Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm considering getting a tort and I have a few questions. I'm sure you get this alot but any help would be appreciated.

1.) I live in ohio so the tort would have to stay indoors. which one works best indoors and doesn't get bigger then 3 feet in diamter.

2.) Is it better to get a male or female? Or does it make no differnce at all?

3.) Do you think that tort's make good pets?

I'm considering getting a tort and I have a few questions. I'm sure you get this alot but any help would be appreciated.

1.) I live in ohio so the tort would have to stay indoors. which one works best indoors and doesn't get bigger then 3 feet in diamter.

3 feet across??? That's huge! I'd think that if you want to keep a tort indoors all of the time you'd want a smaller one. Like a russian, greek, hermann's tortoise. Or something moderate like a redfoot. A tortoise 3 ft across would have to be a really large sulcata or a Galapagos or Aldabran. These large tortoises are ery, very hard to keep indoors and for the last two, very expensive and complicated to purchase.

2.) Is it better to get a male or female? Or does it make no differnce at all? For the species I'm familiar with, it doesn't matter if you are keeping just one. It's when you get more than one that things get complicated.

3.) Do you think that tort's make good pets? Reptiles are generally not like mammals. They don't always bond with you. I like my torts for their slow, deliberate ways. Sometimes they are short-tempered and aggressive with each other, but most of the time they are like little, hard-shelled bums who like to lay in the sun and grab a snack every once in awhile. Sometimes they react to me and come over, other times they are too busy with each other or just laying about. You'll have to decide if that appeals to you.

Look at the following websites for general info:

www.tortoise.org

www.chelonia.org

Look at caresheets and general info sections. This'll give you a good idea of how demanding it might be to keep tortoises. Maybe you'll see a species you like.

Good luck.

well after doing some research I have discoverd that your right most don't get that big haha. But anyways I was looking at yellow footed i love the color on them but I don't think they would work well in ohio becasue our tempetures can very so much and I don't think it would do well indoors all the time. I have been looking into the russians since they seem to be more hardy and easier to keep indoors. Also do you have to hibrenate all tort's in the winter time or is it only certain species? Thanks again for the help.

Only certain species need to be hibernated. For others, like the yellow/red foot, sulcata, etc., attempting to hibernate them would kill them.

www.russiantortoise.net is a good place for info on russians. Just be aware that they say a 55-gallon rubbermaid tub is an OK enclosure, but I'm pretty sure they only mean as a temporary enclosure. I definitely would not use such a small tub for an adult russian.

Ed Pirog (EJ on this forum) also has a new book out on russian tortoises. You can find it on Amazon.

Most russians on the pet market are wild caught. They will be used to hibernating in their natural environment. It may be hard to break them of that habit in the first year.

A captive-bred russian tortoise could probably be kept without hibernation as long as you keep the heat and light levels at appropriate levels. A captive-bred animal will cost a little more ($90 or more plus shipping), but will be much easier to keep and healthier, too.

Thanks for the info. Do you much about the Hermanns Tortoises I was looking into them as well. They seem to have pretty much the same living condtions. And I like the look of them a bit better myself.

Nope

Some other sites you could check out for good information on keeping torts are:
http://www.thetortoisehouse.com/
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/
http://www.tlady.clara.net/TortGuide/index.htm

Nina