Amanda Nuzum and Shelly, the tortoise

4/5/2023

As a teenager, Amanda Nuzum loved her sulcata tortoise, Daisy. After high school, she kept Daisy, but she was busy, working three jobs. To her dismay, she had to give her up.

“I couldn’t give her the attention she needed. It was so sad. I didn’t want her sitting in a tank all day,” she recalled.

In 2018, she bought a Russian tortoise to give to her kids for Christmas — but she admits it was mostly her pet.

“I didn’t force it on them at the time,” she said.

Her kids named the tortoise “Shelly” for obvious reasons — her shell. Now, Shelly is part of the family. She’s kept in a tank heated with a UVB light, which is essential to her survival. The heat lamp is her favorite hangout.

Tortoises and turtles differ in that a tortoise lives on dry land, whereas a turtle needs water to survive. This tortoise’s diet consists of romaine lettuce, bananas and apples.

As Nuzum gently lifted Shelly out of her tank, she placed her on the floor, where she roamed freely in the family room.

“She has a little get up and go but is not winning any races,” she said.

Her dogs, Kenzie and Izzy, are curious around Shelly.

“They will walk up and smell her,” she said. “They are good dogs.”

As Nuzum compared the three pets, she concluded the tortoise is easier to take care of and lower maintenance. The family bathes Shelly once a week, which is a simple task.

“They don’t eat expensive food like the dogs or have high veterinarian bills.” 

Nuzum’s love of tortoises also stems from when she worked at the Blank Park Zoo. She loved petting Barnaby, a 93-year-old tortoise that weighed about 500 pounds.

Nuzum said Shelly knows her voice.

“As I approach the tank, I talk to her in a certain voice. She comes out and lifts her head to me.”

Although tortoises appear aggressive, they don’t bite. It’s a misconception that the creatures are “a snake with a shell.”

“It’s true they have a snake-like look and a rounded snout. But unlike a snapping turtle, they don’t bite. If they are afraid, they’ll put their head back in the shell.” 

As I pet Shelly, the shell felt dry and smooth, like petting a bumpy leather shoe. Nuzum said she pets Shelly every day.

“They can feel it through their shell. She loves having her head petted. I used to do that at the zoo. It’s cool to get in there and rub them to see how they react.” 

She knows Shelly will live a long time and is committed to taking care of her.

“I’m in for the long haul. She could live dozens of years. Tortoises need a lot of attention, love and care.”

Nuzum’s kids and friends adore the unique pet.

“We know a lot about dogs and cats — but not tortoises. I find it fascinating and love seeing her personality come out. She’s part of our family. It’s been exciting having her as a pet.”