Hey guys,
I currently have a Russian tortoise, he's been in my care for 2 years now. I got him for his small size due to my still living with my parents and not having huge amounts of space.
But since around the time I was looking for a tortoise I fell head over heels for Sulcatas. It was obvious they were never a choice so I never thought more about it. But in the future... I know it may be possible. I figure being such a long commitment and large decision I need to think about it for quite some time before, which in my case will probably be the years it will take to move out get an apartment and then move on to a house where i'd be able to keep him. I liked the idea of getting a hatchling and watching him grow to huge sizes, and that will probably always appeal to me, but I think when the time comes I'll find one who someone got without research and quickly grew way to big for them. I know nature sanctuaries end up with many due to that. I also don't know how I feel about the having to worry about someone after me wanting him, so the idea of getting an adult is more appealing (I can always raise my future turtle from hatchling).
I have a few major questions that come to mind. I live in Massachusetts, There WILL be months I wont be able to keep him outside-outside, I've read about heated sheds as what is used, how big are these sheds you use? And I read about how they can ram walls and knock off all sorts of stuff, so how would the shed stand up to him wanting to get out? (I plan to end up building that shed to fit custom needs anyways.) Would something like a little garage attachment to a house work? I like the idea of him being close, and then I could just open that door to a penned up area to let them roam in and out as they choose during the day and then close him up at night (so many animals I'd just feel much less anxious doing that.)
I say "he" because so far I've never considered a female due to problems that can arise with eggs (as learned through my cousins turtles) but due to size difference I may end up considering either in the future.
Also I hear they are pretty much the most personable tortoise you can have, are they just like my Russian is and like people but not each other? Because depending on my future yard space I'd consider a little herd of 3 or 4 females instead of just 1 male, and how much space would we be talking for that?
It may seem silly to be asking all these things so far ahead of time, but I like to do a lot of research and since they are a much longer commitment than franklin and i'm facing having to have them in my will, I need all the time I can to think about them and learn.
Thanks in advance guys. And any advice or things to think of that I haven't mentioned are also greatly appreciated.
*I've thought about leopards too since they're just so beautiful, but theres something about the sulcata that just calls to me!
I currently have a Russian tortoise, he's been in my care for 2 years now. I got him for his small size due to my still living with my parents and not having huge amounts of space.
But since around the time I was looking for a tortoise I fell head over heels for Sulcatas. It was obvious they were never a choice so I never thought more about it. But in the future... I know it may be possible. I figure being such a long commitment and large decision I need to think about it for quite some time before, which in my case will probably be the years it will take to move out get an apartment and then move on to a house where i'd be able to keep him. I liked the idea of getting a hatchling and watching him grow to huge sizes, and that will probably always appeal to me, but I think when the time comes I'll find one who someone got without research and quickly grew way to big for them. I know nature sanctuaries end up with many due to that. I also don't know how I feel about the having to worry about someone after me wanting him, so the idea of getting an adult is more appealing (I can always raise my future turtle from hatchling).
I have a few major questions that come to mind. I live in Massachusetts, There WILL be months I wont be able to keep him outside-outside, I've read about heated sheds as what is used, how big are these sheds you use? And I read about how they can ram walls and knock off all sorts of stuff, so how would the shed stand up to him wanting to get out? (I plan to end up building that shed to fit custom needs anyways.) Would something like a little garage attachment to a house work? I like the idea of him being close, and then I could just open that door to a penned up area to let them roam in and out as they choose during the day and then close him up at night (so many animals I'd just feel much less anxious doing that.)
I say "he" because so far I've never considered a female due to problems that can arise with eggs (as learned through my cousins turtles) but due to size difference I may end up considering either in the future.
Also I hear they are pretty much the most personable tortoise you can have, are they just like my Russian is and like people but not each other? Because depending on my future yard space I'd consider a little herd of 3 or 4 females instead of just 1 male, and how much space would we be talking for that?
It may seem silly to be asking all these things so far ahead of time, but I like to do a lot of research and since they are a much longer commitment than franklin and i'm facing having to have them in my will, I need all the time I can to think about them and learn.
Thanks in advance guys. And any advice or things to think of that I haven't mentioned are also greatly appreciated.
*I've thought about leopards too since they're just so beautiful, but theres something about the sulcata that just calls to me!