ABSTRACT

The desert tortoise, Gopherus agassizii, is one of the more common species of tortoises seen by veterinarians practicing in the southwestern United States. Over the past century, many desert tortoises have been taken into captivity. It is currently illegal to remove these tortoises from the wild. Captive populations continue to grow as a result of captive breeding and poaching. Successful long term captive maintenance and reproduction of this species can be achieved with proper diet and husbandry. Medical and surgical considerations for desert tortoises are also addressed.