RussianTortoise219
New Member
I'm planning on getting a pet Russian Tortoise however I can't find if it's legal to keep as a pet in California I can't find anything saying it's legal Please Help
I need an answer
- Thread starter RussianTortoise219
- Start date
Yes, one can legally keep Russian tortoises in California. I'm in Clovis, CA and I have four of them.
The only thing illegal about keeping them would be releasing them into the wild. This is illegal.
The only thing illegal about keeping them would be releasing them into the wild. This is illegal.
RussianTortoise219
New Member
Thank you so much
sorry if this is a bit of a bother but how do prevent getting salmonella from my tortoise
sorry if this is a bit of a bother but how do prevent getting salmonella from my tortoise
Just keep cleanliness in mind at all times, hand washing after handling tort, keep tort away from your face, maybe don't let him wander round your house (which he shouldn't anyway because of all the dangers for him) sterilizing of plates and dishes he uses (chemicals can be harmful to your tort - I have always used use very hot water and a steam cleaner in his tort room).
RussianTortoise219
New Member
Thank you so much
Clueless Tortoise
Active Member
Like Yvonne said, it is legal to keep, just illegal to release. I live in San Francisco C.A and have a russian tort so you'll have no problem with one being illegal. As for the salmonella part, when I got my tortoise and took him to the vet for the first time ( you should do that right after you adopt any reptile or animal), the vet prescribed him with a salmonella antibiotic just in case. I cant remember what it was called since it was so many years ago, but I do remember syringe feeding him the oral medication once or twice daily. My point is, if you adopt a tort, talk to your vet about getting a salmonella antibiotic. Your best bet in getting one is if you go to a vet who works with reptiles. I'll try and look online to see if I can find the name of it but for now that's all i remember off the top of my head. Russian torts are great and have such big personalities. Enjoy and congrats! He/she will be your buddy for a very long time 
Greetings. Regarding contracting Salmonella from your possible new Russian tortoise, we have a few thousand TFO members here & thousands of turtles and torts. I really don’t recall anyone ever getting on here saying they contracted Salmonella. I THINK this whole Salmonella issue came when 5 & 10 cent stores sold cheap little green sliders for kids. Parents would purchase for their kinds who often picked up the turtle then licked their hands....not a good habit.
If you practice normal hygiene - wash your hands & keep ur tortoise & pen & water bowls clean, you shouldnt have any problems.
➡️➡️ http://www.britishcheloniagroup.org.uk/vetscorner/salmonella
If you practice normal hygiene - wash your hands & keep ur tortoise & pen & water bowls clean, you shouldnt have any problems.
➡️➡️ http://www.britishcheloniagroup.org.uk/vetscorner/salmonella
You've got more of a chance of getting salmonella from the Romaine lettuce in your salad than you do from your tort.
RussianTortoise219
New Member
Like Yvonne said, it is legal to keep, just illegal to release. I live in San Francisco C.A and have a russian tort so you'll have no problem with one being illegal. As for the salmonella part, when I got my tortoise and took him to the vet for the first time ( you should do that right after you adopt any reptile or animal), the vet prescribed him with a salmonella antibiotic just in case. I cant remember what it was called since it was so many years ago, but I do remember syringe feeding him the oral medication once or twice daily. My point is, if you adopt a tort, talk to your vet about getting a salmonella antibiotic. Your best bet in getting one is if you go to a vet who works with reptiles. I'll try and look online to see if I can find the name of it but for now that's all i remember off the top of my head. Russian torts are great and have such big personalities. Enjoy and congrats! He/she will be your buddy for a very long time
Thanks for the help all of this is very helpful ?
Welcome
Golden Greek Tortoise 567
Well-Known Member
Here‘s our care sheet for rts. Be prepared to have a little monster in your home ?.
www.tortoiseforum.org
The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise
I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...
www.tortoiseforum.org
