Potentially a new tortoise owner!

[duckgalrox]

Hello! You can call me Duck, and I live in Minnesota.

I'm curious what kind of tortoise would be best for me - I've narrowed it down to Hermann's, spur-thighed, or Russian, but I'm not terribly enthused about Russian because I don't think their shells are terribly attractive.

I'm also concerned about keeping my tortoise outside during the summer, because of how humid it gets here. I've seen a lot about how to keep a tortoise's habitat wet enough - what about keeping it dry?

Any suggestions?

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Do you mean wet or high humidity ? Because all 3 your looking at need high humidity .

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Sorry Duck I forgot
Welcome to the TFO from AZ .

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome to the forum, Duck!

 

[wellington]

Hello and Welcome. Most need a higher humidity when young. Less as they get old
Russians don't have the pretties shells, but they have a lot of personality and they are always on the more, which makes them fun too watch.

 

[duckgalrox]

Do you mean wet or high humidity ? Because all 3 your looking at need high humidity .

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Sorry Duck I forgot
Welcome to the TFO from AZ .

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On the extreme, we can get to 90+% humidity with temperatures above 90F (19C). Is this too hot for a tortoise? Is there such thing as too hot for a tortoise? I don't want my tort to burn...

I'm planning to either hibernate in the crazy cold winter or set up a nice enclosure in my basement, complete with sun/heat lamps on timers.

On another note: are tortoise leashes a thing? Can I take my tortoise on a walk on the bike path once he's big enough?

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

I'm sorry , yes higher humidity

 

[pam]

Welcome Russians are awesome