Hello, What kind of tortoise should I get for an apartment home?

Lavender

New Member
Joined
May 3, 2026
Messages
23
Location (City and/or State)
Hong Kong
Hello! I'm new here, but I love turtles and tortoises. I'm still a student living with my family and I also got fish and 2 red eared sliders and 3 Chinese stripe neck turtles. Pancake tortoises are my favourite type of tortoise, about what size will they grow as adults and what things do they need in their enclosures? Thanks!
 

TammyJ

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2016
Messages
9,264
Location (City and/or State)
Jamaica
Welcome to the forum.
What size enclosure would be the maximum size you would have available for your tortoise?
 

wellington

Well-Known Member
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
53,937
Location (City and/or State)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
If you're in an apartment now, how are you keeping the turtles you already have? Red ear red sliders get very big and need a pond as juniors and adults. The stripe neck get about 8 inches as adults, the Red Ear much bigger.
Any smaller tortoise like a Russian tortoise needs a minimum of a 4x8 enclosure and for best care and life should be able to go outside during warm weather.
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
68,432
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
Hello! I'm new here, but I love turtles and tortoises. I'm still a student living with my family and I also got fish and 2 red eared sliders and 3 Chinese stripe neck turtles. Pancake tortoises are my favourite type of tortoise, about what size will they grow as adults and what things do they need in their enclosures? Thanks!
Hello and welcome! Do you have room for another 4x8 foot (122x244cm) enclosure?
 

Lavender

New Member
Joined
May 3, 2026
Messages
23
Location (City and/or State)
Hong Kong
If you're in an apartment now, how are you keeping the turtles you already have? Red ear red sliders get very big and need a pond as juniors and adults. The stripe neck get about 8 inches as adults, the Red Ear much bigger.
Any smaller tortoise like a Russian tortoise needs a minimum of a 4x8 enclosure and for best care and life should be able to go outside during warm weather.
I think I can keep a Russian tortoise, there is a small park allowing animals very close to my home. As long as I keep the tortoise safe from dogs then I think it is ok. What do these tortoises eat?
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
68,432
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
I think so, it will be a bit of a tight squeeze but there is just enough room in my place
Pancakes should work great then. You might also try a Burmese star, or any of the smaller Testudo species, like Russian, greeks, Egyptians, or hermanni.
 

COmtnLady

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
5 Year Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2020
Messages
4,318
Location (City and/or State)
Colorado
I'm sorry, but I don't think it is best for the tortoise for you to get an additional one to care for until you are an adult, established, with a good income to support the animals well, and to be able to do what is best for the tortoises or turtles.


I think in terms of inches and yards, rather than cm and meters, but the Google translator says your "1mx 0.5m" is equal to 3 feet by 18 inches. That size will only do for a hatchling. That size enclosure would be ok for the first two years, but then a Juvenile or an Adult would need a minimum of 1.219m X 2.484 m. If your parents were willing to devote a whole room of their house to your shelled pets and fish, the story would be different. You have indicated that they would not be supportive of your animals taking up more space in their home.

How are you going to care for all the turtles you currently have, when you go to University or just no longer live at your parents' home?

It is not just space. How would you feed and create a comfortable enclosure for more pets? How will you give them their best lives?


In my opinion, the acquiring of another pet at this point in life would only be for your desire, not what is best for the tortoise.


Continue to visit here and chat with us. By the time you are in a place to easily make the best life for another animal, You will have all the information you need to make the best life for that pet. We really respect people who value and treasure their tortoises and turtles!




.
 

TammyJ

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2016
Messages
9,264
Location (City and/or State)
Jamaica
I think I can keep a Russian tortoise, there is a small park allowing animals very close to my home. As long as I keep the tortoise safe from dogs then I think it is ok. What do these tortoises eat?
If you're already set on getting a tortoise notwithstanding the kind advice you have been given, then a Russian or other small species would certainly be best because of the restrictions on space.
If you are thinking of taking it to a public park to walk around, there are other possible dangers apart from dogs. Chemically treated grass and plants, which would poison your pet if he eats it, for example.
Think carefully and decide if you can really give this creature the care it deserves.
Read and learn about what he will need as far as food, temperatures, humidity, lights, substrate and space.
We hope you will make the right decision for the tortoise you hope to acquire, and by the way, how about some pictures of the turtles?
 

Tortellini0000

Active Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2024
Messages
128
Location (City and/or State)
Vancouver bc
I will, thank you for the advice. If I am 100% sure I can keep one of these cute little guys, I'll send you all a few pictures of him!
Please do not take him/her to the park to walk around. This is super unsafe. Grass and weeds can be treated with poison as well as small bits of garbage that your tortoise could eat and you would never know until it was too late.
 

Lavender

New Member
Joined
May 3, 2026
Messages
23
Location (City and/or State)
Hong Kong
I was asking for pictures of the turtles you already have.
Please do not take him/her to the park to walk around. This is super unsafe. Grass and weeds can be treated with poison as well as small bits of garbage that your tortoise could eat and you would never know until it was too late.
Okay, I can take it to the balcony. There is sunlight there during the afternoon. Thank you for your warning.
 

Lavender

New Member
Joined
May 3, 2026
Messages
23
Location (City and/or State)
Hong Kong
1779676353293.png
These are 3 of them, Avocado(stripe-neck), Anemone(stripe-neck at bottom), Mango, red eared slider.

1779676948112.png

This is Chocolate, other slider.


1779677064229.png

This is also Avocado. The one she is on top of is Ivy.
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
68,432
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
Oh of course not. They are in a much, much bigger enclosure now and the small tank was only for going to my friend's home.
That is reassuring. We've seen all kinds of stuff here over the years. We want you to feel welcome, and please realize we ask all these questions with the health and well being of the turtles and tortoises in mind. If your turtles weren't being cared for properly in some way, we would want to help get you the right care info. This is because there are a lot of sources of bad info that so many people find out in the world.

Thank you for indulging us with all of our questions. Our intentions are good, and your animals look healthy and happy. I've not seen the Chinese striped turtles before, so thank you for the pictures! :) Feel free to ask all of your questions, and please keep us posted on what happens with your tortoise selections.
 

Lavender

New Member
Joined
May 3, 2026
Messages
23
Location (City and/or State)
Hong Kong
Of course! I'm very happy I found this forum, even though I am not a tortoise owner. I learned a ton of things I never knew about tortoises here, as well as a bit of information about turtles, too.
 

New Posts

Top