Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What is the smallest breed of tortoise?

Rather than being like a dog or cat breed, there are actually different "species" of tortoises. Breeds tend to denote genetic alterations within a taxa...such as boxers and Golden retrievers. Different species would be something like the housecat versus a mountain lion or a red eared slider versus a plowshare tortoise.

That aside, you're looking for the African padlopers or "Homopus" for the smallest species of tortoise.

The World Chelonian Trust has the most complete picture gallery by far of this diminutive species (thanks to Victor Loehr) as well as countless others. Check it out via the "World Chelonian Trust" link below and click on "picture galleries".

Dr. Chris

World Chelonian Trust

Although the South African tortoises of the genus Homopus are the smallest, they are very hard to find, VERY expensive and very difficult to maintain in captivity. For example, it has been very difficult to maintain Homopus boulengeri even in outdoor enclosures IN SOUTH AFRICA! If you are not a very experienced tortoise keeper, I would start with a MALE Russian tortoise. They are common in the pet trade, relatively cheap and fairly hardy in captivity. The males stay reasonably small, but not nearly as small as the padlopers. Definitely stay away from the Sulcata tortoise.

Are those tortoises smaller than box turtles?
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1.0.0 Thamnophis proximus
0.0.3 Ambystoma tigrinum mavortium
0.1.0 Graptemys ouachitensis
1.0.0 Chrysemys picta