Tortoises are cool!!!!!!

[Aric]

They have some tortoises at the local exotics shop that I've been pondering. Apparently, these things will get quite large and will need to live in the back yard with a heated dog-house for winter-time. Do you think one large tortoise like that would destroy a back yard?

I don't think they would necessarily tear up a back yard, but I wouldn't keep them outside in heated dog houses for the winter, too much could go wrong with the heating system for the dog house. I would much rather have the room inside to keep them for when winter rolls around.

[broadude]

I was very interested in getting one but my coworker said he had a large one and it quickly got the name "Turdy The Tortoise" because it made lots of messes. He said they were extremely filthy which was a major bummer.

But, I curious for more opinions. What kind of maintenance can you expect for a large tortoise that lives in the back yard?

I do not find that they are filthy. I have a Red-foot named Samwise, he's no more messy than the snakes, but I have learned that if they do not have the proper environment and access to UVB rays that food will "run right though them" and if they are not eating the proper foods that could be a major cause of "messiness."

If they live in the back yard..many of them are diggers and will dig out of the yard (if it's fenced) some just dig because that's what they do. Unless the yard is fairly large with a lot of flora and fauna to keep them occupied, some of them can destroy a yard with their digging.

[Whit-e]

Amazing torts & turts!!!! Wow!!!!! We just have our little Saphira right now, however I am trying to find her a friend, but... man -o- man I wish I had the room, so many species so little space!!!

[cpx_20o5]

I agree! theyre lovely tortoises! and turtles.
some good shots!