Tortoise for Southern NC

[bgonez]

Hello All,

I have been a long time stalker on the forums and first time posting and should be closing on a house next month. The yard is plenty big enough to build an outdoor enclosure and will either build a dedicated shed or give my half of the garage to the tortoise(s) in the winter. Where I have been struggling is with which species to get. I would love Redfoot or Cherryhead and for most of the year their heat/humidity requirements will not be a problem. The yard has an area with mature trees as well so they would have ample shade as well as sun. The downside here is they will need to spend a decent portion of the year indoors as the temps drop in the winter.

Elongated seem to have similar requirements and size, but from what I have read are more cold tolerant. I believe Leopards from south Africa are more cold tolerant as well.

Hermann's, Greek and Russian are what I am leaning towards the most though since I think they can spend most, if not all, of the year outside once they are big enough. Diet seems to be easier as well and I plan to grow as much as possible myself. Already have a few hibiscus, ordering chicory seed, spineless prickly pear, etc... to get it started ahead of their arrival. All these foods will work with Elongated and Redfoots as well so no matter which way I go I will be covered.

Does anyone else have tortoises in NC? I am in the Charlotte area and only a mile or two from the SC border. What temperatures can elongated and Redfoots tolerate?

If they can take lows in the 60s then I think I will go with one of the larger species. If it is 70s plus then I will lean towards the Testudos so they can spend most of their time outside. Just have to sell my wife on the electric fence to keep them safe

 

[jojay327]

Hello All,

I have been a long time stalker on the forums and first time posting and should be closing on a house next month. The yard is plenty big enough to build an outdoor enclosure and will either build a dedicated shed or give my half of the garage to the tortoise(s) in the winter. Where I have been struggling is with which species to get. I would love Redfoot or Cherryhead and for most of the year their heat/humidity requirements will not be a problem. The yard has an area with mature trees as well so they would have ample shade as well as sun. The downside here is they will need to spend a decent portion of the year indoors as the temps drop in the winter.

Elongated seem to have similar requirements and size, but from what I have read are more cold tolerant. I believe Leopards from south Africa are more cold tolerant as well.

Hermann's, Greek and Russian are what I am leaning towards the most though since I think they can spend most, if not all, of the year outside once they are big enough. Diet seems to be easier as well and I plan to grow as much as possible myself. Already have a few hibiscus, ordering chicory seed, spineless prickly pear, etc... to get it started ahead of their arrival. All these foods will work with Elongated and Redfoots as well so no matter which way I go I will be covered.

Does anyone else have tortoises in NC? I am in the Charlotte area and only a mile or two from the SC border. What temperatures can elongated and Redfoots tolerate?

If they can take lows in the 60s then I think I will go with one of the larger species. If it is 70s plus then I will lean towards the Testudos so they can spend most of their time outside. Just have to sell my wife on the electric fence to keep them safe

I'm in Elgin SC only about an hour from Charlotte and we have an 8 year old sulcata. Perfect climate I think, heat and humidity. He thrives here. Good luck

 

[bgonez]

Thank you Jojay. Sulcata would be too large and read they can be a bit destructive as well. Seen their large burrows in some videos.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Will you be keeping just one. Or an eventual group?
Because that's another consideration. Some species really need to be kept solitary. Some can be kept in groups and none should be kept in pairs.
Good luck.
And I applaud your doing research before jumping in to this.
And one more thing....Raccoons....they might be your biggest issue for a small species or a young animal outdoors.

 

[bgonez]

I am thinking a group and that is another think that is attractive about Redfoots. Hermann's seem to do well in groups as well. Russians I hear are aggressive so removed them off my list yesterday after reading that.

They will be indoors for the first year at least and I am thinking about the zoomed turtle house for outdoors initially since I can keep it locked while they are young and in the sun. I will build an outdoor pen as well this year and start planting it, already have a few hibiscus so I have fresh/safe growth to feed when they arrive. I will put them in the enclosure supervised during the summer, but like the zoomed for unsupervised time in the sun. For raccoons I am looking at solar charged electric fences. I wouldn't have to run power to the edge of the property and it should provide protection from them at night. That is at least a year away though.

 

[orv]

I am thinking a group and that is another think that is attractive about Redfoots. Hermann's seem to do well in groups as well. Russians I hear are aggressive so removed them off my list yesterday after reading that.

They will be indoors for the first year at least and I am thinking about the zoomed turtle house for outdoors initially since I can keep it locked while they are young and in the sun. I will build an outdoor pen as well this year and start planting it, already have a few hibiscus so I have fresh/safe growth to feed when they arrive. I will put them in the enclosure supervised during the summer, but like the zoomed for unsupervised time in the sun. For raccoons I am looking at solar charged electric fences. I wouldn't have to run power to the edge of the property and it should provide protection from them at night. That is at least a year away though.

I would like to throw this into the ring, as it may well be simplier as well as more productive for you to keep a species that is indigenous to your area such as one of the Box Turtles. Although not tortoises, boxies have rewarding personalities and are easy to care for in groups in much of the Carolinas. Just another thought.

 

[bgonez]

The first day I was researching a tortoise I was watching a video with an eastern box turtle. My wife ran into my office saying the dogs have something outside cornered under a bush and she was afraid it was a snake. I ran out and it turned out to be an eastern. Thought it was a sign

Here I would have to do more research on the laws. From what I read on the forums the law states you can't have more than 5 total in your possession so if they bred I may technically be in violation. Other articles make it sound like they are protected so you can't possess them. Here it sounds like it is specific to collecting/possessing wild individuals, but I can see it getting complicated if there origin is ever questioned. Times like this make me wish I just moved two miles south so I would be in SC where it is less complicated...

 

[orv]

Where there is the will, there is a way. Or so my dear old mother said many times in order to make me problem solve.