What breed of tortoise is best for me?

[oka]

Hi,
I have been looking into getting a tortoise and I was wandering what breed would be best for me. I live in the UK so the weather is a bit cold but I have a lot of space in my garden for an outdoor enclosure and we can make room for an indoor one as well. I have been looking at the Russian/Horsfield breed but I was not quite sure if they would suit the UK weather.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hi

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome.

There are no "breeds" of tortoise. You are talking about different species. The horsfield tortoise, or the greek or the hermanni should all do well for you with the right enclosure and set up.

Here are some threads to read for starters:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

 

[oka]

Hi
View attachment 208881

 

[JoesMum]

Hi there and welcome from Kent, UK

All the Testudo (Greeks, Russians and Hermann's are most common in the UK) cope well in our climate.

However, any tort you buy here is likely to be very young. Too young for outside time for a couple of years or so.

They need to be more mature before they are big enough to spend all day outside.

Indoors for a baby you will need a large closed chamber enclosure where you can keep temperatures warm enough and humidity high enough for your tort to be healthy.

Care of all the Testudo is broadly similar so I suggest you read the TFO care guides for those if you haven't already.

They're written by species experts working hard to correct the outdated information widely available on the internet and from pet stores and, sadly, from some breeders and vets too.

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

Baby Russian Tortoise Care
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/

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

 

[oka]

Hello and welcome.

There are no "breeds" of tortoise. You are talking about different species. The horsfield tortoise, or the greek or the hermanni should all do well for you with the right enclosure and set up.

Here are some threads to read for starters:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Thanks I'll totally consider having a look (and thanks for telling me about the species not "breeds")

 

[Yvonne G]

Maybe this will help you:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/what-species-should-i-get.123008/

 

[oka]

One other question, I've seen some websites that say not to have enclosures with glass sides because the tortoise may spend hours trying to get out. Is this true?

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

One other question, I've seen some websites that say not to have enclosures with glass sides because the tortoise may spend hours trying to get out. Is this true?

Yes ! Or wire sides the same reason !

 

[JoesMum]

Youngsters do well in vivariums. You can always put a strip of paper round the bottom on the outside so your tort can't see through.

It's as they get bigger and more adventurous that the see-through becomes more problematic. At that stage a vivarium is too small in any case.

 

[oka]

Great! Thanks for the help