New Member Building an Enclosure

[Akdrillo86]

Hi,

New member from Atlanta, Georgia. Been reading up for awhile on all of the tips and am in the process of building a closed chamber in anticipation of getting a new tortoise. Lots of amazing info here! Still deciding on what kind is best for me.

Thanks!

 

[wellington]

What kind of outdoor area do you have for a tortoise?
If you don't have much or no room outside then a Russian, Hermanns, Pancake or one of the smaller Stars would be best. The Russian and Hermanns is better for a beginner.
If you have a big area outside and have the means to build a heated winter shed for the cold months, then you can pretty much do any.

 

[Ray--Opo]

Welcome, what type of tortoise are you thinking about getting?

 

[Akdrillo86]

What kind of outdoor area do you have for a tortoise?
If you don't have much or no room outside then a Russian, Hermanns, Pancake or one of the smaller Stars would be best. The Russian and Hermanns is better for a beginner.
If you have a big area outside and have the means to build a heated winter shed for the cold months, then you can pretty much do any.

I have a nice fully enclosed backyard. I am in the process of building a tortoise table to house a baby. Then if I decide on something bigger I have a nice shed I can heat that I plan to attach to a greenhouse for the colder months.

Welcome, what type of tortoise are you thinking about getting?

Disclaimer: I am still very much a newbie in the educational stage.

Still undecided between larger (max 12-16") or small. If larger I would love something that would do well with my current climate of hot humid summers (70+%; 80F-100F, mild often wet winters (40s with fluctuations up to +-30). I like the Star Tortoises. I like the Radiated Tortoise. I love the huge Sulcata but thats just a bit too much for me to manage over the course of my life.

The further I get along on this table the more I could see how sticking with something small would be nice. The Spider Tortoise caught my eye as well as the Egyptian.

I am at the stage where they are all amazing and their differences are super interesting.

 

[Ray--Opo]

I have a nice fully enclosed backyard. I am in the process of building a tortoise table to house a baby. Then if I decide on something bigger I have a nice shed I can heat that I plan to attach to a greenhouse for the colder months.



Disclaimer: I am still very much a newbie in the educational stage.

Still undecided between larger (max 12-16") or small. If larger I would love something that would do well with my current climate of hot humid summers (70+%; 80F-100F, mild often wet winters (40s with fluctuations up to +-30). I like the Star Tortoises. I like the Radiated Tortoise. I love the huge Sulcata but thats just a bit too much for me to manage over the course of my life.

The further I get along on this table the more I could see how sticking with something small would be nice. The Spider Tortoise caught my eye as well as the Egyptian.

I am at the stage where they are all amazing and their differences are super interesting.

Have you looked at the Leopard?

 

[Akdrillo86]

Have you looked at the Leopard?

I did but everything I read says it can get to 24"-30"!!! Beautiful may be too big for what I am hoping for.

 

[wellington]

I did but everything I read says it can get to 24"-30"!!! Beautiful may be too big for what I am hoping for.

Any baby/hatchling should not be in a table but a closed chamber enclosure. A table will not keep in the humidity, 80% they all need to grow smooth without pyramiding
You will need an incandescent flood bulb for basking, a fluorescent tube for uvb and ceramic heat emitter for night heat and any added day heat needed
The south African leopards can get to the larger size, the regular leopards, that used to be called Babcocki do not.
A Redfoot would also be good, they need high humidity but need a dry top layer to prevent shell

 

[Akdrillo86]

Any baby/hatchling should not be in a table but a closed chamber enclosure. A table will not keep in the humidity, 80% they all need to grow smooth without pyramiding
You will need an incandescent flood bulb for basking, a fluorescent tube for uvb and ceramic heat emitter for night heat and any added day heat needed
The south African leopards can get to the larger size, the regular leopards, that used to be called Babcocki do not.
A Redfoot would also be good, they need high humidity but need a dry top layer to prevent shell

What size do the regular Leopards get to?

I say Tortoise table but it is indeed a closed chamber enclosure. I just plan to put it on a table and have a tortoise in it! lol. Thanks for the input!

 

[wellington]

Regular leopard Around 15-20 inches, usually around 12-15.
The south African ones can get up to about 20-25, most are probably 15-20 inches and then there is even a larger one that can get around 30-35 inches. I'm not sure they are even available

 

[Akdrillo86]

If anyone can DM me a few reputable sources for obtaining a tortoise that would be great. And if anyone knows a spider tort breeder I’d love to connect with one. Thanks!

 

[Ray--Opo]

@Tom , @Yvonne G are a couple of members that might be able to point you in the right direction.

 

[Tom]

I have a nice fully enclosed backyard. I am in the process of building a tortoise table to house a baby. Then if I decide on something bigger I have a nice shed I can heat that I plan to attach to a greenhouse for the colder months.



Disclaimer: I am still very much a newbie in the educational stage.

Still undecided between larger (max 12-16") or small. If larger I would love something that would do well with my current climate of hot humid summers (70+%; 80F-100F, mild often wet winters (40s with fluctuations up to +-30). I like the Star Tortoises. I like the Radiated Tortoise. I love the huge Sulcata but thats just a bit too much for me to manage over the course of my life.

The further I get along on this table the more I could see how sticking with something small would be nice. The Spider Tortoise caught my eye as well as the Egyptian.

I am at the stage where they are all amazing and their differences are super interesting.

Hello and welcome!

I know your climate there pretty well. I worked in Senoia for three years. I stayed in Peachtree City and Newnan for most of that, and then got a place in Senoia. I wouldn't get a leopard. Some people have trouble with them in high humidity areas like Tennesse or FL, and you are smack in the middle of those two. South African leopards would do great in your climate, but those get larger than what you want to deal with. They are a great way to go if you decide the size doesn't bother you.

All the weather details you mentioned won't really matter because you'll have it indoors or brumating in winter, depending on species. Most any species will be fine outdoors in the warmer weather there.

A red foot tortoise would do well where you are. Indoors in a large enclosure in the winter months and outdoors for the rest of the year. Hermanni or marginated too.

Spider tortoises are quite a specialty. I wouldn't start with those. Not impossible, but I wouldn't recommend that. Likewise with Egyptians.

If you like the star tortoises, the Burmese stars would do great where you are. They are hardy, personable, easy to feed and care for, and they thrive in most any climate. Their size is also very manageable for indoors in winter too. Here is more info on them:

Introduction To The Burmese Star Tortoise

I've been wanting to do this thread for a long time... This species has become one of my all time favorites, and for good reasons! The purpose of all of my ramblings that follow are primarily intended to showcase how great this species is and why its a better species for most people than most...

tortoiseforum.org

Radiata are a fantastic species, but a bit on the larger size at 16 inches. You'd have to get those in state, and they would do well in your climate with the right housing. @zovick anyone in GA breeding Radiata?

Where to get the tortoise depends on what species you want. We can make recommendations once you narrow down the choices.

Are you aware the most of the care info for tortoises out in the world is all wrong and full of bad info? It can be very frustrating to do months of "research" only to find out all that you learned was the old wrong info, and then the pet store sells you all the wrong products. Here is the current and correct care info, and questions are welcome:

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Akdrillo86]

Hello and welcome!

I know your climate there pretty well. I worked in Senoia for three years. I stayed in Peachtree City and Newnan for most of that, and then got a place in Senoia. I wouldn't get a leopard. Some people have trouble with them in high humidity areas like Tennesse or FL, and you are smack in the middle of those two. South African leopards would do great in your climate, but those get larger than what you want to deal with. They are a great way to go if you decide the size doesn't bother you.

All the weather details you mentioned won't really matter because you'll have it indoors or brumating in winter, depending on species. Most any species will be fine outdoors in the warmer weather there.

A red foot tortoise would do well where you are. Indoors in a large enclosure in the winter months and outdoors for the rest of the year. Hermanni or marginated too.

Spider tortoises are quite a specialty. I wouldn't start with those. Not impossible, but I wouldn't recommend that. Likewise with Egyptians.

If you like the star tortoises, the Burmese stars would do great where you are. They are hardy, personable, easy to feed and care for, and they thrive in most any climate. Their size is also very manageable for indoors in winter too. Here is more info on them:

Introduction To The Burmese Star Tortoise

I've been wanting to do this thread for a long time... This species has become one of my all time favorites, and for good reasons! The purpose of all of my ramblings that follow are primarily intended to showcase how great this species is and why its a better species for most people than most...

tortoiseforum.org

Radiata are a fantastic species, but a bit on the larger size at 16 inches. You'd have to get those in state, and they would do well in your climate with the right housing. @zovick anyone in GA breeding Radiata?

Where to get the tortoise depends on what species you want. We can make recommendations once you narrow down the choices.

Are you aware the most of the care info for tortoises out in the world is all wrong and full of bad info? It can be very frustrating to do months of "research" only to find out all that you learned was the old wrong info, and then the pet store sells you all the wrong products. Here is the current and correct care info, and questions are welcome:

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

tortoiseforum.org

Hi Tom!

Thanks for the detailed reply! I have been pretty much exclusively reading all of your posts from the past and using that as a guide. Your input has been fantastic so I appreciate you documenting all of that great info on this site.

This is all amazing info! I grew up in Fayetteville in the same county as those places. Awesome to have your input as someone knowledge about the area.

The more I research the more I am drawn to the Radiated tortoise or the Burmese Star. The Radiated Tortoises seem like they are special. Is it a bad idea to start there? Or even with something like a spider tortoise? I plan to pour a lot into this and become as proficient a keeper as I can. And since I plan to only do it once…

Really appreciate you replying and again all of the knowledge.

Best

 

[zovick]

Hi Tom!

Thanks for the detailed reply! I have been pretty much exclusively reading all of your posts from the past and using that as a guide. Your input has been fantastic so I appreciate you documenting all of that great info on this site.

This is all amazing info! I grew up in Fayetteville in the same county as those places. Awesome to have your input as someone knowledge about the area.

The more I research the more I am drawn to the Radiated tortoise or the Burmese Star. The Radiated Tortoises seem like they are special. Is it a bad idea to start there? Or even with something like a spider tortoise? I plan to pour a lot into this and become as proficient a keeper as I can. And since I plan to only do it once…

Really appreciate you replying and again all of the knowledge.

Best

Radiated Tortoises do extremely well here in GA. Speaking as one who has kept and bred all three types of Star Tortoises and Radiated Tortoises while living in the state (Gwinnett County), I would say that Radiated Tortoises are the most trouble-free of the bunch.

@Tom Yes, there is a breeder here in GA from whom the species is available. Here is one of his recent ads:

Georgia radiated tortoise for sale

I have one hatchling radiated tortoise for sale to Georgia Residents. It has a split scute. $500.00 Pics available on request.

www.faunaclassifieds.com

@Akdrillo86 Derek is also selling some proven adults if you want to go big time. I believe it is 1.3 or 1.4 for $16K. You must have a GA driver's license or he won't reply to you. I would send him a picture of it in your first attempt to contact him. I am sending you his contact info in a private message.

 

[wellington]

@zovick. So let me get this straight yet again lol
If Rads sold within your own state, a Citi's is not needed by the buyer but sellers of course need them?
If selling or buying out of state then the Citi is needed by both seller and buyer?
But now, because the Citi's is not being given out any more, you can basically only buy within your own state but seller can sell out of state as long as the buyer has a Citi?

 

[zovick]

@zovick. So let me get this straight yet again lol
If Rads sold within your own state, a Citi's is not needed by the buyer but sellers of course need them?
If selling or buying out of state then the Citi is needed by both seller and buyer?
But now, because the Citi's is not being given out any more, you can basically only buy within your own state but seller can sell out of state as long as the buyer has a Citi?

The CBW Permit is only needed for INTERSTATE COMMERCE of endangered species. Interstate means sales from one state to another state.

Sales taking place within the same state are called INTRASTATE COMMERCE and do not require permits be held by either party. Here is the correct info.

To buy or sell a Radiated Tortoise (or any other endangered species) to or from a person in another state, BOTH parties must have a CBW Permit.

Sales and purchases of Radiated Tortoises between two LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE SAME STATE do not require EITHER PARTY to have a CBW.

The best way to prove legal residency is with a Driver's License, so that is why so many ads for endangered species state that a Driver's License is a requirement for a sale to happen.

 

[wellington]

The CBW Permit is only needed for INTERSTATE COMMERCE of endangered species. Interstate means sales from one state to another state.

Sales taking place within the same state are called INTRASTATE COMMERCE and do not require permits be held by either party. Here is the correct info.

To buy or sell a Radiated Tortoise (or any other endangered species) to or from a person in another state, BOTH parties must have a CBW Permit.

Sales and purchases of Radiated Tortoises between two LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE SAME STATE do not require EITHER PARTY to have a CBW.

The best way to prove legal residency is with a Driver's License, so that is why so many ads for endangered species state that a Driver's License is a requirement for a sale to happen.

Got it, thank you.