NJTortoiseFan
New Member
Hello All,
I am new to the forum. I kept reptiles when I was much younger, but have not done so in several years. In recent months I've been considering getting back into the hobby, and have settled on the Egyptian tortoise. Although it is more costly (and perhaps more delicate) than other options, I have determined that it is the best option for me since I will be moving into a New York City apartment this summer, and space will be at a premium. I don't intend to purchase the tortoise(s) until I move in several months, but I want to start the process of planning and learning now so I am in the best position to provide a happy and healthy environment for the tortoise(s). I first wanted to know what people think about minimum enclosure size either for one or two of these tortoises (I've seen different things on different websites). Relatedly, I was wondering what people think about the importance of getting two of these tortoises compared to one. While they generally don't live alone in the wild, would they be able to live a happy life alone in captivity, or is getting two of them really important? In the event that I get two, does it matter whether I get two males, two females, or one of each? These animals are very hard to find, so I may not have much flexibility in choosing the sexes of the animals. I would also welcome any general advice (beyond the specific questions I asked) from anyone who has kept or is keeping Egyptian tortoises (or tortoises in general!). As I said, I am starting this process early so I am ready to go when it comes time to purchase the tortoises. Thank you in advance for your insight.
I am new to the forum. I kept reptiles when I was much younger, but have not done so in several years. In recent months I've been considering getting back into the hobby, and have settled on the Egyptian tortoise. Although it is more costly (and perhaps more delicate) than other options, I have determined that it is the best option for me since I will be moving into a New York City apartment this summer, and space will be at a premium. I don't intend to purchase the tortoise(s) until I move in several months, but I want to start the process of planning and learning now so I am in the best position to provide a happy and healthy environment for the tortoise(s). I first wanted to know what people think about minimum enclosure size either for one or two of these tortoises (I've seen different things on different websites). Relatedly, I was wondering what people think about the importance of getting two of these tortoises compared to one. While they generally don't live alone in the wild, would they be able to live a happy life alone in captivity, or is getting two of them really important? In the event that I get two, does it matter whether I get two males, two females, or one of each? These animals are very hard to find, so I may not have much flexibility in choosing the sexes of the animals. I would also welcome any general advice (beyond the specific questions I asked) from anyone who has kept or is keeping Egyptian tortoises (or tortoises in general!). As I said, I am starting this process early so I am ready to go when it comes time to purchase the tortoises. Thank you in advance for your insight.