Whether to get a tortoise or not?

shana hawkes

New Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2014
Messages
9
Location (City and/or State)
England
Hi, im new to this forum and have been trying to get some useful informations for a while, where do i begin,.

Ive wanted a tortoise for a long time, ever since i can remember, Ive been doing my research and plan to get one in December if given the right advice. Theres one problem, i have a little one, he's 1 years old. I dont worry about wether he'll stress the tortoise out, because he wont be anywhere near it, i just worry health wise. Wether its safe. Does anyone have a young child as well as a tortoise? is there a certain breed that would be recommended. Or is it generally not safe, i dont want to do some research and to not know for certain, this is a life commitment.

Thank you. :)
 

phebe121

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2014
Messages
1,098
My daughter is 7 and has been a big help with them i say go for it yiurs is a little to young to be picking tbe tort up lol but i cant see any heath reasons not to get one just make sure u wash your hands with is a given your an adult i dont need to tell u lol i have leopard and they are a joy to me im so glad i got them they have never bitten or even tryed so if yiur worried about that as yr son gets older and able to pet the tort id have to say there gentle i want a few more they r addicting and this site u can learn alot good luck on finding your tort
 

Attachments

  • CAM00639.jpg
    CAM00639.jpg
    1.5 MB · Views: 18

shana hawkes

New Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2014
Messages
9
Location (City and/or State)
England
Thank you, i was just generally worried about hygiene ect.. but he doesn't go near animals, he's not allowed. Ive wanted one for years and finally i can get one, i want a family pet for my little one to grow up with. And off course, some hand gel with come in handy lol. I didnt know wether to go for a hermann, which is why i needed a bit more advice before committing.
 

phebe121

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2014
Messages
1,098
From what i hear they r really nice im sure someone with more experience will comment on here for you
 

Flipper

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 27, 2014
Messages
715
Location (City and/or State)
MO, USA
I have a 1 yr old Hermann's tort and :<3: Her! You need good hygiene with all torts no matter the species. Also, I'd not let a small child hold it because the tort can be hurt if dropped.

We have people on this forum who breed Herman's if interested :)
 

wellington

Well-Known Member
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
49,658
Location (City and/or State)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
I have never heard of any health problems that you need to worry about except seminela(spelling may be off). This is easily kept at bay if you wash your hands after touching your tort. I think it's actually very rare that you would b
Get it from your tort. I touch and kiss my torts heads and have never gotten it. Also as a kid, played with all kinds of reptiles with never a problem.
The best beginner torts are russian, greek and Hermannis, all staying fairly small and are pretty easy to care for. Learn how to properly care for them on this forum, as a lot of info out on the net, in books and given by most vets is bad and or outdated.
BTW, Hello and Welcome:)
 

tortdad

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2014
Messages
5,567
Location (City and/or State)
NW Houston TX
Hi, im new to this forum and have been trying to get some useful informations for a while, where do i begin,.

Ive wanted a tortoise for a long time, ever since i can remember, Ive been doing my research and plan to get one in December if given the right advice. Theres one problem, i have a little one, he's 1 years old. I dont worry about wether he'll stress the tortoise out, because he wont be anywhere near it, i just worry health wise. Wether its safe. Does anyone have a young child as well as a tortoise? is there a certain breed that would be recommended. Or is it generally not safe, i dont want to do some research and to not know for certain, this is a life commitment.

Thank you. :)

My two smallest children are 20 months and 4 years old. I just watch him closely around the torts and make them wash there hands afterwards.



0.0.1 Redfoot (Spike)
0.0.1 Cherryhead Redfoot (Bruce Wayne)
1.0 Sulcata (Hal Jordan)
 

Yellow Turtle01

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2013
Messages
7,710
Location (City and/or State)
OH, USA
Well, what type of space are you looking at here? This will affect what type of tortoise you can even have. If you have a little yard, no big tortoises like sulcata's or leopards, who grow large and need space. They also can't hibernate, so if you're weather is colder, you need somewhere to house them.
If you have a little bit of yard, you have so many options for smaller torts. The Testudo torts grow to smaller size, and they can generally 'tolerate' colder temperatures better! It all depends on what you are looking for, and what you have the room for :D
No worry about sickness as long as you keep your hands clean, and the tortoise clean. I have turtles, and I guess It's kind of 'classic' and they kind of stated the rumor that reptiles are dirty and germy, but I've never gotten sick :D
You also need to be careful when you come in contact with your tortoise, wash your hands before, they can get sick too.
 

chaseswife

Active Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2014
Messages
232
When I first had my tort and hasn't gotten the cover for his habitat yet, my 2 year old decided he needed a bath. So she would pick him up and put him in his water dish. I want in the room, but she apparently did this about a dozen times before her older brother was able to stop her. :eek: I felt horrible and i was so worried she had hurt him- but she just scared him. Since we put the cover on to keep the heat and humidity in she doesn't feel the desire to constantly be touching him anymore. This was the only problem we had introducing the tortoise into our family. In addition to the 2 year old we also have kids that are 6, 8, 10 and 11. We try to wash our hands a lot- but it doesn't always happen every time we handle the tortoise. We do always wash before eating or preparing food. Nobody had gotten sick. All of my future indoor tortoise homes will be closed. keeps the heat and humidity in and keeps the monster child out.
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,264
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
My child was born and raised surrounded by tortoises and other animals. She is now 7 years old. At our 5 year old well baby check up, our pediatrician explained to us that the reason our baby had almost never been sick in her first five years was because of "acquired immunity". She had only had a couple of colds and one flu with fever in her first 5 years at a time when all the other kids in her pre school and kindergarten classes were sick every other month or so. My child has a healthy immune system BECAUSE we let her have contact (supervised of course) with animals, including tortoises. She has been handling and touching tortoises since before she could even walk. Once she was a toddler, she'd help me dig up nests and put the eggs into their tubs for incubation. She would put their food trays down for them and help me clean the night boxes too. Then we'd wash hands, change clothes if needed, and go about our day. She also helped mom with gardening chores and was particularly fond of digging up earthworms and finding rolly pollys and making "habitats" for them.

Making your child sick by having a pet tortoise is physically possible, but very unlikely. It would be very low on my list of things to consider about whether or not to get a tortoise.
 

shana hawkes

New Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2014
Messages
9
Location (City and/or State)
England
Thats good to know, thank you everyone. my little ones very interested in little animals so we will be keeping the tortoise in a separate room. I have a large garden but its next to a main road so i wont be using it as much, only when im out there. I plan to keep the torte in a room, and space to roam around the house, its very big. We have the space and facilities for a tortoise.
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,264
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
I plan to keep the torte in a room, and space to roam around the house, its very big. We have the space and facilities for a tortoise.

Roaming the house is a dangerous practice that often leads to injury or death for the tortoise. I don't recommend that. Instead, make a large safe enclosure so your tortoise will have plenty of indoor space, and then make an even larger safe outdoor enclosure for fair weather. Keep your tortoise contained in properly designed enclosures and it will reward you with good health and lots of entertainment. Check this out:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
 

phebe121

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2014
Messages
1,098
Im always with my torts when i let them roam to make sure they dont get hurt
 

shana hawkes

New Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2014
Messages
9
Location (City and/or State)
England
I never knew it was dangerous for them to roam around the house? my house is very minimal, wooden floor ect, so no dangerous obstacles. Is this still dangerous? Obviously it wont be left unsupervised. :)
 

jeffjeff

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2014
Messages
532
Location (City and/or State)
cumbria england
we have 3 young kids 8yr old 5yr old and 14month old. we have never had any issues with them around any of our animals and we have a tort 2 cats a dog, fish, and ferrets. we just make sure they wash their hands regularly.
 

Jacqui

Wanna be raiser of Lemon Drop tortoises
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Joined
Aug 28, 2007
Messages
39,941
Location (City and/or State)
A Land Far Away...
I raised four children in a house filled with all sorts of animals including tortoises and turtles. They have rarely been sick from a cold or any other illness (other then things like cuts, burns, ect). They are all in their mid to late 20s, so they survived. Use common sense like hand washing, not using the tortoises things for humans, no putting the tortoise into the mouth, ect. I believe a child raised around animals, becomes a much better person.
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,264
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
I never knew it was dangerous for them to roam around the house? my house is very minimal, wooden floor ect, so no dangerous obstacles. Is this still dangerous? Obviously it wont be left unsupervised. :)

Yes. Every house has cords, dust bunnies, staples, paper clips, pen caps, buttons, swinging doors, walking feet, and the temperature down there is just too cold.

Every single case I've seen of a tortoise smashed by a door, stepped on, or Xrays with all sorts of wired items that have been ingested happened in the house of someone who thought their floor was safe, supervised carefully, and thought nothing bad would happen.

It is just not safe. Tortoises belong in large, well designed, safe, thermally regulated tortoise enclosures.
 

smarch

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2012
Messages
4,067
Location (City and/or State)
Massachusetts
I don't have a child yet, I know one day I'll have a little one for Nank to meet, and I don't plan on giving him up so there will indeed end up being a baby and a tort. I wasn't that young, probably 6 at the youngest when my uncle got my cousin 2 red ear sliders, and we were taught all the safe things to do, we didn't hold them until years later, always wash your hands after touching, or even being around them if you'd been out with them just because it was what you did, No hands in mouth unless you already washed those hands! And no licking the tort (not that this was a problem or even said but I mean it was pretty obvious to us 6 year olds). I have a little cousin who's now 3 and has "met" franklin a few times, he's never touched Nank or anything that is his, mostly because his parents are those that are like "Ahh germs" but I would teach him right if they'd let him pet him. He looks at Nank "Tu-tle" I'm pretty sure I'm the cool cousin when he gets older :)
 

New Posts

Top