Hi all! I live in Boulder, Colorado. I've been building an enclosure in my backyard in anticipation of my family's first-ever tortoise. We will also put a turtle table in my daughters' room. (The yard enclosure will be 4x16 feet, and the indoor table will be 2x6 feet unless I need to make it wider.)
It's pretty dry in Colorado (probably averaging 40%--more than Arizona but certainly not coastal). So even though I really like Redfoots, I've just about ruled them out because I am looking for a good first-timer tortoise.
Having ruled out Redfoots, and looking for a hardy, easy keeper, I'm looking at Russians, Hermanns, and Marginateds. Russians and Hermanns seem nearly identical in terms of their needs, temperament, and size. Are there any predictable differences between Russians and Hermanns? Marginateds seem to have similar needs and temperaments but get a bit bigger. Apart from size, are there any other differences between Marginateds and their mediterranean cousins?
Last but not least, I've been leaning toward an adult tortoise because I don't think I'm ready to raise a baby. But I've seen quite a few "yearling" tortoises advertised. Are yearlings closer to babies or adults in terms of their needs and difficulty in keeping?
Thanks for all your help, and I'll be sure to keep you posted on what we do!
It's pretty dry in Colorado (probably averaging 40%--more than Arizona but certainly not coastal). So even though I really like Redfoots, I've just about ruled them out because I am looking for a good first-timer tortoise.
Having ruled out Redfoots, and looking for a hardy, easy keeper, I'm looking at Russians, Hermanns, and Marginateds. Russians and Hermanns seem nearly identical in terms of their needs, temperament, and size. Are there any predictable differences between Russians and Hermanns? Marginateds seem to have similar needs and temperaments but get a bit bigger. Apart from size, are there any other differences between Marginateds and their mediterranean cousins?
Last but not least, I've been leaning toward an adult tortoise because I don't think I'm ready to raise a baby. But I've seen quite a few "yearling" tortoises advertised. Are yearlings closer to babies or adults in terms of their needs and difficulty in keeping?
Thanks for all your help, and I'll be sure to keep you posted on what we do!