I'm thinking about getting a tortoise as a pet, but before I do anything, I want to make sure to do as much research as I can. So, I thought it might be a good idea to post something here, in the hopes that you all can give me some good advice.
First question: I have a pet cockatiel - would that be a problem? I've found a few articles about having cats/dogs and tortoises, but nothing so far about birds. (Cockatiels are the small yellow/gray birds, not the giant white Cockatoo.) I would also like to get a dog in the future, when I have a bigger place of my own, and I have read in a few places that dogs and tortoises aren't good mixes either. (Though at the moment I live in a house with 3 cats with my bird, and everything is fine, I just keep a close eye on things.)
Beyond that, I'm looking for any advice anyone can offer. Pros and cons of owning a tortoise? Which type is best? (I know I want a small one, and was looking at the Russians and Greeks. Anything bigger than 1ft is too big.) Do they keep well in Calgary AB, with our cold dry weather? Are they okay in apartments/townhouses? How expensive is it to get a tortoise and all the necessary accessories? And how much is it to keep a tortoise? (IE, budget?)
Thanks in advance for any tips! Feel free to throw as much as you want my way in terms of research, this is something I wouldn't be able to do until September at the earliest.
First question: I have a pet cockatiel - would that be a problem? I've found a few articles about having cats/dogs and tortoises, but nothing so far about birds. (Cockatiels are the small yellow/gray birds, not the giant white Cockatoo.) I would also like to get a dog in the future, when I have a bigger place of my own, and I have read in a few places that dogs and tortoises aren't good mixes either. (Though at the moment I live in a house with 3 cats with my bird, and everything is fine, I just keep a close eye on things.)
Beyond that, I'm looking for any advice anyone can offer. Pros and cons of owning a tortoise? Which type is best? (I know I want a small one, and was looking at the Russians and Greeks. Anything bigger than 1ft is too big.) Do they keep well in Calgary AB, with our cold dry weather? Are they okay in apartments/townhouses? How expensive is it to get a tortoise and all the necessary accessories? And how much is it to keep a tortoise? (IE, budget?)
Thanks in advance for any tips! Feel free to throw as much as you want my way in terms of research, this is something I wouldn't be able to do until September at the earliest.