personality...

[Lennifer]

Hi everyone! I am looking into getting a tort & need to stay with a smaller size. I have been reading about the Greek, Hermans & Russian. Do any of you happen to have 2 or 3 of these diff kinds of torts? I would love some opinions on which one of these 3 has the best personality. I haven't read too much on the Greeks yet. I just read somewhere this morning that the Hermans is a little more shy then the Russian? Is this true? I have lots of nieces & children in the family so I am looking to find one that would do well with them. Thanks in advance

~Sandy

 

[tortoisenerd]

I have a Russian, but have read a lot about the other two as well. I don't think any of these would be highly more personable than the others. Where do you live, and what age tort do you want? Sometimes availability can be a limiting factor. Would you be willing to get a hatchling? Have a tortoise shipped? Hermanns may be slightly more shy than Russians, but not drastically so, and definitely not as shy as a Leopard or forest tort in comparison. Each individual tort also varies so much. They each have their own peculiarities and personality. You could end up getting a shy Russian...it can happen.

Most torts would be fine around kids. Do remember though that a tort is not like a dog or cat. They are not for playing with, holding, letting run around the house, etc. Most agree to leave them alone in the enclosure and observe them. I would not let a child handle a tort without them growing up with them. Children will drop things, not know how to react, etc.

Out of the three breeds you are looking at, I don't think you will see too many personality differences. I think you'd enjoy any you pick. I'd go more off of what breed appeals to you more. For example, I am amazed by Russians. I want to get a Greek someday too. I don't find Hermanns quite as interesting in color, although they are cute.

Best wishes.

 

[Crazy1]

Aww, Personalities, in Russians, Greeks and Hermanns. What to say. Each tort has its own personality. I have 14 Greeks and each one has its own personality. One is outgoing and wants to see everything. One is shy and likes to hide and watch you but don't let him think you see him. One just has the ladies on his mind and flashing (showing his manhood) to me. Most come when I go out to feed them or they hear my voice. One just wants to bite my fingers no matter what I try and feed it.

I have never had a Hermann But I think the shell pattern is lovely. Both Hermanns and Greeks have tendencies to pyramid if gotten as hatchlings if things are not just right. Russians are more forgiving in that department.

Of the three, I think Russians love to climb the most. The one I had for a short time, and the ones I know seen have great personalities. They are easier to obtain as an older tort cost less to purchase usually, and they do hibernate. If you can try and adopt a tort. There are so many out there that need homes.

If around children teach the kids how to care for the tortoise. But if I remember right you have a dog? Dogs and torts are not a good match. Dogs, weed whackers and lawnmowers are three things that do small torts a lot of damage and death. I would never trust a dog around a tort alone. Even with supervision things happen.

Do you have a reptile show coming to your area soon? Or a rescue close to you. They are great places to see these three up close and see which steals your heart. Mine heart was stolen this time, by two adult older Greeks, Who knew. I was actually thinking of getting a boxie when I found them and then it took me a month to actually commit and purchase them. But every day I look back and thank the day I did.

 

[Lennifer]

Hey, thanks so much to both of you for the great opinions!! I do have a dog but I KNOW firsthand about them being bad for torts. When I was younger I had a box turtle that we use to keep in the yard. I was a little girl so I obviously didn't research & I don't think my mother did either. Her boyfriend found this turtle & gave it to me. I love it so much but sad to say...it didn't live with us very long. It was morning time & my mom asked me to run out to the car for something, when I walked outside, I saw my turtle & he had been chewed on by the dog. My mother's boyfriend took him in the car & went & dropped him off somewhere. It was a very sad day for me. Then a few years later, my father found me a turtle but he only let me have him for a couple weeks as he said that we needed to let him go so that he could go hibernate. I love animals & have always wanted a turtle but it never seemed to work out. Now that I am older & am trying to research a bit, I have decided that I would like to try again but this time, I am old enough to provide proper care. I would NEVER let my tort out in the yard with my dog while I am not there. Too be honest with you...I have a Labrador & she is a big baby! lol! Sometimes I get my beaded dragon out & let him run around on the living room floor...Dakota just stares at him funny & If I try to sit Drago on her or near her...she bows her head & makes this sad face. It's sooo funny because she's so big compared to my lizard but she is such a big sissy around him lol

One more question. lol! Since I am new to all of this, I am not sure what it means when you say "Hermans & Greeks have a tendency to pyramid?" What does that mean? Thanks.

~Sandy

 

[Crazy1]

Sandy Pyramiding is when the top shell (carapace) becomes bumpy or lumpy see here.
http://www.ivorytortoise.com/information/documents/pyramiding_in_tortoises.html
here is the Russian site it shows pics of leos and sullys with pyramiding
http://www.russiantortoise.net/pyramiding_in_tortoises.htm

 

[Lennifer]

Oh wow! Thank you for those links. I was actually looking at some random pics of Torts on the net yesterday & noticed that some had more of a bumpy shell shape & others were smooth. I had no idea about pyramiding & was just thinking they were diff types of Torts! lol! Thank you

~Sandy

 

[Crazy1]

Oh wow! Thank you for those links. I was actually looking at some random pics of Torts on the net yesterday & noticed that some had more of a bumpy shell shape & others were smooth. I had no idea about pyramiding & was just thinking they were diff types of Torts! lol! Thank you

~Sandy

No problem Sandy-we all start somewhere The sad thing is with severe pyramiding comes Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). This can often be painful for the tort and shorten its life.

I really applaud you for doing research before getting a tort. It will make keeping one more enjoyable and less stressful to you and the tort.