Can someone brief us on tortoise species
- Thread starter R. Robi
- Start date
Hi and welcome to the Forum!
Two species spring to mind, the desert tortoise and the sulcata. Both live and thrive in Arizona. But, one thing for you to keep in mind - tortoises, all tortoises, are solitary animals. They don't need or want a 'friend.' They look at another tortoise in their yard as an interloper, or something to be chased out of the territory...and if it won't 'chase,' then it will be a fight to the death.
Tortoises don't live in the same territory as another tortoise, plain and simple.
Please read Beginner Mistakes:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
He's mostly talking about setting up an indoor habitat for your new tortoise.
Read this: http://azgfdportal.az.gov/wildlife/nongamemanagement/tortoise/captivecare
and be sure to also click on the titles along the left margin and read those also.
Two species spring to mind, the desert tortoise and the sulcata. Both live and thrive in Arizona. But, one thing for you to keep in mind - tortoises, all tortoises, are solitary animals. They don't need or want a 'friend.' They look at another tortoise in their yard as an interloper, or something to be chased out of the territory...and if it won't 'chase,' then it will be a fight to the death.
Tortoises don't live in the same territory as another tortoise, plain and simple.
Please read Beginner Mistakes:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
He's mostly talking about setting up an indoor habitat for your new tortoise.
Read this: http://azgfdportal.az.gov/wildlife/nongamemanagement/tortoise/captivecare
and be sure to also click on the titles along the left margin and read those also.
Hello and welcome. With your excellent weather most of the year you will have an easy time of it.
Tortoises generally should not be housed in pairs. A groups of adults with one male and several females will usually work, but pairs are usually a problem.
Your main issue will be protecting the tortoise from temperature extremes. Its too hot outside in summer there and too cold in winter. You will spend your summers making sure the tortoise doesn't over heat and you spend winters making sure they are warm enough at night. We'll be glad to show you all sorts of different ways to accomplish these goals.
To help you pick a species we'll need to know a little more. Do you want a big one or a little one? Super friendly and bold, or does that not matter to you? Do you care if it burrows in summer? Do you want a species that hibernates, or one that you have to warm all year?
Tortoises generally should not be housed in pairs. A groups of adults with one male and several females will usually work, but pairs are usually a problem.
Your main issue will be protecting the tortoise from temperature extremes. Its too hot outside in summer there and too cold in winter. You will spend your summers making sure the tortoise doesn't over heat and you spend winters making sure they are warm enough at night. We'll be glad to show you all sorts of different ways to accomplish these goals.
To help you pick a species we'll need to know a little more. Do you want a big one or a little one? Super friendly and bold, or does that not matter to you? Do you care if it burrows in summer? Do you want a species that hibernates, or one that you have to warm all year?
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2013
- Messages
- 10,877
Hello
I'm in Phx and from all the great torts out there and I have most not all ! Get ahold of fish and game and adopt a great tort that most want and can't have ! AZDT they like most of the AZ weeds , Weather , and you will be helping a great tort that cannt go back to the wild ! I love mine !
I'm in Phx and from all the great torts out there and I have most not all ! Get ahold of fish and game and adopt a great tort that most want and can't have ! AZDT they like most of the AZ weeds , Weather , and you will be helping a great tort that cannt go back to the wild ! I love mine !
Speedy-1
Well-Known Member
Hi and welcome ! 
Hello, and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum.
Anything is possible if you get your set up right to begin.
have a look at the care sheets pinned to the top of our species specific section under each type of tortoise, to see what takes your fancy and what would be possible for you to achieve most conveniently in your situation.
Good luck!
Anything is possible if you get your set up right to begin.
have a look at the care sheets pinned to the top of our species specific section under each type of tortoise, to see what takes your fancy and what would be possible for you to achieve most conveniently in your situation.
Good luck!
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2014
- Messages
- 29,061
- Location (City and/or State)
- South Eastern Florida (U.S.A.)/Rock Hill S.C.
Hello and welcome from Florida.
