Which tort species did you choose?

TortsNTurtles

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What species do you have and how did you choose?

I had young Leopards, young Burmese black mountains, young Indian Stars, young Burmese Stars, then sold them all for personal reasons, I live in Chicago suburbs so I have to keep them indoors much of the year so a large growing tortoise would be difficult indoor space wise, so I sold them before getting too attached to them.
Then after a few years I decided to acquire a 3 CB females of Testudo hermanni hermanni, Apulia Italy.
They were hatched August 2016 and weight about 35-40 grams. Named Bumble Bee, Goldilocks, and Super Nova, All 3 have different personalities.
I like them because the y will only grow around 6" I have the indoor space for smaller species size. This species becomes very colorful, bright pastel yellow contrast with jet black, and their skin, scales and face also seem more nicer in detail, smoother than my past tortoises had. I also noticed they are more active, friendly, and outgoing than the tortoise I had in the past. We really enjoy seeing these 3 female grow and do there thing. I was lucky to find this 6' oak wood reptile habitat on kijiji for only $300 that I fixed up for them, I built in a rubber pan under the substrate to keep the habitat dry and the mulch damp, they are thriving with perfect carapaces as you see.
Good luck with your search.


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I want a Testudo hermanni hermanni someday!!
 

Buddytheboxie

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I was a kid maybe 14/15 and i really wanted a land turtle (didn't know they were called box turtles at the time) or a tortoise. I was researching and looking online for the perfect little one for me. When my dad took me with him to adopt a bird i was mentioning to the owners that i always wanted a turtle. They looked at me and introduced me to a young 3 toed box turtle. They put him in my hands and told me that i can have him and his tank and everything. Ever since that day Buddy has been with me. Everyone knoed about my box turtle. It is not until i got older that everything the previous owners told me about him was wrong. I am surprised he lasted with me this long. Now that i am older i am upgrading his enclosure and fixing his food better. He is mad at me for messing with him, but accepts it. My family even yells at me when i dont bring him in the family BBQs over the summer because they love seeing him dig and crawl in the grass. They like feeding him watermelon too haha. He is going strong at 23 years old! Turning 24 in march! It cracks me up that he is a year older than me!!
(Old pics i have fixed his tank and added dirt since these were taken).

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Bogie=babyDINO

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He is going strong at 23 years old! Turning 24 in march! It cracks me up that he is a year older than me!!
Haha that's awesome! Love the story. I used to call them land turtles also. I had no idea how many types of tortoises and turtles there were out there! I'd really like to rescue one older then me. I think that would be neat. Whenever you need advise you can ask your elder ;)
 

Buddytheboxie

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Haha that's awesome! Love the story. I used to call them land turtles also. I had no idea how many types of tortoises and turtles there were out there! I'd really like to rescue one older then me. I think that would be neat. Whenever you need advise you can ask your elder ;)

Thank you. I am so happy that i adopted him. He is the best thing that has ever happened and not matter what he is going with me where ever i go. My friends always make fun that he was able to "drink" before me haha getting this little guy has opened my eye for reptiles and my love for them. :D
 

Yvonne G

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I was a kid maybe 14/15 and i really wanted a land turtle (didn't know they were called box turtles at the time) or a tortoise. I was researching and looking online for the perfect little one for me. When my dad took me with him to adopt a bird i was mentioning to the owners that i always wanted a turtle. They looked at me and introduced me to a young 3 toed box turtle. They put him in my hands and told me that i can have him and his tank and everything. Ever since that day Buddy has been with me. Everyone knoed about my box turtle. It is not until i got older that everything the previous owners told me about him was wrong. I am surprised he lasted with me this long. Now that i am older i am upgrading his enclosure and fixing his food better. He is mad at me for messing with him, but accepts it. My family even yells at me when i dont bring him in the family BBQs over the summer because they love seeing him dig and crawl in the grass. They like feeding him watermelon too haha. He is going strong at 23 years old! Turning 24 in march! It cracks me up that he is a year older than me!!
(Old pics i have fixed his tank and added dirt since these were taken).

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I love the shoe box picture. It shows their personality exactly!
 

Lyn W

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I didn't choose Lola the leopard - he chose me!
I would never have chosen a tortoise as a pet - had no interest in them at all.
I was supposed to be a half way house between him being found by a friend and taking him to a new home my sister in Leicestershire. There was a change of plan and she couldn't take him.
While I was researching rehoming him with the BATK he got his hooks in me.
That was 2.5 years ago and is still here - ruling the roost!
 

EmmaE

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I read about tortoises a lot and something about Hermann’s tortoises just felt right. Then I went to hermannihaven and instantly loved the Dalmatian tortoise. that being said, all other people I spoke to loved western Hermann’s tortoises So first I pursued them. then after that didn’t work out, I learned more about Dalmatian tortoises and low and behold 3 months later I have one of my own! from the beginning it felt right, all other tortoises didn’t "speak" to me like the size, face, and coloring of a Dalmatian tortoise. here are some photos of her :)

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Katashia

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I have always liked turtles & tortoises, not sure why; I once heard they were considered good luck by the Choctaw Indians, since I am Choctaw, maybe that's why.
I got my first turtle when I was 16yrs old, my friend needed to rehome him so I took him. She thought he was a RES, I know now that Waldo wasn't an RES & am still trying to pinpoint his species.
Since then I have always had aquatic turtles; at one time I had 3 RES (Pickles, Ariel & Squirt) & 1 Mississippi Map (Tokka). Sadly Pickles got sick, I now believe it was a cold, he had started to get better but then I came home one day & he had passed. I must not have gotten him quarantined fast enough because Tokka wound up getting sick and dying soon after. I was so upset when Tokka died, I never got another & just focused on Ariel & Squirt. Eventually they got huge & Squirt got very aggressive towards Ariel (I think he was trying to mate & she wouldn't let him) & I got pregnant soon after that so I wound up letting them go free at a local turtle sanctuary. Squirt took off, like, "See ya!" Ariel took off too but she would come back up to watch me & as I walked away from the water she would come closer. I sat out there for almost 2hrs while she played & ultimately she decided she liked it there & didn't come back. Lol.
I've always been obsessed with tortoises though. From the age of 16 I have said that some day I will have a giant tortoise to roam my home freely. Ideally, I should probably have gone with a box tortoise or some other species but I adore Sulcatas. My fiancé surprised me Nov 28, 2016 with my Christmas present early, a baby Sulcata. I have been studying up on them for some time before but even now I know I am not fully prepared but I won't give up.
I love her very much & one thing is for sure, when I have a pet (which isn't often) I focus on them like I do my children & make sure they have what they need!
 

KrissyLeigh

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I'd always had aquatic turtles - I would rescue red eared sliders from pool skimmers. Here, you can easily find 15 baby sliders in one day caught in skimmers! I assume during breeding seasons.

I love turtles, but it's exhausting keeping all that water up to snuff - especially with the cost of filter cartridges, water treatment, and time vacuuming all the tanks. So I decided a tortoise was for me! Especially since - this is a sad story - I once rescued a turtle from the road and put him in a pond. It was the strangest turtle I'd ever seen, and later in life I found out it was a tortoise, and I had probably drowned it. To this day I feel HORRIBLY guilty about that mistake, so providing a home for a tortoise was kindof my way of atonement. And I loved the idea of having a "land turtle" that would be a lifelong companion.

After much research I decided on a red footed tortoise because:
A) I live in south Texas where it is always hot and humid, so I felt I needed a rainforest species
B) Redfoots are a smaller species (in comparison to others)
C) I love how they look - absolutely gorgeous
D) I read that they are more outgoing

So that was that! I happen to come across a breeder in town by sheerest coincidence, and the rest is history!

(note: this picture is from an old setup when she was small)13394161_10154034467440935_1047951600433733569_n.jpg
 

saginawhxc

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After extensive research I decided I wanted a red foot.

Then I got a sulcata on an impulse instead.

3 sulcatas (hoping to shed one in the near future), 1 russian, and 1 red foot. Hoping to add a star to the mix in the next year or so.
 

yillt

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I choose Marginated. I was young, I liked the look of them. Simple! I didn't choose Billy, he was was shipped in a fed ex van (which I don't approve of now) but at 10 it didn't really occur to me that that was cruel. Anyway, from then on, it's been Marginateds.
 

Tortoisefanatic88

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Sulcata. Ever since I first laid eyes on them and starting reading about them I knew I would have to have one. After years of waiting I now have Tank. Living in Pennsylvania it won't be easy with the winters here as he grows big, but I knew what I was getting into before my purchase. I have always been into reptiles especially turtles and always wanted a tortoise. Here are my 2 painted turtles and Tank chewing down on mazuri
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Buddytheboxie

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Sulcata. Ever since I first laid eyes on them and starting reading about them I knew I would have to have one. After years of waiting I now have Tank. Living in Pennsylvania it won't be easy with the winters here as he grows big, but I knew what I was getting into before my purchase. I have always been into reptiles especially turtles and always wanted a tortoise. Here are my 2 painted turtles and Tank chewing down on mazuri
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Sulcata is my dream tort!!! But living in Chicago I will stick to my box turtle lol! Your 3 are gorgeous by the way!
 

Alleycattle

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I have 2 almost yearling redfoots named Jasper and Breccia (hatchdays are in March). I got 2 because they were my first reptiles and even perfectly cared for creatures sometimes don't survive to adulthood. I'd eventually like to have a small herd of them if circumstances allow. When they are old enough to sex I will either rehome one or get a few more to adjust the sex ratio. I have a large yard and a 18' x 30' room that will eventually be tortoise-proofed for them to spend the winters in.

In no particular order I wanted a tortoise that was:

1. Big, but not too big (no sulcatas!)
2. Would be happy to live outside in our hot, humid summers
3. Would not hibernate
4. Was not excessively expensive (I'm looking at you, Indian Star tortoises!)
5. Had a diet that I was confident I could always provide
6. Had a shell shape and color range that I found attractive
 

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