Desert Oasis Turtle & Tortoise Sanctuary

Desert Oasis Turtle & Tortoise Sanctuary Providing a wonderful life for rescued turtles and tortoises. Tucson, AZ Est. 2022 in Tucson, AZ.

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Donations appreciated
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PayPal & Zelle [email protected]

Leroy the leopard tortoise. 😍
02/20/2025

Leroy the leopard tortoise. 😍

The pond life 🙌
02/16/2025

The pond life 🙌

Basking bliss.
02/07/2025

Basking bliss.

What winter is like for the semi-aquatic turtles who live in the main pond and the stock tank mini ponds. In this climat...
01/27/2025

What winter is like for the semi-aquatic turtles who live in the main pond and the stock tank mini ponds. In this climate here in Tucson they are in a partial state of brumation (unlike the box turtles and tortoises who are in full brumation.)

Some stay deeper down in the water and hide under plants, while others swim around at times and come out to bask in the sun on warmer days. We put food into the water just on occasion during the winter and certain turtles will eat a little, but mostly they aren’t interested.

“Partial brumation" or "semi brumation" refers to a state where a reptile experiences a reduced level of activity and slowed metabolism during colder months, but not to the extent of complete brumation. It’s a milder form of dormancy where they may still be somewhat active and they may show some interest in food.

In harsher winter climates, turtles undergo full brumation at the bottom of ponds. Semi-aquatic turtles can breathe underwater through their cloaca (the vent/ opening on the underside of the tail at the base) with a process called cloacal respiration, which is a type of diffusion that moves oxygen into the turtle's bloodstream and carbon dioxide out.

01/15/2025

Turtle oasis 🙌❤️

Happy New Year from Stewart and everyone else at DOTTS. We are grateful for your support. 🙌💚
01/01/2025

Happy New Year from Stewart and everyone else at DOTTS. We are grateful for your support. 🙌💚

Leroy enjoying this lovely winter day because leopard tortoises don’t brumate.
12/29/2024

Leroy enjoying this lovely winter day because leopard tortoises don’t brumate.

Penny. 😍 Sunbathing beauty.
12/28/2024

Penny. 😍 Sunbathing beauty.

Happy holidays from your friends at DOTTS. ❤️
12/25/2024

Happy holidays from your friends at DOTTS. ❤️

Pond life. 🙌
12/22/2024

Pond life. 🙌

Turtle oasis. Life indoors in a glass tank can never compare to outdoor pond life.
12/14/2024

Turtle oasis. Life indoors in a glass tank can never compare to outdoor pond life.

Leroy is the only tortoise who doesn’t brumate at DOTTS.
12/12/2024

Leroy is the only tortoise who doesn’t brumate at DOTTS.

12/08/2024

A happy Sunday for the pond turtles.

Leroy! The other tortoises and the box turtles are currently brumating. But the leopard tortoise, native to Africa, is a...
12/04/2024

Leroy! The other tortoises and the box turtles are currently brumating. But the leopard tortoise, native to Africa, is a non-brumating species, so Leroy stays awake year round. His wooden house is insulated and has a heating element in it.

Elwood loves life at DOTTS.
12/02/2024

Elwood loves life at DOTTS.

Stewart is feeling thankful today.
11/28/2024

Stewart is feeling thankful today.

Beautiful Penny. 😍 She’s a hybrid Central American slider and is the largest slider at DOTTS. She was rescued in April 2...
11/23/2024

Beautiful Penny. 😍 She’s a hybrid Central American slider and is the largest slider at DOTTS. She was rescued in April 2023.

Happiness and peace at DOTTS.
11/18/2024

Happiness and peace at DOTTS.

Address

Sparkman Boulevard
Tucson, AZ
85716

Telephone

+15203335487

Website

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Videos

Turtle oasis. 🙌
Turtle oasis. 🙌

Turtle oasis 🙌❤️

A happy Sunday for the pond turtles.
A happy Sunday for the pond turtles.

A happy Sunday for the pond turtles.

Have you ever seen a tortoise yawn? Pretty adorable! Dale is living the good life. 🥰
Have you ever seen a tortoise yawn? Pretty adorable! Dale is living the good life. 🥰

Have you ever seen a tortoise yawn? Pretty adorable! Dale is living the good life. 🥰

Loving the pond life. The days of confining glass tanks are far behind them.

Elwood is doing very well here. Prior to DOTTS, he spent 45 years indoors in tanks, but those days are far behind him. 🙌 #muskturtle

Fletcher’s greeting this morning. 🥰
Fletcher’s greeting this morning. 🥰

This was Fletcher’s greeting this morning. 🥰

Raddichio is a Russian tortoise favorite. Wilson is happy.😍
Raddichio is a Russian tortoise favorite. Wilson is happy.😍

Radicchio is a Russian tortoise favorite. Wilson is happy.😍

Box turtles Eloise and Maisie enjoying the rain! It’s so sad to think of all the turtles living in tanks indoors who never get to experience the rain (or the sun).🥺 *Volume up
Box turtles Eloise and Maisie enjoying the rain! It’s so sad to think of all the turtles living in tanks indoors who never get to experience the rain (or the sun).🥺 *Volume up

Box turtles Eloise and Maisie enjoying the rain! It’s so sad to think of all of the turtles living in tanks indoors who never get to experience the rain (or the sun).🥺 *Volume up

Humphrey and Milton LOVE mulberry leaves.

Elwood is amazing. 😍 Volume on and watch until the end when a bee lands on his nose. 😃#MuskTurtle
Elwood is amazing. 😍 Volume on and watch until the end when a bee lands on his nose. 😃#MuskTurtle

Elwood is amazing. 😍 Volume on and watch until the end when a bee lands on his nose. 😃#MuskTurtle

Evening chat with Leroy 🥰
Evening chat with Leroy 🥰

Evening chat with Leroy 🥰

This was when we first put Elwood the musk turtle into his new home. After 45 years of small tank life indoors, he’s in heaven here and we are so happy for him to experience this.
This was when we first put Elwood the musk turtle into his new home. After 45 years of small tank life indoors, he’s in heaven here and we are so happy for him to experience this.

This was when we first put Elwood the musk turtle into his new home. After 45 years of small tank life indoors, he’s in heaven here and we are happy for him to experience this.

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