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[Eddie Ceja]

Hi guys my name is Eddie I live in Southern California, and I would love to get a tortoise but I am not sure which tortoise would be great for Southern California. I have experience with reptiles but mostly ball pythons and Leopard geckos. Please help me thank you

 

[JoesMum]

Hello and welcome to TFO

If you have plenty of yard space then a Sulcata will do well in SoCal. They do grow rapidly into 100lb+ bulldozers so outdoor space is essential even if you are planning on getting a baby.

@Tom is in SoCal and has several species including Sulcatas and the somewhat smaller Russian.

Don't be fooled by size though. Even the smaller species need a 4'x8' enclosure except when very small as they are active, roaming creatures.

Russian Torts bought from pet stores in the US are invariably adult/sub adult wild caught and not babies.

Torts are not social creatures and very territorial. They should be kept alone. Pairs invariably fail as bullying, both mental and physical sets in, over territory and food disputes.

I suggest you start by reading the following which will let you know what you're letting yourself in for

Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Russian Tortoise Care
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

How to raise a healthy Sulcata
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hi Eddie

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome, Eddie!

 

[Stuart S.]

Welcome!

 

[Eddie Ceja]

Thank you I was thinking of a smaller tortoise. I have been doing lots of research, and I was thanking of an elongated tortoise. Where I live the lowest the temperature gets is 49 degrees, but I can house a baby tortoise indoors till he/she is big enough for outdoors.

 

[SarahChelonoidis]

Thank you I was thinking of a smaller tortoise. I have been doing lots of research, and I was thanking of an elongated tortoise. Where I live the lowest the temperature gets is 49 degrees, but I can house a baby tortoise indoors till he/she is big enough for outdoors.

Elongated tortoises are great. They don't like super bright lights and high heat, so I am assuming you are more coastal than desert? I wouldn't recommend them for a desert climate, but for everywhere else I think they are fantastic animals.

 

[Alicia Hoogstra]

Welcome!!! Everyone here is always willing to help if you have any questions! I am a new tort mommy and they have helped a lot!

 

[Terri2016]

Hi guys I'm Adi and this is my tort,1 yearold Terri
I don't know if he is a he or she can anyone help me

 

[Eddie Ceja]

Elongated tortoises are great. They don't like super bright lights and high heat, so I am assuming you are more coastal than desert? I wouldn't recommend them for a desert climate, but for everywhere else I think they are fantastic animals.

Yeah I am closer to the ocean. I have been doing a lot of research on them, and that they can handle lower temperatures.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hi guys I'm Adi and this is my tort,1 yearold Terri
I don't know if he is a he or she can anyone help meView attachment 205783

Your tort has to get bigger to sex , but this will help you in the future !

 

[Terri2016]

Thanks I'm gonna stick to calling him a male until I know but I'm the meantime hers a pic of him eating his first treat

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Here's my Russians eating! It's so much fun just watching them eat !
Isn't it?

 

[Alicia Hoogstra]

Terri what a cute!

 

[Alicia Hoogstra]

@ Grandpa Turtle those little Russians are soooo cute!!! Do you sell them?

 

[Alicia Hoogstra]

Lilly and Luna got almost an hour of real sun today here in MI!

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

@ Grandpa Turtle those little Russians are soooo cute!!! Do you sell them?

Nope my torts are my children ! Someday maybe ! But not for now .
Someday you can ask what other torts I have .

 

[Alicia Hoogstra]

@Grandpa Turtle 144 my little ones are my kids too! (Especially now that my bio kids think they're grown ups

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

@Grandpa Turtle 144 my little ones are my kids too! (Especially now that my bio kids think they're grown ups

And when you get through those your grandkids will think they are all grown up !

 

[Terri2016]

I love him and I hope to one day get a female and have some eggies