Joew
New Member
WOW! Thank you so much Tom! I absolutley should have opened this with "Here is my yard. I'm looking for a large personable tortoise that can live back there as an adult. What species would you recommend?" I am going to research South African leopard tortoise, which sounds amazing, do you breed those? I also love the idea of working with you to get a DT if that doesn't work. Santa Clarita is perfect, I'd love to work with you on this if that is possible. ANd yes, I was just reading your other post about a tortoise night box. I will deinitely do that...A sulcata isn't likely to damage your house. Unless you let it start digging under the foundation, or it starts excessively rubbing on a section of wall in a high traffic area. Still, it will likely turn that yard into a desert wasteland.
I also think a Russian is too small for that situation, but night predators won't be a problem for any tortoise because you will be putting the tortoise in its own heated shelter, regardless of species.
Lots of baby DTs go up for free adoption every year. I'll have some in a few months. If you want to raise a baby DT, we can make that happen. Your yard looks a little damp and shady for a DT, but I think it could work with the right housing. Read this thread for more info on that. This info would also apply to a Russian:
The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise
I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...tortoiseforum.org
Here is another way to go about this: If your question had been, "Here is my yard. I'm looking for a large personable tortoise that can live back there as an adult. What species would you recommend?"
If that had been your question, and knowing what I know about all the commonly kept tortoise species, the very first tortoise that pops into my head is the South African leopard tortoise that Steve mentioned. As babies, all tortoises need some humidity. As adults, SA leopards do well in dry or damp climates, as long as temps are monitored and controlled, which leads us back to that heated night box. SA leopards are bold and outgoing, totally unafraid, but they don't dig and they are not so destructive. They are a big tortoise at 35-40 pounds, but not SOOOO big that a single able bodied person can't lift and carry them. My 13 year old daughter can carry them back to their night boxes with some effort, and so can my petite wife. With kids around and with the tortoise living loose in the whole yard, I'd feel more comfortable with a larger tortoise. Not too big, but big enough.
I'm north of you in Santa Clarita. Very hot and dry here, and my SA leopards thrive. Down where you are the temperature extremes are less and your irrigated, shady, heavily planted yard, looks like it would also be a great environment for Manouria. These are the Burmese mountain tortoises. Also a fairly large tortoise, but not too large like a sulcata. I love these tortoises, but don't keep them because its too hot and dry up here, but you might consider them. Our own @Yvonne G keeps and breeds these, and can offer more insight into how suitable they would be for your yard.
Here is one example of a tortoise night box that would suit your purposes perfectly. I include this so you'll have an idea of what you'll need in two or three years, if you raise a baby:
Single Tortoise Night Box
I like my larger tortoises to live outside full time. My climate permits this year round with a little help. For people who live where it snows all winter, this type of box is still good for warmer weather, getting them out earlier in Spring, and keeping them out a bit later into fall. You'll...tortoiseforum.org
I'm glad we are all able to talk about this BEFORE you buy or get your heart set on one species or another. All this conversation will help you to make the best decision for your own personal preferences and living situation. Please feel free to ask for more info.