environment was stressful to her. She would only eat from my hands the first few weeks. I
began holding the food farther away from her to encourage movement. It worked! She slowly but surely
started to pull herself around better. Within a month she was walking. Although her gait was that of a
drunken sailor she was walking!
As she got stronger she was moved to an outdoor pen to absorb the sunlight she so desperately needed.
She began eating and grazing on her own. It was time to find her a permanent home. After so much
neglect and suffering there was only one couple trusted to keep her safe for the rest of her life.
Luke and Christy of Mississippi turtle rescue are dear friends of mine. They had recently lost a deformed
red foot tortoise who was in similar condition as little Nina.

A note from the adopters, Luke and Christy Milbourne:
Having had extensive experience with another severely deformed redfoot tortoise, the Central Florida
Wildlife Center asked us if we could take in another one that was under their care. We agreed, and
adopted Nina in August 2014.
To slowly acclimate her to her new home, we introduced her to her new surroundings gradually. For
the first fall/winter of her life with us, she was housed in an indoor setup. In the spring of 2015, she was
moved to an outside “day only” enclosure during the warm months. She returned inside during the
fall/winter of 2015. In the spring of 2016, she was moved outside on a 24/7 basis, and she has done
remarkably well. She seems to love being outside and has discovered her favorite natural element on
earth is mud. Because of her deformities, she still requires a shallow, gradual-incline water source due
to her deformities, but she manages this very well in her outdoor enclosure. Her favorite past times are
begging for food, chomping hibiscus, wallowing in mud, and begging for more food. We truly believe
she is happy in her new home with us, and we look forward to many new adventures with her.
Regards,
Amanda Ebenhack
Please visit our website to see more of the rehabs we currently have or if you may need additional
information about re-homing/adopting a future pet, please visit: http://www.turtlerescueusa.com

Also like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Central-Florida-Wildlife-Center-Inc-
A-non-profit-501c3-Organization
Adopters,
Christy and Luke Milbourne
Central MS Turtle Rescue

Please visit our website to see more of the rehabs we currently have or if you may need additional
information about re-homing/adopting a future pet, please visit:
http://centralmsturtlerescue.weebly.com/

Also like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centralmsturtlerescue


On 8/16/19: 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM Turtle Talks at the Daytona Hilton Hotel hosted by Turtle & Tortoise
Club of Florida (Everyone invited): Speakers at Turtle Night:
7:00 PM - Elliott Jacobson - Biology and development of the Chelonian shell.
8:00 PM - Ivan Alfonso - Breeding of snail eating turtles (Malayemys subtrijuga).
9:00 PM - Paul VanderSchouw - Green hair and spiked collars: the Australian saw-shelled snapper
(Myuchelys latisternum).
10:00 PM - Ronny Bakowskie - Turtles for couch potatoes; Keeping and breeding small turtles in
Germany

On 8/17/19: The National Reptile Breeders Expo is open 10am-5pm. Then 8:00 PM - 12:00 PM Auction
at the Daytona Hilton Hotel (top of the escalator). Everyone is invited.

On 8/18/19: The National Reptile Breeders Expo is open 10am-5pm.









Classified Section
You may place your animals, items, services that you have for sale in the club’s newsletter. Ads will
run month to month and you must renew it for every month that you would like. Ads are free to up
to date/paid members, or $5.00 per month ($8.00 for 2 months) for non-members.

Adoptions
Looking to re-home out your reptile? Place a free ad for any reptile that you are looking to adopt
out (free ads are for reptiles which does NOT have a re-homing fee).

Advertising Rates
1/8th Page = $8 per issue or $75 per year (savings of $21).
1/4th Page = $11 per issue or $100 per year (savings of $32).
1/2 Page = $16 per issue or $150 per year (savings of $42).
Full Page = $25 per issue or $225 per year (savings of $75).
Pricing includes art/graphics/color, however you send the advertisement will be published in our
electronic newsletter.

Please email over the Classified/Adoptions/Advertisement info by the end of the month to: Kim at
sparty@tampabay.rr.com
All payments for advertisements should be sent directly to:
Moccasin Lake Nature Park
c/o Tampa Bay Turtle & Tortoise Society, Inc.
2750 Park Trail Ln.
Clearwater, FL 33759


Smelt Feed & Pet Supply has gracefully
offered to give us a $15.00 gift certificate
each month for our monthly raffle. Stop by
their store and see what they have:
4116 East 7th Ave. Tampa, FL 33605
www.smeltfeed.com
https://www.facebook.com/SmeltFeed

Other Herp Societies
The Turtle & Tortoise Club of Florida
Meets on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7pm
Location: Oakland Nature Preserve, 747 Machete Trail, Oakland, FL 34787
Suncoast Herpetological Society Inc.
website: http://www.kingsnake.com/suncoastherpsociety/SHSHome.htm
meets on the 4th Saturday of the month at 6:00pm.
Location: Moccasin Lake Nature Park 2750 Park Trail Ln. Clearwater, FL 33759
Central Florida Herpetological Society
website: Centralfloridaherpsociety.org
meets on the 4th Sunday of every other month at 2:00 PM but you want to be there between 1:00 -
1:30 PM for parking
Location: Orlando Public Library, Downtown Branch, Anderson Room 3rd Floor, 101 East Central
Blvd Orlando, FL 32801
Calusa Herpetological Society
website: calusaherp.org
meets on the first Thursday at 7:00 PM
Location: In the Iona house at the Calusa Nature Center
Jacksonville Herpetological Society
website: jaxherp.tripod.com
meets first Wednesday of every month at 7:30 PM
Location: Museum of Science and History (MOSH), Museum circle, Jacksonville, FL








Membership and Newsletter subscription form
Annual membership fee: $20.00 per year, and the membership includes:
- Electronic Monthly newsletter sent to your email address
- Free Classified’s in newsletter (members only) as well as low cost
advertisement rates.
- Annual Auction, Christmas Party, and Office Elections
- Monthly Meetings in an indoor classroom setting that consists of the
following:
- Different guest speaker each month
- Raffle Prizes
- Info about upcoming events/reptile shows/field trips/etc..

Date/Time: Meets the 2nd Saturday of every month at 7:00pm
Meeting Address: Moccasin Lake Nature Park 2750 Park Trail Ln.
Clearwater, FL 33759
Complete the form below and bring it with you to the next upcoming meeting
or mail it along with payment to:
Moccasin Lake Nature Park
c/o Tampa Bay Turtle & Tortoise Society, Inc.
2750 Park Trail Ln.
Clearwater, FL 33759
Check one:
_______ New Membership _______ Membership Renewal
Name: _________________________________________________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________________________________________
City, State, Zipcode: ___________________________________________________________________
Email: _______________________________________ Phone#: ________________________________

NOTE: We would never sell or trade your information. This information is strictly for club use only.

Answer Key