Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi im considering owning a tortoisebut i want to do my research so i can properly care for one if i do decide to own one. what is the best hardy and easy tortoise to start off with? and what size of living space do they need and what do i need to properly care for one?

Look into Russian tortoises, hermanns tortoises and greek tortoises if you want a smaller tortoise (10 inches or under) if you want a bit bigger one, look into redfoots.

For the smaller ones, a habitat about 4 feet X 2 feet would be adequate for a single adult, but usually bigger is better.

For an adult red foot I think maybe an area of 20 feet X 10 feet or something like that, red foot owners could probably be more helpful here.

As for what you need, well that will depend on the type of tortoise you decide on (there are many more, what I listed above are just some of the more available ones), where you live and whether or not the tort is living indoors or outdoors.

For you first tortoise I recommend you get a captive bred one, or at least a long time captive if you go with an adult.

>>Hi im considering owning a tortoisebut i want to do my research so i can properly care for one if i do decide to own one. what is the best hardy and easy tortoise to start off with? and what size of living space do they need and what do i need to properly care for one?
-----
aquariphiles.com-where I blog about aquarium stuff

That's a huge question! I'll focus on how I decided to choose one and for what reasons. Hopefully this will inspire you or give you a few ideas while searching.

There are many factors that need consideration... Climate was first on my list. I live in S. California so pretty much anything was fair game. I only needed to worry about a few months of the year if the species did not hibernate. I did not want to set up a heated house for all months except the summer.

Next on my list was size... I wanted something that would get large or giant! I currently have a half an acre of land, so room was not an issue.

The bigger the shell, the bigger the burrow... This is the one thing that I fretted over. I did not want giant holes dug everywhere.

I also wanted a type that was known as a good eater, and as low maintenance as possible. I don't have time for lots of vet visits, and also wanted to make sure that I could meet it's dietary requirements easily.

After weighing all of this I set out to find the answer to my equation! I started my journey wanting a Sulcata and quickly looked elsewhere for the digging issue. Next was the Aldabra, as much as I wanted one I figured it would be wise to learn much more about them before trying to raise one. Finally I saw a pic of a Burmese Black Mtn Tortoise. I was hooked. It met all of my requirements and I couldn't be happier. I contacted Vic Morgan and he was as nice as he is knowledgeable about Black Torts. He gave me a lot of pointers, and I have had no problems with my little garbage disposal. (If you're reading this Vic.. I promise to buy my next one from you! My girlfriend had put a down payment on my Phayrei which was nonrefundable.. Thanks for all the help to!)

Anyway, you'll have to do some weighing and studying but you'll eventually find the right type for what you can manage. I hope this can be some help, and remember that there are lot's of tortoises available for adoption.

-Kory

thanks buddy,glad to hear its thriving now.Vic