The California Turtle & Tortoise Club web site has a desert tortoise care sheet. You can learn about desert tortoise care. You are always welcome to join us at one of our meetings and speak with experienced keepers.

Yes. Our meetings are open to the public, and we welcome guests.

Please click on our General Information email link to request a desert tortoise permit. You must include both your full physical address and a current photo of the tortoise.

The California Department of Fish & Wildlife Desert Tortoise Permits are free. But, if you wish to make a donation to the "sick and injured fund" to help rehome desert tortoises, we will welcome your donation and be most appreciative.

Absolutely NOT! Our goal is to get your tortoise legally permitted. There is no penalty for not having previously obtained a permit.

Please get your turtle to a reptile veterinarian immediately. California Turtle & Tortoise Club maintains a list of veterinarians in California that treat reptiles. Visit this page to find a reptile veterinarian in your area.

Please get the turtle to a reptile veterinarian immediately! California Turtle & Tortoise Club maintains a list of veterinarians in California that treat reptiles. Visit this page to find a reptile veterinarian in your area.

We do not have a brick-and-mortar facility in which to keep animals turned in for adoption. The animals are temporarily housed with Chapter members who serve as "foster parents" and space is very limited.

We try our best to find homes for aquatic turtles, but we have run out of ponds in which to place them due to the high numbers already turned in. When new ponds become available, we will place aquatics.

The California Turtle & Tortoise Club is an all-volunteer organization — there are no employees. We always welcome new members who are interested in the work we do and would like to help.

Please attend a CTTC meeting as soon as possible. The Valley Chapter meets on the third Friday of every month at 7:30 p.m. You can also check other chapters' web sites for meeting details. At the meeting you will be able to meet experienced keepers who can answer your questions.

There are general care sheets available on the CTTC web site, including care sheets for box turtles, desert tortoises and water turtles. Please view those, and, if a sheet isn't available for your breed of turtle, we recommend the care sheets on the Tortoise Trust web site.

The most commonly kept turtles and tortoises in the California area can be identified from the pictures on the Tortoise Trust Care Page.

Please click on our General Information link and send us a message. Your question should be answered within 24 to 48 hours.