Turtles & Tortoises for Dummies

Paperback, 292 pages, copyright 2001.About the Author: Liz Palika met her first reptile as a teenager when she brought home a long, sleek, black racer snake and her mother promptly locked her out of the house. That snake was immediately released back into the wild, but Liz's fascination with reptiles continued.Today, Liz and her husband, Paul, take in numerous abandoned, neglected, or escaped turtles and tortoises. The chelonians are evaluated as to their state of health, nursed back to health, and then adopted to new homes. A few who need special care remain with Liz and Paul as long as needed. A few stay forever. Onyx, a Gulf Coast box turtle, was the first chelonian taken in after Liz and Paul decided (almost 20 years ago) to do rescue work. Onyx was so personable and so old (she is ancient) that she has remained a permanent resident. She and seven of her offspring are the rulers of the box turtle outside enclosure. Besides Onyx's contribution to the world, the Palikas have established a breeding colony of leopard tortoises and a colony of sulcatas.Liz is an award-winning author; her books have won honors from ASPCA, Purina, Dog Writers Association of America, Cat Writers Association, and the San Diego Book Writers. Her more than 30 nonfiction books include The Consumer's Guide to Feeding Reptiles (Howell Book House), Your Bearded Dragon's Life (Prima), Your Iguana's Life (Prima), and The Leopard Tortoise; He said, She said (Green Nature Books).