New Turtle/Tortoise Pet?

elainea

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Hey all,

Recently my boyfriend and I have been discussing the fact that we would love to get a new turtle or tortoise! I figured I would ask the experts to see if y'all could recommend what the best kind for us to get would be and where we could get one.

We live in North Louisiana and would be interested in building an outdoor (dog-proof) enclosure in our yard. I've had a tortoise before but am by no means an expert, so something a little more beginner-level care would be good for us I think. We have space for about a 4 foot by up to 10 foot long enclosure, with grass and some shade in one end, but we could alter grass/substrate as needed.

What do ya'll think? Any good species fit this plan, or is it unrealistic?
 

ZEROPILOT

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Read up on Red Footeds. They don't get REALLY big and require lots of humidity.....And I assume you have that. The enclosure mentioned would be on the small side for one of the larger species and even borderline for an adult R/F.
 

Tom

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Due to your cold wet winters, you might be better off with a temperate species that could safely hibernate indoors over winter. Look into Marginated, greeks and hermanns.

RFs, or any of the other tropical species would likely need a large indoor set up for winter.
 

LLLReptile

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Like Tom said, anything tropical would need something special indoors for winter. The Mediterranean species would work well - I am particularly fond of greek tortoises, especially golden greeks, myself, but Russians, marginateds, and hermann's are all equally as easy to care for and vary a bit from species to species. :)

-Jen
 

Yellow Turtle01

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I'm a LITTLE biased, but I'd say a russian :p
They can hibernate during the winter and will do great outdoors in a large pen... however, greek and marginated tortoise make great choices. too! Marginated torts do get a little 'larger' at up to 14'' though :)
 
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