Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all. I have been keeping reptiles and amphibians for over 17 years, but until recently was not very interested in torts. I just wanted to make sure I was up to the commitment. I have been doing alot of research on what would be the best species for me. I am really leaning towards a leopard or spur thigh, and have done alot of research on them. I just thought I would ask more experienced keepers if they had any input.
I live in southern missouri, its fairly humid in the summer and cold enough in winter to snow and Ice. I know that I would have to keep it indoors in the winter,thats a given, I was just curious about the summer humidity. Is this detrimental to these arid species? I also know that while indoors I would have to provide heat and use mercury vapor bulbs.
I am looking for a medium to large tortiose, any suggestions?

I would recomend expecially with big tortoises to get something that is going to be happy outdoors with the humidity. Loepards that i have seen in humid areas dont do so hot. They always are battling some kind of ri and are on baytril. Sulcatas can handle the humidity just keep them warm in the winter and they will be heavy in the summer!

thanks for the response. Also, if provided with a good hide are sulcata's still prone to digging? I know that they are able to dig huge burrows.

In my experiances no. If you give them a burrow they most likely will not make their own. Thats not to say it couldnt happen.

I have three Sulcattas and I live in Michigan. Two of them are in the 4o lb range. One of them has a burrow that goes down about 8 feet into the ground. The other one refuses to burrow and sleeps under a shrub. It gets tough when the one is down in the burrow during cold nights. I have had to stuff the hole with a blanket to keep the cold drafts from running down into the burrow. Other than that the burrow is off along the fence line and is out of the way thank goodness