Religion teacher continues family hobby of tortoise breeding
During religion teacher Alec Sixta’s Monarch Television debut in early September, one could not forget how he nonchalantly mentioned his longtime hobby: tortoise breeding.
Starting with his dad who passed down the tradition, Sixta, a religion teacher, has been taking care of turtles since his teenage years and has kept the hobby alive as a way to stay connected with his father and brother.
“We really hated tortoises because we would have to put them away at night,” said Sixta, after explaining that, during the day, the tortoises would disperse around the backyard. “That was the rule. You can’t go out, you can’t do anything until you put away the tortoises, and it was just a really annoying task.”
Currently, Sixta has two male and two female red foot tortoises, six California desert tortoises, two of which were just recently born. And Sixta said his collection of pet tortoises is still growing. His 10 tortoises range in size from a full iPad Pro to a half iPad Pro, he said.
Sixta’s dad first gained interest in tortoises when he was living by himself in Orange County and wanted a different kind of pet in addition to his dog. As his interest grew in them, he raised the question of breeding them seriously, instead of just being a home pet. The second his dad posed the question of whether they should collect more tortoises, Sixta knew things had just gotten started.
“…as I got older I realized, I actually do love [tortoises] and they have given me a lot of joy in the world,” Sixta said.
Sixta said he plans on keeping up this hobby for as long as he can, even after he moves from his parent’s house.
“… the hope is that I’ll have enough money saved so that I can buy a home and … I can have my own tortoises,” he said.
According to Sixta, the experience is more than your typical pet and breeder relationship – he said it’s greater than that.
“They teach you how to be a really good disciple in the world or at least a steward of the Earth,” Sixta said. “You’re caring for these things that don’t have a voice – you can cut the leg off a tortoise and it’s not going to scream. But, it hurts [them], so you’re providing a [shelter] for these creatures of the Earth.
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![MONARCHS IN PINK Freshmen Brooklyn Almasi, Rachel Koch, and Jeanette Schulz smile into the camera before the big game at the Freshman Tailgate. The annual Freshman Tailgate, hosted on Friday, Sept. 20, at the top of the parking structure at Santa Ana Stadium, was a big hit. The Freshman Commissioners and Freshman Officers organized the event with fun games, various raffles, and catered Chick-fil-A. Not only did the freshmen have a great time, but the organizers felt fulfilled with their efforts. “The best part [is when] we get to [organize] rallies or plan events,” Freshman President Sophia McKay said. Photo courtesy of Abby Abad.](https://thescarletscroll.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_1938-600x400.png)
Griffin • Jan 29, 2020 at 5:48 pm
This is a very unique but cool hobby. I imagine it consistently takes a lot of time and effort. I wish you the best of luck with all of your tortoise endeavors.
Cortland • Jan 29, 2020 at 11:45 am
This is a very useful article. I wanted to learn more about Mr Sixta’s tortoise hobby now that he has a cat. What is pyramiding too? Let’s get ittttt!
Ethan • Jan 28, 2020 at 8:50 pm
I really enjoy this article because it makes me realize the importance of having something that sets us free, a hobby that makes us genuinely happy. This article interests me in finding my own hobby that helps connect me to my self and my family on a deeper level.
Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei • Jan 28, 2020 at 7:49 pm
I think this is so cool, most kids my age these days do not spend enough time with their family. Especially their parents, spending time with your parents can create a special bond that you will never regret. Those special moments are something that you should always cherish, because you never know when you’ll lose them.
Camden Joko • Jan 28, 2020 at 10:34 am
Mr. Sixta, I think that it’s cool that you have found a unique hobby. It is also interesting to see that your opinion about tortoises have changed as you grew older and gained more knowledge about them. This just shows that when we’re older, we tend to appreciate things more because we become more mature.
Mr. Sixta • Jan 8, 2020 at 6:01 pm
Nolan, I appreciate your comment and concern about your sister’s tortoise. I am empathetic to your concern, as for many of us, tortoises are like our family. I like to say that, “Tortoises are the family we choose.” Anyways, if pyramiding has already begun there is no real way to revert what has occurred. I have had one tortoise with pyramiding all its life and even with the right conditions, nothing has changed. The way to prevent it for other tortoises is to give the animal the right food and habitat for it to live its life. This is different for all tortoises as tortoises come from around the world. Some tortoises like hot and others like it cold. Here is a website that would be of assistance https://tortoise.org/cttcmemb.html It might also help to visit one of the meetings on the site as the members of the club are passionate and knowledgeable. Books are the greatest resource though, many of which can be bought at booksellers like Barnes and Noble. My father has purchased many from there. I hope this helps. Feel free to reach out if you need more information! [email protected]
Nolan • Oct 31, 2019 at 11:21 am
Do you know how to prevent pyramiding my sister has a turtle and I worry that she might have already started