Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I would like to get a new pet tortoise. I want one that will not get big. I was thinking of maybe a Russian, a Hermans, or a Geek. What do people recomend? especially when it comes to temparment and care requirements. Thanks, Dave.

I got my first tortoise, a Russian, a few years ago and he's great. He was wild caught so he was an adult when I got him and is only about 5" long. Nice personality, likes to have his head pet and is very easy to care for. I don't have any experience with Hermann or Greek torts so I can't speak for them, sorry : Hope this helps a little. Good luck!

Any of the following are excellent first torts. Choose based on where you live (they need to be outside whenever the weather is favorable) and tempuratures and humidity are very important factors as well.

CB Hermans, Russians, CB Redfoots, CB Greek (Ibera in particular), and if you don't mind a little higher cost CB Marginated.

Good luck

I have a little Herman Tortoise and he seems to be the best kind for us. Not to much maintanence....very friendly. We just turn on his lights in the morning and make sure he has food and water twice a day. I have been soaking him everyday or at least every other day. Then turn his lights off at night. Not too much work. Of course there is the cleaning of his turtle table but that isn't too much work. I've had him about a month now and we just ordered another one! They are very addictive! Good luck!

I wanted a captive bred russian hatchling but they are rare and expensive. The Hermans was the next best bet. It should come in on tuesday. If anyone has any links to some good caresheets please let me know. Also is keeping it in a 10 gallon aquarium ok for a while? I have a 20 but I think it might be too large for a hatchling. Im going to set up a 100 watt heatlamp, that should take care of heat durring the day and the UV needs. Durring the night I was thinking of adding an undertank heater. Any other recomendations. Thanks, Dave.

Dave, even a hatchling Hermann's will need as much room as you can give it. There really is no such thing as "too big" for a tort (unless you can't find it, of course, lol). Ditch the tanks, and go out and get the biggest Rubbermaid container you can (55 gal. is good), or you can use a stock tank, large mortar tub, etc. Having an outside pen is great for the summer. You'll be amazed at how much territory one little guy will cover.

Is the 100 watt bulb also a UVB bulb? Tortoises must have UVB for calcium metabolism. If you didn't pay at least $35 for the bulb, it isn't UVB. You can also use a Reptisun 5.0, but then you would need some kind of heating source in addition.

Good luck with your new tortoise!
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Sohni
Northern California

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.2 Hermann's Tortoises
plus my kids' herps:
0.0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko

Sorry to disagree here Sohni...
It is so much easier to raise a hatchling in a smaller container like a 10 gal tank or a Rubbermaid sweater box for the first few years.
It's is so much easier to control or monitor the following...
Temperature gradient
food intake
water intake
Humid hide
General activity level
In a nutshell, there definately is such a thing as 'too much space'.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Sorry to mention this, but after having a look on many of your threats, I must say, that you should stop keeping torts with this attitude, you should not give any help here either. You should go and ask some experts, you feed the wrong stuff, keep torts in too small containers etc. VERY VERY SAD!!! THERE IS NEVER TOO MUCH SPACE, stop talking crap and start to understand that your keeping sucks!

.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Whoa now thats not called for. I've been reading this board daily for a year and a half since I got my tort, and I'm pretty sure Ed knows more about practical chelonian husbandry than most. Ed please keep posting, I for one appreciate your insights.

Beorn

Don't worry, Ed won't quit posting. I was going to reply to that post, but...forget it, it's not worth dealing with. I don't agree with everything Ed says, as he well knows, but I can't argue with his level of experience, for sure.
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Sohni
Northern California

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.2 Hermann's Tortoises
plus my kids' herps:
0.0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko

You clearly DON"T know what you're talking about.