Breed help

Clairemarie

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Hi all! I am totally new to tortoises as in we do not own one yet. My son has been asking for a tortoise for quite some time now. He is a total animal lover and we are dedicated as a family to giving this pet a life long home. Before jumping into anything I wanted to make sure we can properly care for the breed we choose as giving it away is not an option- not fair to the animal and my son would be heart broken. With that being said we live in CT but are relocating to middle TN in a few years. I assumed we would keep the tortoise indoors and let him walk around the house while supervised for exercise and let him outside on nice days. I was interested in a breed that is very social and friendly. The Sulcata came to mind. Is it feasible to turn a guest bedroom into a tortoise house or is that just crazy. I have read they do a lot of digging- will this breed just destroy everything indoors and outdoors? We are not interested in a super small breed and were leaning toward medium-large. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated as this is a whole new realm for us. Thanks in advance.

Claire
 

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A Sulcata will destroy your guest bedroom.
But it's doable when they're young. Most keepers aren't being realistic about how big, heavy, strong and stubborn a Sulcata can be. Or of the huge enclosure it will require. Or how strong the walls need to be.
If you want huge. Sulcata is the best way I suppose.
But there are other tortoises that are still quite large and some that stay small. Most of them are interesting (To me) and all of them can and should live in an outdoor enclosure.
Medium would be Redfoot. That's what I keep. They are a high humidity, tropical tortoise. A Leopard tortoise is beautiful and is generally larger than a Redfoot....
Take your time and do your research to decide what truly best fits your situation.
 

bouaboua

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Hello Claire:

Welcome to the forum. This is a great place to learn and share.

I'm glad that you did you study before purchase or adopting one. Sulcata will get very big in few years, His/her poop will be the size of full grown man, the carapace on there shoulder will cut open of the drywall of the room that you dedicated for him/her at no time, of cause you can use playwood proof it.

We have our sulcata in his outdoor enclosure year round (Northern CA) and we build a warm box with heat and lighting for him. I know the winter in TN can be cold also, But a well insolated warm box (build large) will be enough.
 

Toddrickfl1

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Hi all! I am totally new to tortoises as in we do not own one yet. My son has been asking for a tortoise for quite some time now. He is a total animal lover and we are dedicated as a family to giving this pet a life long home. Before jumping into anything I wanted to make sure we can properly care for the breed we choose as giving it away is not an option- not fair to the animal and my son would be heart broken. With that being said we live in CT but are relocating to middle TN in a few years. I assumed we would keep the tortoise indoors and let him walk around the house while supervised for exercise and let him outside on nice days. I was interested in a breed that is very social and friendly. The Sulcata came to mind. Is it feasible to turn a guest bedroom into a tortoise house or is that just crazy. I have read they do a lot of digging- will this breed just destroy everything indoors and outdoors? We are not interested in a super small breed and were leaning toward medium-large. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated as this is a whole new realm for us. Thanks in advance.

Claire
Redfoot would probably be a good option. Definitely not feasible housing a Sulcata in a guest room.z5buxv2twye11 (1).jpg
 

bouaboua

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You can also look into the Rediata tortoise, Redfoot tortoise, they can get very big and some what social.

Our Rediata tortoise will come to us when we call them. Of cause, they know when we call, food also coming. Hahaha~
 

Clairemarie

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You can also look into the Rediata tortoise, Redfoot tortoise, they can get very big and some what social.

Our Rediata tortoise will come to us when we call them. Of cause, they know when we call, food also coming. Hahaha~
Aww. I will look into the Redfoot. Thank you!
 

Clairemarie

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Hello Claire:

Welcome to the forum. This is a great place to learn and share.

I'm glad that you did you study before purchase or adopting one. Sulcata will get very big in few years, His/her poop will be the size of full grown man, the carapace on there shoulder will cut open of the drywall of the room that you dedicated for him/her at no time, of cause you can use playwood proof it.

We have our sulcata in his outdoor enclosure year round (Northern CA) and we build a warm box with heat and lighting for him. I know the winter in TN can be cold also, But a well insolated warm box (build large) will be enough.
Hi, thank you. I’m so happy I found this forum I have received so many helpful responses already. After seeing the picture below I most certainly will not be getting a Sulcata- unfortunately. But better to know what we are getting ourselves into :)
 

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A Redfoot is a great tortoise. But will require very high humidity when young and still relatively high for its entire life of 65ish years.
Check out our Redfoot information and read about "closed chamber" enclosures.
A Redfoot will need high humidity and this is the easiest way to accomplish this. Aside from moving to a tropical location and housing one outside.
(For that matter. A small Sulcata also needs a closed chamber.)
 

Clairemarie

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A Redfoot is a great tortoise. But will require very high humidity when young and still relatively high for its entire life of 65ish years.
Check out our Redfoot information and read about "closed chamber" enclosures.
A Redfoot will need high humidity and this is the easiest way to accomplish this. Aside from moving to a tropical location and housing one outside.
(For that matter. A small Sulcata also needs a closed chamber.)
Thank you. Can you recommend an easier breed to care for? I have been researching but starting from scratch it all seems a bit over whelming! Basically we are looking for a tortoise to primarily house indoors but take outside on nice days. One that is friendly and somewhat easy to care for- as in it’s not very fragile. Thank you!!
 

Tom

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Thank you. Can you recommend an easier breed to care for? I have been researching but starting from scratch it all seems a bit over whelming! Basically we are looking for a tortoise to primarily house indoors but take outside on nice days. One that is friendly and somewhat easy to care for- as in it’s not very fragile. Thank you!!
Hermanni would fit that bill well, and very pretty too. If you want something a little larger, the marginata are similar and also easy to care for and feed.

Its great that you are trying to pick a species based on your environment and space constraints. So many people buy the wrong species for the wrong reasons, and the tortoise suffers in the end.
 

Clairemarie

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Hermanni would fit that bill well, and very pretty too. If you want something a little larger, the marginata are similar and also easy to care for and feed.

Its great that you are trying to pick a species based on your environment and space constraints. So many people buy the wrong species for the wrong reasons, and the tortoise suffers in the end.
Thank you so much I will research both as well. This is a great place to start. Yes this isn’t like getting a hamster that unfortunately will only be around a few years. This is literally a lifetime commitment! I have 5 children so I think between them and future grandchildren it wouldn’t be too hard to find someone to care for him if he outlives my husband and I! Ha. =)
 

Maggie3fan

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Thank you so much I will research both as well. This is a great place to start. Yes this isn’t like getting a hamster that unfortunately will only be around a few years. This is literally a lifetime commitment! I have 5 children so I think between them and future grandchildren it wouldn’t be too hard to find someone to care for him if he outlives my husband and I! Ha. =)

Welcome...but no matter what species of tort you get any will need their own environment... heat, humidity, UVB, correct food. There is much more to tortoise keeping than you realize...they are specialized animals, requiring specialized care...please stay here and keep asking questions we all want to help...
 

Clairemarie

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Welcome...but no matter what species of tort you get any will need their own environment... heat, humidity, UVB, correct food. There is much more to tortoise keeping than you realize...they are specialized animals, requiring specialized care...please stay here and keep asking questions we all want to help...
Yes yes I know thank you! I don’t want to seem lazy asking for what species requires minimal care, I guess I am just a little neurotic and don’t want to mess it up! We have experience with cats, dogs, chickens, snakes, small rodents etc but never a tortoise! Just want to get everything right =)
 

Kapidolo Farms

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One other person suggested radiated. I agree, not to cast disrespect on RedFoots, both are pretty social towards people. I find radiated are just a bit more social without a food incentive. It's almost like they are just as interested to watch you, as your are to them. I have also found they are very plastic in care requirements.

All species have a range care and enclosure parameters they will do well in. IMO Radiated have the biggest range.

Buying one can be a bit of an issue as they can not be sold over state lines without a special permit. There are breeders in nearly every state. You can move them from state to state as long as it does not involve and exchange in value. That means if you own it you can move it state to state, or if someone makes a gift of it, then no commerce has taken place.

So basically just ask a relative from any place they are sold if non are readily available in whatever state you are living in, that you want that tortoise for Christmas or your birthday, etc.

Redfoots are also a good choice.
 

Clairemarie

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One other person suggested radiated. I agree, not to cast disrespect on RedFoots, both are pretty social towards people. I find radiated are just a bit more social without a food incentive. It's almost like they are just as interested to watch you, as your are to them. I have also found they are very plastic in care requirements.

All species have a range care and enclosure parameters they will do well in. IMO Radiated have the biggest range.

Buying one can be a bit of an issue as they can not be sold over state lines without a special permit. There are breeders in nearly every state. You can move them from state to state as long as it does not involve and exchange in value. That means if you own it you can move it state to state, or if someone makes a gift of it, then no commerce has taken place.

So basically just ask a relative from any place they are sold if non are readily available in whatever state you are living in, that you want that tortoise for Christmas or your birthday, etc.

Redfoots are also a good choice.
Thank you for all the info- good to know!
 

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