Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hey what would be a good beginner tortoise...im not new to herps (2 boas, 1 bp, 4 wtf, 3 tomato frogs, 1 sav monitor but ive never owned a tortoise and i really want to get one, one thats not to big because it would have to be housed indoors all year long were i live and preferably one that wont out live me. So i guess im looking for a small tort with a shorter life span

Why would you not want him to outlive you? You could always donate him, or pass him down the family line... Just a thought

Look into captive born Russian Torts. These are really popular, and are quite inexpensive. The ones I've seen are usually busy and extremely outgoing.

-Kory

I have a little Cherry Head. He won't get that big, and he doesn't hibernate as he comes from a warm climate....Brazil. He just needs a lot of humidity. He is very friendly and will follow you around..mostly looking for food. He is adorable. My first tortoise.

its not that i want him to die early i just don't like the idea of knowing that at some point i wont be able to take proper care of him and i dont like the thought of not knowing what will happen to my pets

I know! I was just trying to be funny..

But seriously, how old are you, friend? Because your average tortoise lives between sixty years to a century. All mediterraneans, including russians, have been known to live longer than a century. Redfoots live at least fifty years. Sulcatas also are thought to live over a century. When you keep torts, you simply have to resign yourself to the fact that they will outlive you and that when they finally go, your grandchildren will be of a considerable age and you will be long gone.

T.G.