Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been looking into keeping a tortoise at some point in the future. I have kept other herps before but never a tort. I've pretty much narrowed it down to these two types. Which do you prefer? Which do you think it better for a semi-beginner? Does one have any more personality than the other? My concerns were humidity for the fed foot and hibernation for the Russian. Any comments would be appreciated.

I had a redfoot for a few months at a time when I didn't know much about tortoises. I've had russian tortoises for about 6+ years now.

I find russians easy and interesting to keep for number of reasons:

1) They do well in a low-humidity environment. My house is always very dry. Humidity loving animals seem to suffer, even with regular spraying, proper substrate etc.

2) They are very tolerant of temperature and humidity variations. I wanted to keep my tortoises outdoors as much as possible, and russians do very well for 6-7 months of the year here in Missouri. They can tolerate lows in the 40s and highs in 100s (with appropriate hide boxes). Just can't leave them out in the rain AND cold.

3) I have a small house so I need a small tortoise

I hibernate mine, but it probably isn't necessary. It can be difficult to find captive-bred russians, although there were plenty of baby russians for sale on kingsnake this year.

Go to www.russiantortoise.net for info.

Both of your concerns are not warranted.

Redfoots are very drought tolerant if you provide a humid retreat for them to seek refuge in.

The Russians can do just fine without hibernating if they are not allowed to be triggered into it.

I'd preffer a Redfoot over a Russian because they seem to have a little more personality. They both can be quite active.
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Ed
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Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

My response was not to indicate why you shouldn't have a redfoot, becase as I noted my only experience with a redfoot occurred at a time when I didn't know what I was doing.
Instead I was pointing out why I like russians.

Aside from White's tree frogs, I've only had luck with keeping desert-type creatures. Those with a need for moderate to high humidity have lived, but they were inactive and spent most of their time in a humid hide. Whether this would occur with a redfoot, I don't know. I've discovered that both the creatures and I are happiest when our environmental needs roughly coincide.

Your mileage may vary.

Living Inland San Diego has taught me that many of these animals that 'require' high humidity do not. I've got Mangrove Monitors, Redfoot Tortoises, Box Turtles and a few others that are reported to require high humidity. These guys are thriving and go about a relatively normal existance.

I've got some nice evidence for Redfoots, Star Tortoises, Leopards and Sulcatas as to what they are actually exposed to in the wild.

I was just pointing out that the high humidity requirement for Redfoots is not really a requirement. It is also not harmful and does not reduce their quality of life.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care