Florida sends its greetings

[JSStra]

Clearly, I as one single resident speak for all of Florida when I say "Hello".

To be completely serious though, I am ecstatic to find this forum, as my fiancee and I are new to tortoise ownership, and we have been doing our own independent research for a few months now. Started with a leopard and looking forward to providing him/her a long and happy life, hopefully outliving both of us.

Thanks in advance for all of the expertise already on here and that yet to be shared.

 

[wellington]

Hello and Welcome. Glad you found us.

 

[Humbug & Maz]

Welcome! The experts on here are amazing and put me on the right track for sure!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Hello from further south in Broward county

 

[JSStra]

Hello from further south in Broward county

Used to live in Davie! Small world, this. How long have you been caring for tortoises?

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Used to live in Davie! Small world, this. How long have you been caring for tortoises?

About 30 years in total.
There was a brief pause while I was renting a house.

 

[JSStra]

About 30 years in total.
There was a brief pause while I was renting a house.

So about as long as I've been alive. Well-played.

Not going to lie, I'm all concerned about this first night with the little one. Mind if I send you a DM with a...vendor specific question?

 

[ZEROPILOT]

So about as long as I've been alive. Well-played.

Not going to lie, I'm all concerned about this first night with the little one. Mind if I send you a DM with a...vendor specific question?

Not at all.
Any time.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Used to live in Davie! Small world, this. How long have you been caring for tortoises?

I'm in West Sunrise near Welleby.
I get my Mazuri out in Davie at GRIFFS.

 

[JSStra]

I'm in West Sunrise near Welleby.
I get my Mazuri out in Davie at GRIFFS.

I won't lie, I love not having to drive I-95 down there anymore. That was a fresh hell only beaten by traffic in Manhattan.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I won't lie, I love not having to drive I-95 down there anymore. That was a fresh hell only beaten by traffic in Manhattan.

I stay off of I-95 whenever possible

 

[Maro2Bear]

Welcome to the Forum. Good luck with your Leopard. If you pretty much a) use common sense and b). Follow the care sheet here on TFO for taking care of Sullys & Leopards you should have no issues. You do have that great Florida weather (heat & humidity) to help you out.

Hopefully you purchased from a reputable dealer.

Good luck. Happy Torting

 

[TeamZissou]

How many Radiated tortoises do you have?

Whenever I talk to someone from CA, TX, or FL, I always think to myself how funny it would be to ask this. These are always non-tortoise people, so they wouldn't get it.

You should think about getting a Radiated. You can't buy them in many states, but FL is the hotbed.

 

[JSStra]

Welcome to the Forum. Good luck with your Leopard. If you pretty much a) use common sense and b). Follow the care sheet here on TFO for taking care of Sullys & Leopards you should have no issues. You do have that great Florida weather (heat & humidity) to help you out.

Hopefully you purchased from a reputable dealer.

Good luck. Happy Torting

Unfortunately, I did not. TortoiseTown. Once my issue is resolved, I will post a vendor review to add in my two cents. So far, it is looking poor, but I have taken reasonable steps to protect myself as the consumer.

But thank you!

 

[JSStra]

How many Radiated tortoises do you have?

Whenever I talk to someone from CA, TX, or FL, I always think to myself how funny it would be to ask this. These are always non-tortoise people, so they wouldn't get it.

You should think about getting a Radiated. You can't buy them in many states, but FL is the hotbed.

I know very little about radiated tortoises, but my fiancee wants something that can grow as large as possible, but without...shelling....out a ton of money, as finances can be tricky. I thought Radiated were super expensive?

So we settled on trying to buy a South African. Cheaper than a radiated, and larger from what I have seen. Sulcata are great but can dig...which is kind of a deal breaker for our living situation right now.

Any feedback is welcome, though

 

[TeamZissou]

I know very little about radiated tortoises, but my fiancee wants something that can grow as large as possible, but without...shelling....out a ton of money, as finances can be tricky. I thought Radiated were super expensive?

So we settled on trying to buy a South African. Cheaper than a radiated, and larger from what I have seen. Sulcata are great but can dig...which is kind of a deal breaker for our living situation right now.

Any feedback is welcome, though

Radiated are just very beautiful, from a color standpoint as well having a highly domed carapace. They are also said to have great personalities. They are on the higher end for tortoises, $1200-2000 depending on the bloodline--higher yellow tend to go for more money. People spend about that or more on a pure bred dog. Radiated are on the larger end (35 lbs at 16-18"), but not 300 lbs like an Aldabra or Galapagos. Ultimately though, you can get just about any species of tortoise you'd want in FL.

Captive Maintenance of the Radiated Tortoise

Captive Maintenance of the Radiated Tortoise Dan Sterantino Field Associate in Herpetology AZA Accredited Trevor Zoo Millbrook, NY [email protected] With thanks to, and significant contribution by: Dr. William Zovickian & Tom Roach (Tap each picture for better clarity) Introduction: This is...

tortoiseforum.org

Oh yeah, they can also live to like 190:

Tu'i Malila - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The SA leopard should get big as well. Either way, you've found the right place for info on raising and caring for your current and future tortoises!

 

[Toddrickfl1]

Welcome to the forum from a Former Floridian.

 

[Maggie3fan]

I know very little about radiated tortoises, but my fiancee wants something that can grow as large as possible, but without...shelling....out a ton of money, as finances can be tricky. I thought Radiated were super expensive?

So we settled on trying to buy a South African. Cheaper than a radiated, and larger from what I have seen. Sulcata are great but can dig...which is kind of a deal breaker for our living situation right now.

Any feedback is welcome, though

I am a Sulcata keeper, lover and weirdo about Sulcata...I have never had one dig. I believe that if they are happy where they are why leave? They are fun, personable and smart and not as hard to keep as most other tortoises...Sulcata live in spite of bad treatment.and lack of care...I keep mine in a heated and insulated tort shed...
I keep them in the PNW...

 

[JSStra]

I am a Sulcata keeper, lover and weirdo about Sulcata...I have never had one dig. I believe that if they are happy where they are why leave? They are fun, personable and smart and not as hard to keep as most other tortoises...Sulcata live in spite of bad treatment.and lack of care...I keep mine in a heated and insulated tort shed...
I keep them in the PNW...
View attachment 335692View attachment 335691

Oh wow, really? I have seen a lot of videos with keepers, like some done by Camp Kenan saying that they can be borrowers, and the herpetologist at Sanford Zoo. And they get big enough that getting them out can be tough. I am glad that might not be innate. Perhaps the herp told me that to dissuade me, he did seem to not like the idea of tortoises as pets...

Have you ever had your sulcatas indoors? We were hoping to have indoor/outdoor hybrid. Not quite with a "tortoise door", but definitely able to come and go as they please. Florida can be nice, but it might be too wet for desert tortoises? Definitely more of a question than a statement on that one.

 

[Ink]

Welcome to the forum.