Which tortoise is the friendliest?

[natalie3]

I´ve been wishing to get a tortoise for a long time and now I´m doing research on which one would be the best for me. Box turtle? Sulcata? Leopard? I love them all. In your experience which one is more friendly?

 

[G-stars]

Friendly with people or with each other?


— Gus

 

[natalie3]

Friendly with people or with each other?


— Gus

You are right, I should´ve specified. Friendly with people.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

I would like you to define " friendly " cause I would say my marginal is the friendly - est torts because you walk by they come running , if you step in the pen they come running but that's were it changes once you step in their pen they might bite you ! I would say my pancakes are the friendly - est they are there and they don't let you bother them


Sent from my iPhone using TortForum

 

[lismar79]

Sulcatas! If you have the room for them

 

[natalie3]

Sulcatas! If you have the room for them

They need to live outdoors? I have a lot of room but indoors

 

[lismar79]

They need to live outdoors? I have a lot of room but indoors

Yep, out doors is a must. This is like having a 150-200lb cow with a built in battering ram search for some stories about "Bob" by member @maggie3fan lol that's a personality sully for sure

 

[G-stars]

Leopards and sulcatas will eventually need outdoor housing.


— Gus

 

[natalie3]

Leopards and sulcatas will eventually need outdoor housing.


— Gus

What about box turtles?

 

[G-stars]

Since they are smaller you can technically keep then indoors. Although most keep their tortoises outdoors during the summer.


— Gus

 

[lismar79]

All torts and turtles benefit greatly to having natural sunlight, at least a few hours a week. Do you have any space to do this. Even a small kiddie pool with dirt and plants would work.
You should look into russian tortoises. They stay small (still need a good size enclosure) and they have huge personalities! I adore mine, she's not affraid of anything

 

[natalie3]

Thanks!

 

[phebe121]

I have leopards and i love them and i get in there enclosure and they come up to me and they love to get there head rubbed and chin there cool

 

[natalie3]

I have leopards and i love them and i get in there enclosure and they come up to me and they love to get there head rubbed and chin there cool

Sounds lovely!

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

Yep, out doors is a must. This is like having a 150-200lb cow with a built in battering ram search for some stories about "Bob" by member @maggie3fan lol that's a personality sully for sure

Too much laughing trying to imagine this! Cheerio would destroy EVERYTHING!
hahahaha

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

Sounds lovely!

Leopards still have the potential to grow to 14'', and won't be able to live inside! If you live somewhere colder, you also might want a tort who can hibernate (I don't do that 'thing', but it's up to you!) and leopards can't.
I'd go with a russian. They have such big personalities, are ADORABLE and stay realtivliy small and be easily housed indoors (and they can hibernate) they'll tolerate lower temps too, again if you live somewhere a little chilly.
Box turtles are AWESOME, and I so want some someday, probably be the next little guys I'll adopt! But they do the best outside, and are sort of a mix between tort and turtle, because of the water thing. They stay smaller, but I'm not sure if they are the type of friendly you're looking for.
Please remember that torts are, well, torts. They are not that 'pet' that will be soft and cuddly, and will want to play ball someday. Thye can be very social, sure, but that only goes so far!

 

[Tom]

Where do you live Natalie?

Many individuals of many species can be considered "friendly". By friendly I mean they will see out people and approach them. Usually it is because they associate people with food, but sometimes males are territorial and just not afraid of people.

Tortoises need outside time. At least during fair weather. It can be done indoors, but in that case you should eliminate giant species from your list. I think you will find that hermanni and russian tortoises generally have great, outgoing personalities, and stay small enough to manage indoors. If you are going indoors only you will need a minimum of 4x8' for your enclosure with the smaller species and you will need to learn about and invest in some good indoor UV. The market is full of all sort of products. Some of them are ineffective if used improperly, and some of them are harmful if used as directed. Let us help you when the time comes for that.

 

[phebe121]

It is lovely just have yo have space when there small they can be inside but when there big my plan is outside during the day and inside at night

 

[natalie3]

Leopards still have the potential to grow to 14'', and won't be able to live inside! If you live somewhere colder, you also might want a tort who can hibernate (I don't do that 'thing', but it's up to you!) and leopards can't.
I'd go with a russian. They have such big personalities, are ADORABLE and stay realtivliy small and be easily housed indoors (and they can hibernate) they'll tolerate lower temps too, again if you live somewhere a little chilly.
Box turtles are AWESOME, and I so want some someday, probably be the next little guys I'll adopt! But they do the best outside, and are sort of a mix between tort and turtle, because of the water thing. They stay smaller, but I'm not sure if they are the type of friendly you're looking for.
Please remember that torts are, well, torts. They are not that 'pet' that will be soft and cuddly, and will want to play ball someday. Thye can be very social, sure, but that only goes so far!

LOL I know, I´m not looking for a lap dog (although they´re cute too) just a not so shy tort.

 

[Magilla504]

My Russians are very friendly. They can live indoor or out and are fairly easy to care for. This species is usually outgoing, friendly and has a curious nature about themselves. I am certainly partial to them though! If I had to pick a different species than I would go with a sulcata. They sound like they have Great personalities! Just remember what you chose may be huge one day so make sure you have the space.