Species recommendations

[Sillygoose17]

Hi!

I’m looking to add a tortoise to my family in the near future. I live in Pennsylvania and we have rough winters so they will need housed inside for about half the year, maybe a little less if they are a hardier species.

I had a Russian who passed recently, presumably of old age as I was his gazillionth owner. My home feels empty without a tort personality. I would like to try a new species that is maybe a bit bigger, and ideally doesn’t dig so I don’t have to sink an outdoor enclosure. Size-wise, I’m thinking the smaller end of the “medium” category. We have a sizable backyard but it doesn’t get a ton of sun due to the trees. Our summer days get to the mid-upper 80s during the day and drop down to the 70s/upper 60s at night in the summer. Our avg humidity is in the 50s-60s.

I’m having trouble finding a species that I like and wouldn’t have to struggle a lot to meet the requirements of. My dream tortoise is a female red foot but for obvious reasons I have some reservations regarding their temp/humidity. I have a lot of questions on that front and plan to make a separate post on their forum.

Anyone have any species recommendations that I should look into? Thank you!

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

Personally coming from someone with a family red foot in a less than ideal climate for her, I would generally discourage it, it can be challenging creating the size scale they need indoors that meets their environmental needs, they require all over temps in the 80’s 24/7 and have high humidity requirements for life. She was bought long before we’d all met and he truly wishes he hadn’t got her species, but she’s kind of stuck with us now as there’s no better rehome situations where we’re from, so we’ve gone the biggest we can go and I’m saving up for a future set up, hopefully a modified shed of sorts, it won’t come cheap.

Have you looked into Herman’s? There’s also Greeks that get a bit bigger and might be more suited to your climate

Sorry to hear about your Russian by the way! I’m sure he’ll be looking down feeling very proud of you for offering another tortoise a lovely home

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

I’m sorry if that seemed a downer on the red foot dreamit’s not impossible by any means! It can just pose one hell of a challenge and expensive, I’m of the opinion their species does ideally thrive outdoors year round in the right climate, but lots of people do house them indoors over winter in colder places, then summer they have outdoors with a night box or brought inside.

I guess I’m just giving my take as someone who has witnessed firsthand the difficulties in keeping an adult in a cold wet climateI think you may find a species better suited

 

[Sillygoose17]

Personally coming from someone with a family red foot in a less than ideal climate for her, I would generally discourage it, it can be challenging creating the size scale they need indoors that meets their environmental needs, they require all over temps in the 80’s 24/7 and have high humidity requirements for life. She was bought long before we’d all met and he truly wishes he hadn’t got her species, but she’s kind of stuck with us now as there’s no better rehome situations where we’re from, so we’ve gone the biggest we can go and I’m saving up for a future set up, hopefully a modified shed of sorts, it won’t come cheap.

Have you looked into Herman’s? There’s also Greeks that get a bit bigger and might be more suited to your climate

Sorry to hear about your Russian by the way! I’m sure he’ll be looking down feeling very proud of you for offering another tortoise a lovely home

That’s exactly my fear about having a Redfoot, and it’s not like they are a short-lived animal! We are willing to commit to the challenge if there’s nothing we like similarly because, on the one hand, you’re stuck with them forever so you best get a species you’re passionate about even if it’s a little tougher. But then, on the other hand, you’re stuck with them forever even if it is a little tougher I appreciate your honest evaluation of owning them, and your Redfoot is lucky to have an owner who is willing to put in the time and money to give them an enclosure upgrade!

I’m interested in Greeks but a little intimated by all of the subspecies and talks about different care needs depending on the subspecies, yet the difficulty of identifying the species of your tortoise and the fact that even many breeders mislabel what they sell.

I’ve looked into Hermann’s a bit but I’ve read a bunch of conflicting information about how big they get. And, in general, I really want to avoid brumating again. At least with the difficulties of tropical species, you don’t have to deal with that! It makes me so nervous.

I’ve also thought about an eastern box turtle since they are native and theoretically could be kept outside year round? But I haven’t found a lot of info on that, either. If only I had a neighbor that has kept every species in their backyard and could give me a manual…

 

[jaizei]

My dream tortoise is a female red foot but for obvious reasons I have some reservations regarding their temp/humidity. I have a lot of questions on that front and plan to make a separate post on their forum.

What is it about a redfooted tortoise that makes it your dream tortoise?

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

If we talk about testudos, Hermanns get a bit bigger than Russians, especially females. Also some subspecies of Greek tortoises get bigger than others, closely related Marginated tortoises can reach a weight of up to 11 lb.

And, in general, I really want to avoid brumating again. At least with the difficulties of tropical species, you don’t have to deal with that! It makes me so nervous.

According to the current information we have, brumation is not necessary and can be safely skipped if the right steps are taken. There is a theory about not brumating affecting their hormonal cycle or lifespan, but they are not yet verified, as far as I know.

 

[TheTortoiseKing]

Tell us more of what you would want from a tortoise species you may get?

 

[Sillygoose17]

What is it about a redfooted tortoise that makes it your dream tortoise?

I really like their coloration of course, and their size. I’ve met a few and they were very sociable which is great because we have a kiddo! I also generally really like tropical species of reptiles, I just haven’t owned one yet since it will be so annoying where we live. Every time I see a Redfoot they just make me so happy! Other species are cool, too, but for some reason these guys just tickle me!

 

[Sillygoose17]

If we talk about testudos, Hermanns get a bit bigger than Russians, especially females. Also some subspecies of Greek tortoises get bigger than others, closely related Marginated tortoises can reach a weight of up to 11 lb.


According to the current information we have, brumation is not necessary and can be safely skipped if the right steps are taken. There is a theory about not brumating affecting their hormonal cycle or lifespan, but they are not yet verified, as far as I know.

I was reading about the marinated tortoises last night and they definitely piqued my interest! With my Russian I had to brumate him a couple of times because some winters he just hunkered down and stopped eating. Other times keeping his lights on and temps up worked. Vet said he was healthy every time he stopped eating. I brumated him and voila he was a new man when he woke up. With a marinated tortoise the mini fridge I have will definitely not be big enough if that happened!

 

[Sillygoose17]

Tell us more of what you would want from a tortoise species you may get?

Ideally, one about the size of a small cat, that is pretty social/personable, and in a perfect world, doesn’t dig so that I don’t have to sink an outdoor enclosure when I make one. Tortoises being tortoises brings me great joy, I love to watch them live. I don’t know that there’s much more you can get out of a tortoise!

 

[144 Grandpa Turtle]

I know you said Tortoise, but You May Want to Look into a Box Turtle. Like a 3 Toe or even Ornate .

 

[Sillygoose17]

I know you said Tortoise, but You May Want to Look into a Box Turtle. Like a 3 Toe or even Ornate .

A box turtle is definitely a possibility! I’ll have to take a look at ornates, I only looked into 3 toes. From what I read they need fairly high humidity too, but then that doesn’t make much sense since they are native here. I’ll have to dig deeper. I like them a lot, they just don’t have the derpy tortoise face I love so much!

 

[144 Grandpa Turtle]

I have both I love them as much as I love all of my tortoises. But thry need protein In Their diet.! Please Check Thr laws!

 

[SinLA]

some Female Russians can get quite large, so you can also keep that in mind as well, especially if you take in a fully grown adult.

 

[Tom]

Hmmm... Medium to small size, no brumation, and manageable in your winters... Marginateds fit that bill, and so do pancakes, if those interest you, but I have the perfect tortoise for your situation:

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

 

[144 Grandpa Turtle]

Please Remember When Everything is Done it will have to be your choice Noy ours. I have had Yellow foots, Red Foots, Pancakes, And Stars, and they were not for me. But I have Az Desert Torts, Greeks, Russians, Marginals, Herrmann's, Egyptian's, Both Leopards, 3 Toes box, and orates

 

[Sillygoose17]

Hmmm... Medium to small size, no brumation, and manageable in your winters... Marginateds fit that bill, and so do pancakes, if those interest you, but I have the perfect tortoise for your situation:

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

I read your post last night and you had me sold, but then I looked them up on other resources and so many places said, yet again, they need high humidity. Is what you say true? Are they really that adaptable? I especially love the part where you say they aren’t nearly as destructive as other tortoises. And I love the shells on them! Do you breed them and sell the hatchlings?

 

[Sillygoose17]

some Female Russians can get quite large, so you can also keep that in mind as well, especially if you take in a fully grown adult.

True! I just figured, since I will probably only ever be able to have one tortoise at a time, and since they live for so long that whatever I choose next will likely be my last tortoise, it might be a good opportunity to try something new!

 

[Sillygoose17]

Please Remember When Everything is Done it will have to be your choice Noy ours. I have had Yellow foots, Red Foots, Pancakes, And Stars, and they were not for me. But I have Az Desert Torts, Greeks, Russians, Marginals, Herrmann's, Egyptian's, Both Leopards, 3 Toes box, and orates

Absolutely! It’s just nice to have suggestions that aren’t from Google AI Sounds like you have a quite a collection! That is awesome! I love my Russian so much. He really believed he could do anything. What an intrepid little guy.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

He really believed he could do anything. What an intrepid little guy.

My Russian is the same Always trying his limits