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!