Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been wanting to get a tortoise for quite awhile . I have had my box turtle for seven years and really enjoy him. We really don't have anywhere around here to purchase a turtle so I have been checking out this site the classified ads. My question is is it really safe to have a turtle shipped that far? Also I would like to get a baby but is that smart? since I have never raised a baby are thier requirments alot different? Thank You Lisa

>>I have been wanting to get a tortoise for quite awhile . I have had my box turtle for seven years and really enjoy him. We really don't have anywhere around here to purchase a turtle so I have been checking out this site the classified ads. My question is is it really safe to have a turtle shipped that far? Also I would like to get a baby but is that smart? since I have never raised a baby are thier requirments alot different? Thank You Lisa

Some breeders won't ship unless the temperatures at both ends of the shipment are above some level (40, 50 etc.) in the winter or below X in the summer. Some breeders might add heat/cooling packs to compensate. I've never received an animal in the mail so I don't know what's best.

Have you asked about local reptile clubs or small-scale breeders? I belong to the St Louis Herpetological Society, and I know of one person who has several species of torts for sale. I myself was breeding russians up until this year.

I think there's a list of herp clubs somewhere on Kingsnake. Look for one near you.

I've raised a few different species of baby turtles or tortoises. Russians, hingebacks, vietnamese leaf turtles and 3-toed box turtles. It is basically the same as raising an adult, but you have to be aware that such a tiny animal must be watched more closely. While an adult with it's larger body mass can cope better with heat/cold/lack of water, the baby tortoise can not. Make sure the enclosure has a range of temperatures so the little tort can get warm if it wants to and cool off when it needs to. And that there's a humid place it can get to when it is dry.

And the food might need to be chopped a more finely.

I had my baby hermanns shipped to me in upstate NY from las vegas. He got here fine, at the same day he arrived and has been fine ever since. Its been over a year. He was 3 or 4 months old when I got him.