Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all,
I'm sure you get asked this ALL the time, and I've looked below and read your great advice to others already. But I wanted to tap into the tons of experience on here.

I'm new to torts. In my younger years I owned just about every other kind of pet, from multiple parrots, to every kind of herp under the sun (snakes, turtles, geckos, various lizards...and a few years ago I was quite active on other forums here), to the more common stuff like dogs, cats, etc. Right now, we're pet-less aside from a couple of old dogs (who spend their days sleeping). For the past year or so my kids have been really pushing for a pet. They love visiting the grandparents because they've got a zoo... and we think it's finally time to add something to our family.

We decided on a tortoise (for multiple reasons, a couple of the main factors being my daughter's love of all things 'shelled', and the fact that the husband and I wanted a herp, but she'd cry and cry if we had to feed live food). So, I'm wondering what you all would recommend for someone like me... like I said, I have a TON of herp experience (I actually worked at a reptile zoo for a while), but no direct experience with tortoises. My husband is building an enclosure (we're in northern Ontario, so our tort will be primarily indoors, except for a couple months in the summer) and our accomodations will be about 4'X1.5' We'd like a species that's not shy and is maybe more active, as the kids LOVE to watch animals move around, etc. My daughter (3y.o.) will be helping to feed/water, etc (she LOVES doing this at grandma's house with all the geckos and bunnies), so a species that will tolerate the presence of a child is essential.

There's a possibility of more space for him down the road as well (we're in the early planning stages of some renovations and a larger enclosure can theoretically be eventually incorporated into that). We're also not terribly particular about whether they hibernate or not - we'll work that out.

So, your suggestions?

I do not recommend a tortoise for any 3 year old child. No child that age should handle any reptile. Tortoises are for the more sophisticated knowledgeable keeper. They are not a child's plaything. Such interaction would stress one out to the point of certain failure.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

Ok, to be clear... the kids will never 'play' with the tortoise, it won't be handled or the like. She will be the one to put his food in in the morning (if she feels like it - I'm well aware that kids are not capable of responsibility...esp. at that age, and fully expect to be the one taking primary care of the animal), will help to clean up the enclosure, etc.

This is a pet for the family, that will comfortably live in an enclosure in a corner of the family room. Again, it's a pet that the kids can look at and watch and learn about - not 'play with'...they have their dogs for that, and really aren't all that interested in 'playing' anyway. She enjoys the 'caretaking' aspect, but doesn't particularly enjoy 'touching' animals, hence the desire for a herp (tortoise specifically) and not a little animal like a rabbit or a hamster or something.

She's very good with other herps and animals, I'm not concerned with her being inappropriate with it, and besides - it will be inaccessible on a 'tortoise table', unless she's supervised by an adult.
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*Manda*

I should ALSO add... we're homeschooling our kids, and the tortoise will be the focus of several units on conservation, reptiles, etc etc etc...
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*Manda*

I am all for redfoots! They are interactive and outgoing. They are like dogs in a shell. But since you are so far north, they require alot of warmth and humidity. If you can accommodate them, they are your best bet! They top out around 12-14" depending on what type of redfoot you get. And they don;t hibernate so you don't have to worry if they will wake up!

Allegra

I would suggest a russian tortoise. They are small enough to live comfortably in the enclosure size you stated, are very active and personable, albeit not the prettiest tortoise. They are readily available and not uber expensive. They are pretty hardy and temperature tolerant as long as they dont get wet or damp when temps drop below a certain point. I leave mine outdoors here in Louisiana until the night time temps get around 55 degrees F. I take them in at that time mainly due to the wet winters here, and cool and wet do not mix well with most torts. A word of caution, the do dig!!! If put in a pen outdoors, make sure the bottom of the pen walls are buried at least six inches or so, or place screen on the bottom of the pen and cover with several inches of substrate.

Good luck!!

Certainly a Russian or maybe a Hermanns. Definitely NOT a Redfoot for northern Ontario with only 4 x 1.5 feet to deal with. Aside from the fact that Redfoots get far too large for that enclosure the heating and humidity requirements would be daunting to say the least.

I would definitely look into a Russian Tortoise. They remain small, don't need high temperatures or high humidity. And they have great little personalities and are in constant motion.

Carole
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