Need Tortoise Suggestions and Lots of Questions!

[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!