The author explains how he has built a terrarium and what he feeds his tortoises. He provides many kinds of vegetables and wild plants. Health problems caused by nematodes and flagellates are described in detail. Despite the care that was given, death of two tortoises is described. Post-mortem examination revealed that in one case there was a huge worm infection and in another case a tortoise died as a result of peritonitis.
Detailed information is given in various tables.
These mainly carnivorious turtles occasionaly eat plant material. Macroclemys can grow up to 90 cm in length and then weighs about 100 kg. Chelydra is smaller and reaches 50 cm in length. The author describes his way of caring for a 3,5 cm baby C. s. osceola . He uses a vivarium of 50 x 30 x 30 cm.