Sulcata Tortoise




Tampa Bay
Turtle & Tortoise
Society, Inc.



Black Knob Map Turtle



Monthly Newsletter
December 2019 Issue

Date: December 14, 2019, starts at 6:00pm.
No guest speaker, this our annual Christmas party (current members only) with the Suncoast
Herpetological Society. The 2 clubs will be providing the hams and the paper goods. We are asking
the members attending to bring a side dish or a desert to share along with whatever non-alcoholic
drink for yourself.

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/

RALPH'S RAMBLINGS
Hi Everybody.
Hello Everyone. At our last monthly meeting all of the current club officers were re-elected for the
2020 year. Thank you all for the continued support. Our club is steadily growing and it is because of the
current membership that we can say that. Let's keep it up!
If you recall, last month was also Repticon at the Tampa fairgrounds. Zoomed donated a 20gal aquatic
turtle kit for us to raffle off which was a huge success. We're always grateful for their support. Thank
you.
The very next week I was off to the TTPG conference in Phoenix, Az. Most of the top breeders of turtles
and tortoises in the country attend and it's a great time to network. Despite battling the flu, I was able
to give a presentation on Friday morning about Egyptian tortoises. I'm pleased to say that it went quite
well.
Things are shaping up for a great 2020 within the TBTTS. We already have speakers lined up for 5
months and several more interested. Our new additions to the board have come up with several great
ideas for activities and I couldn't be happier. More to come later.
This month's meeting is our annual Christmas party. As in the past years, we are joining forces with the
Suncoast Herp Society. If you could bring a small side dish to share, that would be awesome. Also
remember that we'll be starting at 6:00. The date is December 14th, 2019. NO ALCOHOL PLEASE
We are appealing to the membership, we need short articles written by you as to your successes with
your turtles or tortoises. As a club, one of our goals is to help each other with your particular choice of
species. The membership as a whole has huge resources in experience. Why not share this experience
with others. A simple paragraph is great to start with. Share with us what you have done and why. This
way we can all learn something and help each other.
You wouldn't believe that amount of people at the TTPG that commented on our Facebook page.
Apparently we're doing something right! Again, we need input from you, the membership to make it
even better.
Enough rambling for now, see you all at the Christmas party. Remember, Saturday December 14th,
2019 at 6:00. Moccasin Lake Nature Park. 2750 Park Trail Lane, Clearwater, Florida 33759.
Thanks,
Ralph Till
Rascal1843@aol.com



Upcoming Club Speakers
January 11, 2020 – TBD
February 8, 2020 – TBD
March 14, 2020 – TBD
April 11, 2020 – TBD
May 9, 2020 – TBD
June 13, 2020 – TBD
July 11, 2020 – TBD
August 8, 2020 – TBD
September 12, 2020 – No speaker, this is our annual auction
October 10, 2020 – TBD
November 14, 2020 – No guest speaker, this is our annual election night (current members only)
December 12, 2020 – No guest speaker, our annual Christmas party (current members only)

NOTE: If you would be interested in doing a talk, pls contact Ralph Till at Rascal1843@aol.com for additional
information.

Upcoming Club Events
Upcoming reptile shows
Repticon Orlando – December 7th & 8th 2019
Repticon Orlando – February 15th & 16th 2020
Repticon Tampa – February 22nd & 23rd 2020 – volunteers needed
Repticon Kissimmee – May 23rd & 24th 2020
Repticon Tampa – June 13th & 14th 2020 – volunteers needed
Repticon Orlando – July 25th & 26th 2020
Repticon Sarasota – August 1st & 2nd 2020
Daytona National Reptile Breeders Expo – August 20th – 23rd 2020
Repticon FIRE show – September 5th & 6th 2020
Repticon Kissimmee – October 24th & 25th 2020
Repticon Tampa – November 14th & 15th 2020 – volunteers needed
Repticon Orlando – December 5th & 6th 2020
Please stay tune for other events/field trips that we are working on.




Turtle/Tortoise Videos
Baby sulcata finds a new friend:

https://www.facebook.com/globalturtlefamily/videos/713328452523522/?v=713328452523522
Cute colabration of turtle/tortoise videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4Jj9QZFJvw








Turtles/Tortoises in the News
Students help improve turtle rehab through 3d printing:

https://floridapoly.edu/news/students-help-improve-turtle-rehab-through-3d-printing-
technology/?fbclid=IwAR1EG0SNZEFeEHNyOjj3O6yK-9_2cD49YId4B1divNVo5KsTeIbr9Qh2Ne8
How do baby turtles survive winter:

http://archive-
srel.uga.edu/outreach/ecoviews/ecoview090215.htm?fbclid=IwAR1YRDxcYaTp2vAF4wbeWHo
WXVxMxfySVTvf8T8wb_WF5_StV-Vseoj6h9k








Kidz Korner

Turtle/Tortoise Tender Tales (rescue stories)
This rescue story is brought to you from Turtle Rescue of Long Island


On 11/14/19 I picked up some hatchling slider turtles that were being smuggled out of our country.
Sadly several died before we got them and these five are not in very good shape. But I have never in all
my years seen what was done to these poor little hatchlings. It was thought that they were stickers but
it appears that they may have been painted. It's really sad to see that someone would do this to any
turtle, but especially a hatchling that is so delicate. I only hope I can get them stabilized, their eyes all
open, and eating so then I can figure out how to get this stuff off their shells. The case is under
investigation so they can't be adopted out, but if they do survive and the case is closed, they will be put
up for adoption. 11/15/19: Our little hatchling sliders are hanging in there. Only two still have one eye
squinting, but I'm hopeful. I've seen two eat and hope the others are when I'm not looking. Upon further
observation it appears that it is hydrographic film. Our main focus is going to be to get them stabilized
first and then how to remove the hydrographic film. Keep your fingers crossed for them.
Regards,
Julie
Turtle Rescue of Long Island
Please visit our website to see more of the rehabs we currently have or if you may need additional
information about adopting a future pet, please visit: http://www.turtlerescues.org
Also like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TurtleRescueLongIsland





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