Help for a pre-tortoise owner!

[Mattvid]

Hi! I am thinking about getting a tortoise. I'm have never owned one before, so I was wondering if you guys could help me.
I live in Maryland on the east coast. My house is a little small, and I'm just loving the idea of getting a tortoise
Im still in school, so I need a tortoise that doesn't need much maitenence, but I don't want it to be completely inactive. I think i want a land tortoise, because I might take it out of its habitat every so often to explore and exercise. Plus I'm sure my mother wouldn't approve of a wet reptilian creature crawling along the floor. I'll want the tortoise inside, in my room in a habitat, because we have neighbors that have dogs on either side of us, and not to mention that I have a dog and cat myself so not really a good idea for an outside habitat. I also want the turtle to be small, like, at least under 10 inches small. I really love the idea of having a tortoise, and if and when I do get one, I want to take very good care of it and give it a really nice home.
Sorry my typing is messy, I'm typing on a very small tablet.
Thank you so much!

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome to the Forum!

A small tortoise still needs a lot of room to wander. Please research the needs of a russian, Greek or Hermann's tortoise.

 

[wellington]

Hello and Welcome. Also besides the room they need, they are not cheap. Enclosure, UVB light, heating element, they need to bask under a heat source to warm up to 95-100, substrate, dishes, supplements and food.
Look into the care sheets of the ones Yvonne mentioned and also take a look in the enclosure section. Also when it is warm outside they should have a safe outdoor enclosure too because it's not safe for them to roam free in a house or room on the floor

 

[Gillian M]

A very warm welcome to the forum!

Please keep in mind that torts are used to living in the wild where they roam around without borders/boundaries. Therefore they are in need of SPACE and a lot of space. How about reading the "Beginners Mistake Thread" and keep asking questions when in need of help; and good luck with whatever tort you choose.

(No, your typing is not at all messy!)

 

[Mattvid]

Thank you! So maybe an maquatic tortoise would be best for my situation?

 

[Tom]

No turtle or tortoise should be turned loose on the floor inside a house, or on the ground outside. They need to be in an enclosure that is designed and kept safe for them with the correct temps.

All tortoise species benefit from being outside in a safe enclosure during fair weather and its not difficult to make a large enclosure with a wire covered top to keep dogs out.

Try this:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

This one will give you some idea about what is needed to house a tortoise:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

 

[Mattvid]

OK thanks! I think. I'm going to wait until I finish school to get any kind of pet. I don't think I'm prepared for that kind of responsibility.
Until then, I'm going to delete this account.
Thank you so much!