Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello guys,

I would really like to add a tort to my family, (other than potentially my parents sulcata). I would like something small though, which tort breed is the smallest? How big do they get?

Thanks for your insight!

Elizabeth
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1.0 Mali Uro Archimedes
0.0.1 Egyptian Uro Zuberi Mosca Khu (Mosca)
0.0 Fish
0.1 Sulcata Minnie
1.1 Iguanas Flik and Loki
0.1 Newfoundland Jasmine
0.1 Feline Winter
Indiana & Wisconsin

"I would like something small though, which tort breed is the smallest? How big do they get?"

I think the world's smallest tortoise is the southern speckled
padloper from south Africa, Homopus Signatus. They are usually less than three inches long, very rare in US collections and would probably cost thousands of dollars if you did find one for sale.

Egyptian tortoises only get around 4in long, are very nice, are more available in the US, but are a CITES I animal meaning they are also rare, cost $300-500, and probably do or will require permits at some point.

I'd recommend something a bit larger, and less rare.
1. Pancake torts cost $400-$500, have great personality, and only get 6in or so.
2. Various types of Russian/Greek/Hermann torts are also great in the 6 to 10 inch range for around $200.
3. Cherry redfoot torts are common and only grow to around a foot. Regular redfoots are also great but get a little larger.

Good luck,
JBLY

lol. Thank you!

I was referring to the smallest of the somewhat common torts, I did not know about the others, how cool!

Thank you.
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1.0 Mali Uro Archimedes
0.0.1 Egyptian Uro Zuberi Mosca Khu (Mosca)
0.0 Fish
0.1 Sulcata Minnie
1.1 Iguanas Flik and Loki
0.1 Newfoundland Jasmine
0.1 Feline Winter
Indiana & Wisconsin

sure...there are other pretty looking small torts along the bland looking ones that were mentioned

I agree that it's easy to list less bland types:
The list really grows but many are less available in the US:
Psammobates geometricus - Geometric Tortoise
Psammobates oculiferus - Kalahari Tent Tortoise
Psammobates tentorius tentorius - Karoo Tent Tortoise
Psammobates tentorius trimeni - Namaqualand Tent Tortoise
Psammobates tentorius verroxii - Bushmandland Tent Tortoise

On the other hand some just cost a lot:
Geochelone radiata - Radiated Tortoise
Geochelone platynota - Burmese Star Tortoise

I should have included small-size options that tend to be less active and may take a bit more research to understand:
Pyxis arachnoides - Malagasy Spider Tortoise (CITES I)
Geochelone elegans - Star Tortoise / Sri Lankan

At the end of the day, maybe bland with big personality simply appeals to me, like:
Manouria emys emys - Asian Burmese Brown tortoise

What do you generally recommend for new chelonian keepers?

JBLY

Behaviour varies a bit in the Pyxis subspecies. I currently have 4 bryoogi, 2 arachnoides, 1 oblonga, and will be getting a planicauda soon. The bryoogi are the most shy, oblonga next, and the arachnoides are very outgoing. Permits aren't required for any of them (at least in Mass. where I live). The bryoogi can also get a little fussy about eating sometimes, never have to coax the oblonga or arachnoides though.

Arachnoides would probably make the best pet. Unfortunately there really isn't too much information online in English about Pyxis in general. They are pretty hardy though (due to the temp fluctuations in their home range), but will take a lot more work than say a Russian or Greek.

Here's a pic of my favorite bryoogi. This little one is the most outgoing of the four I have.

I am more interested in general personality than in color. Perferably a species that is more social, or tends to be at least. The sulcata my family has is not very sociable at all, though, according to my father, she likes him. The only sign of interaction I can get from her, on her own accord, is de-socking us at dinner... and if you have never had a tortoise try to take your socks off while your eating dinner... well let me tell you it becomes an all encompassing worry that you won't make it through with all your toes! (though to her defense she has NEVER even nicked one of our feet...)

I just do not really have room for a larger tort, so was looking for something that could live in the house with turnout when the weather permitted. I also don't have hundreds and hundreds of dollars to spend though, so I may have to wait until I own a house with a tortoise run.

I really appreciate all your help!

Elizabeth
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1.0 Mali Uro Archimedes
0.0.1 Egyptian Uro Zuberi Mosca Khu (Mosca)
0.0 Fish
0.1 Sulcata Minnie
1.1 Iguanas Flik and Loki
0.1 Newfoundland Jasmine
0.1 Feline Winter
Indiana & Wisconsin

>>I am more interested in general personality than in color. Perferably a species that is more social, or tends to be at least.
_let's face it, chelonian are solitary type, can't do tricks like tweety or fido, their "peak" social time could be at feed time... mind you it might not be a bad idea to employs one of these guys as the occasion "taxi" for one of your iguanas from point A to B (it's been done before)

>>The sulcata my family has is not very sociable at all...(though to her defense she has NEVER even nicked one of our feet...)
...sounds like a safe kind of fun to me...which make you wonder if Sharon Stone's boyfriend mistaken Minnie for that Komodo "yummyfeet" Drago in a zoo a while ago...

>>I just do not really have room for a larger tort, so was looking for something that could live in the house with turnout when the weather permitted.
_the only thing bother me is that i go nuts in winter when the torts are "no show" and deep snoring in the winter merryland...of course that's not your case when you got all these other pets around to keep you company...talk about hibernation...i can't imagine for people who put their torts in refridgerator, what happen in the event of a blackout...with the ice compartment above...just a worst scenario in my state of mind but it could happen...knock, knock (on wood)

thanks for the taxas!

>>On the other hand some just cost a lot:
>>Geochelone radiata - Radiated Tortoise
>>Geochelone platynota - Burmese Star Tortoise
_these guys are out of context

>>I should have included small-size options that tend to be less active and may take a bit more research to understand:
>>Pyxis arachnoides - Malagasy Spider Tortoise (CITES I)
>>Geochelone elegans - Star Tortoise / Sri Lankan
_less active? have you try their cb form? at least they don't take off into "active overdrive" (hibernation mode) for the winter the good thing is they are abundants now and you can have a choice of either just one (say Egyptian Pancake) or two of these (Spider/Starcombo) for the same price

>>At the end of the day, maybe bland with big personality simply appeals to me, like:
>>Manouria emys emys - Asian Burmese Brown tortoise
_sure, for you that is, they looks like a black sulcata, too...would you recomend for a new chelo keeper in the wild west? or he have to do more research to understand why they don't like sand dunes or baywatch...would you be kind enough and fly over to grow him a forest

>>What do you generally recommend for new chelonian keepers?
_adoption

...having all that aside, the point i try to get across here is choices rather recommendations since all these animals required a certain amount of research and understanding to begin with just like any animals in general, it's really up to those new individuals who take that dive based on their commitments and a whole lota of love and other factors to get what it's suitable for them so to speak

I originally saw two questions but only answered the first:
1. What kind of tortoise to get?
2. Where to get it?

I asked for recommendations on the first which the last post never seemed to get to.
I stand by my original recommendations for what kinds of tortoises I would recommend to newer keepers. Russians, Greeks, Hermans, Pancakes, or Redfoot torts. I don't consider my own pancakes or golden greeks 'bland' by any stretch of the imagination.

As to where to get a tortoise from, I agree with going through an adoptions program. If a healthy tortoise of one of these types is available through adoptions, great. In my area, the adoption programs tend to have sulcatas but not much more for the general public. To get something smaller, you would have to buy a membership, and wait a couple years. I've done it.
For those reasons, I generally steer interested parties toward small independent breeders who know their stuff and aren't in it for the money. These types of breeders can be found through local herp societies, networking, or places like here.

JBLY