Tortoise species

[kaitiejane]

I'm getting a tortoise soon and I just wanted advice on what kind to get. I have never had a tortoise before and I'm wondering on what species to get. I'm thinking about a hermann or a redfoot. Please let me in on you guys opinions!

 

[Tom]

Where are you? Renting or do you own your house? What kind of space do you have indoors and out?

 

[kaitiejane]

I'm thinking about adding a tortoise to my family but I'm not sure which species to get. I'm thinking about a redfoot or a hermann but wanted some advice before I made up my mind. Any help on which one I should get?

 

[tortadise]

Well both species are great introductory species. The Redfoots do get quite a bit larger than the hermann though. So space would be the primary question of those two.

 

[kaitiejane]

Own my own house. I have plenty of room for the tortoise I'm just trying to figure out which one would be a better species or which ones are harder to care for than others

 

[Yvonne G]

Where you live (your climate) might have something to do with what you decide to get. In my opinion, tortoises should be set up to live outside. Then a secondary home indoors for winter, but outside first.

 

[kaitiejane]

I live in south texas

 

[Tom]

Either species will do well for you with the right set up, and both species are attractive, hardy and have great personalities.

Tough choice for you.

If you lived somewhere with low humidity, I would have leaned toward the hermanni. High humidity would push me toward the RF. They both need lots of space, and I agree with Yvonne about having indoor and outdoor housing. I like to keep babies inside more than out, and adults outside more than in.

 

[kaitiejane]

Should I use both coconut fiber and cypress mulch as bedding?

 

[kaitiejane]

Also what UVB lighting should I use

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

I use plain CocoCoir
Don't use coil UVBs, they can cause some real damage to your tort! Besides those, tube UVBs are safe and MVBs provide bot heat and UVB... Both tort are great, but yeah, hermanns can tolerate lower humidity than redfoots, and you live in a hot dry area, so it maybe a bit of an issue?!

 

[kaitiejane]

How does a coil UVB hurt the tortoises ?

 

[kaitiejane]

With my hot dry climate is their a tortoise species you. Recommend ?

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

How does a coil UVB hurt the tortoises ?

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/coil-type-uv-bulbs-dont-use-them.35247/
Russian torts can tolerate lower humidity, and are very hardy with temps, but every tort needs humidity, just at varying levels!
Greek tortoises like hot sun, but again, every factor plays into which tort may be best!

 

[kaitiejane]

I've also thought about leopard tortoises as well

 

[kaitiejane]

Will the tortoise still the get vitamin d it needs with the mercury bulb?

 

[kaitiejane]

Or what other bulb could I use besides a mercury bulb

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hello Kaitiejane welcome to the TFO from AZ . Herrmanns Rule !

 

[Zeko]

Or what other bulb could I use besides a mercury bulb

They need UVB. They can get it from the Mercury Bulb, Fluorescent Tube or natural sunlight.

Take your pick, as long as they get many hours of it, every day preferably.

 

[kaitiejane]

The only reason I can't so outside is because of the weather right now. Even though I'm in south Texas the temperatures get down to freezing and we are having highs of 40-50. Which is way to cold