Need Tortoise Suggestions and Lots of Questions!

[PigsnPythons]

Hi!

I was searching through the forum and found lots of people asking about beginner tortoises that stay small, but none that I really felt like answered my questions...sorry if this posts gets a little long. :-)

I keep Ball Pythons and Brazilian Rainbow Boas...my husband is NOT interested in the snakes but has expressed interested in getting a tortoise. So, this will be his pet (and his first herp...yay!) but I'll be around to make sure that its husbandry is correct.

He loves the sulcatas, but I have the following concerns: We currently live in an apartment (in Houston) without a yard. We should be in a house in about two years (3 at the most), is this long enough to keep our little fella indoors? Or will he get too big in that time span? We know that he will need a big yard and are prepared to specifically search for that when house hunting. Also, I've read a lot of research that says they should primarily be fed grasses and some edible flowers. Too much leafy greens and/or Mazuri pellet food=bad. How hard is it to get grasses and edible flowers? Especially ones that you know have not been treated with anything harmful? Would most feed stores have grasses? What about in the winter? I have no clue where to buy edible flowers that haven't been treated with something (like at Lowes or Home Depot for example).

If you think the sulcata isn't going to work for us, could you recommend another type? He has mentioned liking the Radiated Tortoise and not likeing the Red Foot. My main concern is being able to properly feed it.

Thanks!

[PigsnPythons]

Ok...was looking around online and the Radiated Tort is over $1000...obviously that is not an option for us as first time tort owners...

[ed4281]

Russian tortoises are great and don’t get too big. I wouldn't get a sulcotta, you never know what could happen in three years and I am sure you would hate to have to rehome a huge tortoise that no longer fits in an apartment. Sulcottas are also very destructive and love to dig any fence you have would have to go at least three feet down to prevent escape. A lady I work with has a 100 pounder that tore her shed down, just keep that in mind.

[JLC]

From my own research, Sulcattas grow pretty fast. They'd outgrow a healthy indoor environment within two years. They're simply not good indoor pets. They are powerful diggers and will dig through walls if necessary.

I believe Russian torts stay relatively small. And the various box turtles (which are actually torts) also stay small and would probably be much more suitable to an indoor enclosure.

As for what to feed them...figure out which species best fit an apt life first...then read up on what they need. There is at least one or two retailers out there that sell fresh greens specifically designed for various tort species. I have to find old business cards from herp shows though...can't find the links right now.

[MarkS]

I believe Russian torts stay relatively small. And the various box turtles (which are actually torts) also stay small and would probably be much more suitable to an indoor enclosure.

Sorry Judy, Box turtles are actually true turtles and not tortoises. Yes they're land dwelling, but they're skeletal design is closer to turtles then to the tortoises. Box turtles are actually fairly closely related to blandings turtles. A good rule of thumb is that tortoises walk on their toes, while turtles walk on their wrists.

Russian tortoises are a very good beginner tortoise and stay quite small, personally though I like the Red foot tortises better. They get larger then the russians but don't get so big that you can't pick them up (like some sulcattas) They do like a more humid climate though so maybe Houston wouldn't be a good fit. Another good one to research would be Leopard tortoises which are much better suited to dryer climates and do grow much more slowly.

[PigsnPythons]

Thanks for all the tips!

MarkS: Houston is actually VERY humid...so I revisted the Red Foot Tortoises and I really like them! The fact that their diet is a little more varied than the sulcatas (vegetables and fruits..instead of mostly grass) makes me feel more confident about finding him the right foods....and I think he'd be ok in the apartment until we moved.

Because we aren't worried about the size restriction in the long run, if my husband is really set on the sulcata then we may have to wait another year or two to get him so that he doesn't outgrow the apartment.

[JLC]

Sorry Judy, Box turtles are actually true turtles and not tortoises. Yes they're land dwelling, but they're skeletal design is closer to turtles then to the tortoises. Box turtles are actually fairly closely related to blandings turtles. A good rule of thumb is that tortoises walk on their toes, while turtles walk on their wrists.

Very cool, thanks for the correction! I hate it when wrong factoids get stuck in my head!

[txherp]

That is great you are in Houston! Me too, I am a huge turtle/tortoise nut. I do think a redfoot would be a great idea. You should check out this forum - www.tortoisefotum.com

[grits]

We picked up a red foot for my daughter and he is amazing. He has so much charater. He eats right out our hands and loves being petted on his head. We feed him lots of different things including a couple of mealworms every now and then.

[MarkS]

I didn't know that about Houston, my folks live in Mission TX down by the Mexican border which is dryer then I'm used to., I keep forgetting that Texas is so big you can have almost any climate imaginable. If you're interested in Redfoots I highly recommend

The Redfoot Manual by Mike Pingleton. It's one of the best care books I've read about a single species.

The Redfoot Manual

You can also get it from Amazon.com