Hello to the Tortoise Forum Community. First of all, I am excited to join the forum and join the rest of the members here. I have used many forums but have never used one as an active member, so I am hoping that changes here and that I am more active.
I am a 32 year old male and have loved reptiles since a kid. I have owned reptiles since the age of 12 and wonder why I chose a career in accounting as opposed to some journey into herpetology, but I suppose I was more concerned with job security and accounting seemed "safer". I held onto the idea that my journey in herpetology will be a lifelong hobby of mine, but maybe one day it can be more than just a hobby.
While all my friends were out playing sports, I was going to the local pet store to see what reptiles were in stock, reading my Reptiles magazines, or picking up a "Care and Husbandry" manual for whatever reptile I thought I might acquire next.
That said, most of my ownership experience has been with lizards, but I have come to realize I need a tortoise in my life. I remember purchasing a sulcata tortoise from a pet store when I was 15, but a year later I think I realized that I was not going to have the resources to take care of such a large species and returned him to the pet store I purchased him from. Now 16 years later, I will finally find a species that I feel will be a great fit for me.
Being in Michigan, I have spent the last year looking at Russian's and Hermann's since they would be "ideal" for the climate here, however, I keep falling back on my desire to own a Red Footed Tortoise, so I think I need to get what I really want as long as I provide the proper humidity and requirements of the Red Footed, which I think the slightly more demanding requirements will be worth it.
That said, I look forward to finding a nice Cherry Head Red Footed here from a very reputable breeder. I haven't seen much available out there right now so maybe this isn't the best time to be tortoise shopping, but hopefully I will find someone here that will be the door to finding my new lifelong tortoise friend.
Don
I am a 32 year old male and have loved reptiles since a kid. I have owned reptiles since the age of 12 and wonder why I chose a career in accounting as opposed to some journey into herpetology, but I suppose I was more concerned with job security and accounting seemed "safer". I held onto the idea that my journey in herpetology will be a lifelong hobby of mine, but maybe one day it can be more than just a hobby.
While all my friends were out playing sports, I was going to the local pet store to see what reptiles were in stock, reading my Reptiles magazines, or picking up a "Care and Husbandry" manual for whatever reptile I thought I might acquire next.
That said, most of my ownership experience has been with lizards, but I have come to realize I need a tortoise in my life. I remember purchasing a sulcata tortoise from a pet store when I was 15, but a year later I think I realized that I was not going to have the resources to take care of such a large species and returned him to the pet store I purchased him from. Now 16 years later, I will finally find a species that I feel will be a great fit for me.
Being in Michigan, I have spent the last year looking at Russian's and Hermann's since they would be "ideal" for the climate here, however, I keep falling back on my desire to own a Red Footed Tortoise, so I think I need to get what I really want as long as I provide the proper humidity and requirements of the Red Footed, which I think the slightly more demanding requirements will be worth it.
That said, I look forward to finding a nice Cherry Head Red Footed here from a very reputable breeder. I haven't seen much available out there right now so maybe this isn't the best time to be tortoise shopping, but hopefully I will find someone here that will be the door to finding my new lifelong tortoise friend.
Don
