Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all,

I've been keeping snakes for years and years and now my wife and I are considering trying to start up a breeding group of tortoises. Some of the animals that have caught my eye are:

Radiated
Star
Greeks
Marginated
Leopards

I love the sulcatas and have thought about them but I think they just get too big for us.

We’d like to work with a species that we can keep in an outdoor pen year-round. We have enough space to build something as large as 20 feet x 20 feet. I can include a small insulated enclosure within the pen. I can heat the insulated eclosure as well.

We live in the San francisco Bay area where summertime temperatures are from 78 - 95 during the day and 65 - 75 during the night. Wintertime temperatures are from 55 - 60 during the day and can get as low as 32 at night. Summers are usually very dry and winters can be wet.

Any suggestions?
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Mike Lockwood
www.tooscaley.com

Of the ones you listed, I would go with the Greek's (European, ibera type Turkish stock, not North African) or Marginated. Both did great in that Bay area where I formerly lived. Both are available as captive hatched, without special permits or risk of buying smuggled animals etc. Both will eat a wide variety of weeds that probably grow in your yard or the neighbors, and are not fussy. Both have "outgoing" personalities, not too shy. Both can be easily hibernated, allowing you some time off from husbandry over the Holidays etc. Greeks are probably the more handsome of the two, but that is obviously subjective. Some good sources in your area, shoot me an e-mail:vic.herrick@yahoo.com for more information. I think you would do well with either of these breeds, and gain experience and decide if you want to try the others which IMHO are more demanding of husbandry, heating, lighting etc. Like you, I was (and still am) a snake guy before I got hooked on tortoises. Good luck, vic h.

Thanks a lot Vic. Yeah, I think it's probably going to be marginated. I might have a source or two but would like to end up with a diverse group. I'll e-mail you for some sources.
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Mike Lockwood
www.tooscaley.com

What about Russian tortoises? In my opinion, Russians are the best to keep, other than redfoots. I have three Russians, including a male I've had since 2004 that was expected to die when I got him. They are one of the most hardy tortoises you can get.