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I want a med to larg size tort. I have the space and the amount of food required (i know they eat ALOT lol) Anyways I dont know what to get... Help!!!!!

>>I want a med to larg size tort. I have the space and the amount of food required (i know they eat ALOT lol) Anyways I dont know what to get... Help!!!!!

go to websites such as:

www.chelonia.org/

www.tortoise.org

www.tortoisetrust.org

and read up on the different species.

HINT: find something that fits in with your environment. For example, if you live in the desert - think about something that thrives on heat and low humidity. If you are going to keep it indoors all or part of the time - consider a smaller species.

Good luck!

Sorry to come onto this thread so late, but here's a little sobering exercise for people who are thinking of getting a large tortoise:

http://www.turtlehomes.org/usa/test.shtml

Nina

I agree with what bradtort says. Some very wise words.

In addition, here are some other things to think about well you research. One of the most important things is that you have to remember that, if cared for properly, this animal is going to outlive you. So some things you have to take into consideration are whether or not you think that 10 years down the road you will still be able to provide for the tort (with space and food needs). You also need to realize that when you are 80 (assuming you live that long), it will be much harder or impossible for you to move a large tortoise when necessary. Finding someone that's going to be able to take care of a large tortoise when you are gone is also a concern.

If you really consider these thoughts and still feel like you can handle a large tortoise, then there is even more to consider. If you live in an area that stays warm year round, you are at an advantage. Think about your climate and research the needs of the tortoises. A sulcatta isn't going to do very well in an area with very high overall humidity, warm temperatures, and generally low-intensity sunlight, and a red-footed tortoise isn't going to do well in a dry, very hot, very sunny area (in general).

If you consider the questions I have laid out and decide that maybe a large tortoise isn't a great idea, then there are still many great choices! The small tortoises are a blast. I keep russians and am working on a breeding project with them (I've got two eggs in the incubator right now), and even though the largest one is only about 9" or so, they are great little tortoises. One of the things I like most about them is that it's very easy to provide a great habitat for them. I have the two females in a large plastic cattle trough, which is the largest enclosure I could fit at the moment. If I had a sulcata I could still only fit an enclosure the size of the large trough, which is a great size for two or more russians, but not great for a large sulcata.

If you are planning on keeping the tort indoors all or part of the year, russians are great (as are other mediterranean torts) and redfoots also make great indoor captives, provided you take care of their humidity needs and give them a suitably sized enclosure. They are a medium sized tort, so they can reach impressive size/weight, but without the disadvantage of being unmanageable. They are also said to be one of the most personable torts available.

So with some of these thoughts in mind, do some research on the subject. Bradtort gave some great links, so put them to good use.

if you do decide after much thought that you would like to keep a large tort, I would highly suggest working with local reptile rescues, because they tend to get medium-large sulcatas in at a similar frequency as burmese pythons and iguanas. They will usually also have other tortoises that you might consider. I like to support the CB trade, but I also think that supporting the reptile rescues is of similar or even higher importance for our hobby. many times they'll also have the smaller species, like russians. I actually rescued one of my russians from a family that had given up on taking care of her and decided to keep her in a small tank on newspaper with only t-rex tortoise diet and the occasional strawberry (where she got her name). Needless to say, she wasn't in the best shape, but she was still in much better shape than the imports. She's just started growing again (went from 5.75"-6.25" in a little over a month and a half), and she has some obvious signs of dietary deficiencies, such as some ver slight dips in the top of her shell, but otherwise she is now in perfect condition, and has been steadily gaining weight. Last time I checked she was just over 1.5 pounds.

So that's another angle to consider. I know the feeling of raising a giant from a baby is great, but think about all the reptiles out there that really need your help. I also have a mali uromastyx I rescued who was in the worst shape you could imagine (burn scars all over her back, overweight due to lack of exercise, lethargic, not eating, pretty much seemed destined to die). You cannot imagine the feeling you get when you're sitting watching tv and look over to see an animal you have put so much time, money, and effort into finally start eating on her own.

Kingsnake actually has a great directory for reptile rescues.