Hi,
Very new to the forum and I've been doing lots of research on tortoises lately.
I have it narrowed down to a few options and I put this post on here to try and get some more specific input, I suppose.
First and foremost let me say that I am understanding of the commitment requirement that comes with keeping a male and female of a species if the intent is to let them breed eventually. I have bred tarantulas. I am going to breed my bearded dragon pair. My pet rat has had babies too, heh.
Like with English Mastiffs, the Goliath Bird Eater Tarantula (Theraphosa blondi), and the Green Iguana alike, I am always captivated by the biggest pets out there. Now I know Galapagos and Aldabra tortoises surely trump an adult Sulcata, but the Sulcata is no miniature, that's for sure.
So instinctively I thought oh man they're so cool I want one for sure. I had heard eventually you need to provide them an outdoor enclosure and that wouldn't be a problem down the road. I made sure to read about it too. I know how they dig and went down the list of things to ask yourself before getting a Sulcata. I live in Tennessee now, but I am moving to Florida as early as January 2012. Probably a little later than that.
So that brings me to question number one. I definitely would like to experience the pleasure of raising a Sulcata or two. Although I wonder in 2 1/2 years or 3 even... how big would it be? Would I already need to provide it an outdoor enclosure or not quite yet?
I am also very intrigued by the Russian and Leopard tortoises. I'm all about the Sulcata, but I'd like to have some tortoises that I don't have to worry about providing an enclosure for and since they only get so big, that's perfect.
Lastly... I have looked in the Middle Tennessee area trying to find some exotic animal rescues at last ditch resort and haven't found anything really. Unfortunately this has become one of those states that invoked laws as far as turtles and tortoises go. Those laws also have gotten misinterpreted beyond being just... you can't have wild caught Tennessee native turtles or tortoises. Seems confusing.
I've seen a few different tortoise breeders online. Can anybody recommend a dealer in particular?
Thanks for you time and I appreciate it.
- Rob
Very new to the forum and I've been doing lots of research on tortoises lately.
I have it narrowed down to a few options and I put this post on here to try and get some more specific input, I suppose.
First and foremost let me say that I am understanding of the commitment requirement that comes with keeping a male and female of a species if the intent is to let them breed eventually. I have bred tarantulas. I am going to breed my bearded dragon pair. My pet rat has had babies too, heh.
Like with English Mastiffs, the Goliath Bird Eater Tarantula (Theraphosa blondi), and the Green Iguana alike, I am always captivated by the biggest pets out there. Now I know Galapagos and Aldabra tortoises surely trump an adult Sulcata, but the Sulcata is no miniature, that's for sure.
So instinctively I thought oh man they're so cool I want one for sure. I had heard eventually you need to provide them an outdoor enclosure and that wouldn't be a problem down the road. I made sure to read about it too. I know how they dig and went down the list of things to ask yourself before getting a Sulcata. I live in Tennessee now, but I am moving to Florida as early as January 2012. Probably a little later than that.
So that brings me to question number one. I definitely would like to experience the pleasure of raising a Sulcata or two. Although I wonder in 2 1/2 years or 3 even... how big would it be? Would I already need to provide it an outdoor enclosure or not quite yet?
I am also very intrigued by the Russian and Leopard tortoises. I'm all about the Sulcata, but I'd like to have some tortoises that I don't have to worry about providing an enclosure for and since they only get so big, that's perfect.
Lastly... I have looked in the Middle Tennessee area trying to find some exotic animal rescues at last ditch resort and haven't found anything really. Unfortunately this has become one of those states that invoked laws as far as turtles and tortoises go. Those laws also have gotten misinterpreted beyond being just... you can't have wild caught Tennessee native turtles or tortoises. Seems confusing.
I've seen a few different tortoise breeders online. Can anybody recommend a dealer in particular?
Thanks for you time and I appreciate it.
- Rob