A first tortoise? Advise!?

[Nixxy]

Okay, okay. I must have a tortoise! I'm thinking either Hermann's, Greek, or Russian. But any around that size works.

Help me choose!

I live in New Hampshire and it gets cold here, so I need to be able to set up a great indoor setup for the winter!

 

[wellington]

The Russian has been told to many members that it's a great first tort. The hermanns too. Read up on them here on the forum and then decide which would best suit you.

 

[Nixxy]

Russians seem to be the type that'd not only do best in the area, but fit a great size too.

 

[GeoTerraTestudo]

If I lived in New Hampshire, I would get either an eastern Hermann (Testudo hermanni boettgeri) or an Ibera Greek (T. graeca ibera), probably leaning more toward the eastern Hermann tortoise.

Russian tortoises come from northern grasslands and deserts, so they tolerate cold well, but also prefer lower humidity. Southern Greek tortoises come from both dry and humid places, but they need warmth. Ibera Greeks come from fairly far north and tolerate the cold, but their natural habitat also tends to be rather arid.

Hermann tortoises are native to the northern Mediterranean, and are native to areas that are naturally fairly humid, as well as seasonally cold. Eastern Hermanns are from countries like Bulgaria and Romania, which are some distance from the Mediterranean Sea, and have deciduous forest - somewhat like the Northeastern United States.

For these reasons, I would go with the Hermann tortoise, because the environmental matching between its home range and your part of the country are closer than for the other Testudo species, which should make caring for this species easier, cheaper, and more likely to be successful.

 

[Nixxy]

See that's what I'm looking for, not just because it'd be cheaper for me, but because it'd be good for the tort.

I don't want to get one that wouldn't be able to go outside for more than a month, and I don't want it to be unhappy. I want it to be prime living conditions for the tortoise, and not destroy my bank on top of that.

Jeez, from reading and what I've heard, Russians and Hermanns aren't as expensive or hard to take care of as aquatic turtles. That true?

 

[GeoTerraTestudo]

See that's what I'm looking for, not just because it'd be cheaper for me, but because it'd be good for the tort.

I don't want to get one that wouldn't be able to go outside for more than a month, and I don't want it to be unhappy. I want it to be prime living conditions for the tortoise, and not destroy my bank on top of that.

Jeez, from reading and what I've heard, Russians and Hermanns aren't as expensive or hard to take care of as aquatic turtles. That true?

I have kept fish and amphibians in aquariums, and I have kept box turtles and tortoises on land, but I have never kept aquatic turtles. Having said that, I have worked with them, and I think that in some ways, they are easier to care for than terrestrial turtles.

When it comes to feeding, I think pond and box turtles are a little harder to care for because they require at least some live prey. Tortoises, although they need variety in their diet, at least only need plants, which are easier to buy or grow.

But then there's housing. Pond turtles basically stay in a controlled environment all the time. They do need a lot of room (so you'd need a big tank), a varied diet, good lighting, and the right temperatures. They also generate more waste than most fish do (both urine and feces), so a keeper needs a really good filtration system. Most species also need a haul-out, or else their skin can become irritated by staying wet all the time. However, as long as they have a good tank, they're fine, and for an experienced aquarist, they probably call for about as much skill as large predatory cichlids or catfish in order to do well.

In some ways, box turtles and tortoises are easier to care for. After all, the only water they need is a shallow little dish of water in the middle of their pen, and a short weekly bath in a small Tupperware container. However, in my opinion, this is also what makes them more of a challenge. Just as you don't need to take a fish for a walk, you don't need to take a pond turtle for a walk, either. However, box turtles, and especially tortoises, like to walk ... a lot! In the wild, their home ranges may have an area of several acres. If you just stick them in an indoor pen - even a heated one with good substrate and quality food - they are going to drive you crazy by constantly banging their shells against the walls as they try to climb out. That behavior may never be 100% eliminated in captivity, but if you let them live outdoors or get some time outside, they are not going to do it as much. What's more, all the fake UV in the world is no substitute for good old-fashioned sunshine. So, while a pond turtle may not be much harder to care for than a large, predatory fish, a tortoise has some of the same needs as a pet dog!

For these reasons, I think that tortoises are more challenging of the two major groups of turtles.

 

[Nixxy]

Believe it or not, that sounds really appealing to me. I have a HUGE back lawn and front lawn. Taking him out would be fantastic.

 

[GeoTerraTestudo]

Believe it or not, that sounds really appealing to me. I have a HUGE back lawn and front lawn. Taking him out would be fantastic.

Yes, it is fantastic. Demanding pets are more work, but they are also very rewarding. It is fascinating to take your tortoise out on a nice day and watch it explore its world.

 

[Nixxy]

Oddly enough, the area I live in NH, while it gets freezing cold all winter, and we have a cold spring and fall, can get to around 95 on warm sunny summer days. So she/he would get lots of outdoor time.

As for an indoor setup, I'd build it myself. I've looked at tons of guides, and it seems quite fun to be able to build your own. (And cheaper overall.)


I've pretty much all but decided on a Hermanns. Though not sure where I'd find a local breeder. (Though I'd also be willing to adopt.)