Hello

[`_`]

Hello my name is Peter and I'm from San Francisco. My 8 year old son wants a tortoise and I'm totally ok with that.
He's really responsible for his age. I know that I need to supervise him and do most of the work but that's fine with me.
We have 4 acres of space so there's enough room for an outdoor enclosure.
We also have one spare room indoors.
I looked online and found a lot of information but then I found this forum and 1 month of searching the web was wasted cause I mostly read wrong info....
So after I read basically everything on here I feel confident enough to expand my family [emoji1]

I don't want to buy a tortoise in a pet shop I would prefer a breeder but before I can do this I would love some suggestions from u guys [emoji217]

What kind of tortoise do u think would be the perfect starter tortoise?
My son likes sulcatas cause they are big so if it's going to be one I want to rescue a big one... but I don't now if a starter should start with a adult.
He also likes specifically redfoots, Russians and greeks.
Is one of these a good starter tortoise?

 

[Tom]

Sulcatas are an awesome species if you are in the right climate and have lots of space. San Fran is not as bad as Minnesota, but I wouldn't recommend a sulcata up there in the cold clammy weather you have most of the year. It could be done, but it won't be easy. They get huge and very destructive, and as much as I love them and think they have fantastic personalities, they are just not the right species for most people.

Redfoots do best in warm humid climates. Again, it can be done, but not easily.

Russians, greeks, hermanni and marginated tortoises would all do very well in your climate with a little help. These are all considered "Mediterranean" species and do well with colder damp nights and warm sunny days.

All of the above are good "starter" species. It just depends on where you live and how hard you want to work at compensating for your individual climate elements.

This care sheet is for Russian tortoises, but all the other Testudo species I mentioned have similar care and diet.
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

 

[Chasen]

Wow, you live in The City and have 4acres? How lucky you are! You've definitely come to the right place here. Good luck with your search on the right tort for you.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hi Peter
Anybody can have a Sulcata, Redfoot,Russian ,or Greek tort ! Ask your son if he would like a tort only calf. Person can have for free ?
You can adopt a calf. Desert tort . I would sell my teeth for a trio . And at 63 I don’t have many teeth left !

 

[Chasen]

Hi Peter
Anybody can have a Sulcata, Redfoot,Russian ,or Greek tort ! Ask your son if he would like a tort only calf. Person can have for free ?
You can adopt a calf. Desert tort . I would sell my teeth for a trio . And at 63 I don’t have many teeth left !
View attachment 264607

Are people calling hatchings "calves"??? I'm certainly no expert, but knowing the weather in SF like I do, I don't know that it's conducive to Desert Tort health. Hell, When I lived there we were always going in any direction out of town chasing the sun. Maybe climate change has changed things up there.

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome, Peter!

 

[Ray--Opo]

Are people calling hatchings "calves"??? I'm certainly no expert, but knowing the weather in SF like I do, I don't know that it's conducive to Desert Tort health. Hell, When I lived there we were always going in any direction out of town chasing the sun. Maybe climate change has changed things up there.

Are people calling hatchings "calves"??? I'm certainly no expert, but knowing the weather in SF like I do, I don't know that it's conducive to Desert Tort health. Hell, When I lived there we were always going in any direction out of town chasing the sun. Maybe climate change has changed things up there.

I think Grandpa Turtle 144 was referring to California desert tortoise.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

I think Grandpa Turtle 144 was referring to California desert tortoise.

Thank you ! Yes I was . But I got to go to the desert now ,too see if I can find me a Cowtort ! [emoji56][emoji217]