Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm in the market for my first tort. I have cared for several other herps(snakes, turtles, monitors) and want to try a tort. I'm looking for something to let roam around my home, big but not a monster, I was looking at leopards and red foots, I like the size of the leo. on paper but I saw a pic of an adult that was like a coffee table walking around. The red foot is not a burrowing tort is this correct? I would like to see a pic of an adult red foot next to a person so I can get an idea of the size, I have the same request for the leopard.

Please feel free to ask any questions, and thank you all for your help.

-richard

Something the size of this yellow-foot would be perfect, what other torts fit into this size range?

I believe red foots get about the same size. I'm not sure of othe tortoises that are in that size range. I think most others get larger or are a bit smaller. I think stars may be another one that is in that size range, they are more expensive though.

hi, it is not wise to let your tortoise free roam your house, a leopard tortoise, will easily get sick, or RI if you let roam your house, they can get RI from cold breezes coming through your house, or the dirt on you floors. For the red foots, they require high humidity which, will be hard to high in your house, about 70 percent or higher, If i were you i would not try at all to free roam you tortoise, a lot of people think its a good idea, but there are a lot of risk, and not reccomended, especially if your a begginer to tortoises.

Thanks for both of you for replying.

I read on tortoise.org that yellows are typically a little larger than the red-footed, from the pictures I've seen, I really like some of the stars....but your right about the price being a little on the high side compared to the yellows and reds.

I live in a ridiculously humid part of east texas so the natural humidity here is within range of some of the torts, I also have snakes in a higher humidity room, so if it ever gets low the tort buddy can go hang out in there.
I agree that a loepard would be a bad choice for free roaming the house, I read they burrow too so he would deffinatly not be a candidate.

ALl tortoise burrow, leopard tortoises, can have higher them 30 percent humidity, Stars, are just like leopard tortoise they cant have high humidity, and they are hard for begginers or even experts. Red foots, and yellow foots are also not good for begginers, and definently not good for free roaming, tortoises are not like dogs, or cats, they will try and eat stuff off the floor and that can cause big problems, also tortoises need UVB lighting unless you plan to replace some of your house bulbs with Mercury bulbs i would not do it. if i were you i would not try and free roam a tortoise, thats adivce to make it easier for you to keep your tort. alive, just build a tortoise table, they arnt hard to build and there safer, also with the tortoise table, you have a way better survival rate, and you can even take your tortoise out and let it walk around you house when you can keep you eye on him her.

Since you said it is humid where you live, I'd recommend either a redfoot, or a Burmese Brown tortoise. Both do well in humid areas and are easy to keep compared with most other types.

John

OK, upon further reading, I agree that free roaming is a bad idea for tort health. I am constructing a new enclosure for a tree snake so I will just crank out a tort table as well. I am stuck between the red foot and yellow foot at this point, I like the size of the yellow footed, and the personality of the red footed is apparantly better sometimes.
I cant thank you all enough for your input, I can only imagine my first tort would have gone horribly wrong, had I not taken the time to post here.

So, that being said, who has an opinion on yellow foot over red foot, or vice versa?

-richard