Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all, I'm an experienced lizard and frog guy needing some info about turtles. My Sister-in-law wants to get a turtle for her kid and she came to me for some advice. The kid is pretty responsible and I think he can handle the care of an animal.
What is a good beginner turtle? Something besides a box turtle. Something that's cultural requirements aren't that demanding and will be fairly hardy. I can make an enclosure for it depending on its needs and can supply it with all the necessary lighting and heat and stuff.
Can any one help me out or link me to a good web site?

Thanks,
Jim Annand

Oops, I might have posted this in the wrong forum. I'm looking for a land animal, not aquatic. I guess that would be a tortoise and not a turtle?
Jim

Try the www.tortoisetrust.org for some good information on tortoises. Most tortoises do best in an outdoor enclosure for at least part of the year. A CAPTIVE BRED Hermans, Russian, or Greek stay relatively small. In which state would the tortoise live? Redfoots are pretty interactive, and many are CB now, but they get fairly large (size of a large watermelon), and humid, southern states are best for them. The Tortoise Trust has 4" juveniles for sale again, and proceeds from the sale goes back into conservation programs.

Avoid leopards and sulcata. You can go here to get plans for a tortoise table for the winter, though: www.sulcata-station.org

Katrina

Also, who will keep the tortoise when the child goes off to college or joins the military?

Katrina