What tortoise is right for me?

[Teague]

Hello, I’m from Southern California (Riverside County) and when I was younger my grandpa had a tortoise and I loved to feed him. He was my favorite part of going to Arizona! Recently I was thinking about him and wanted to find out that if I end up wanting to get one after more research, which would be most appropriate for my climate and wants.
I’m looking for a bigger tortoise as the one my grandpa had was around 14-20 inches as well as being suitable for SoCal. The summers get to 115-120 degrees, and the winter nights 40-50 degrees. The average humidity is 45-60%. Any advice on what species are legal, pretty big, as well as suitable for the weather here.
Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Ink]

Welcome to the forum. If you get a tortoise that large for outside, you will need a heated house. How much room do you have for an enclosure?

 

[zovick]

Hello, I’m from Southern California (Riverside County) and when I was younger my grandpa had a tortoise and I loved to feed him. He was my favorite part of going to Arizona! Recently I was thinking about him and wanted to find out that if I end up wanting to get one after more research, which would be most appropriate for my climate and wants.
I’m looking for a bigger tortoise as the one my grandpa had was around 14-20 inches as well as being suitable for SoCal. The summers get to 115-120 degrees, and the winter nights 40-50 degrees. The average humidity is 45-60%. Any advice on what species are legal, pretty big, as well as suitable for the weather here.
Thanks in advance for your help.

Maybe you should look into getting a CA Desert Tortoise. The adults are about 15" and they are native to CA. You can adopt one virtually free of charge from a chapter of the CA Turtle and Tortoise Club: https://www.tortoise.org/cttc/adoption.html

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

What kind of outdoor space and possibly indoor space could you provide for the tortoise?

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Are you able to provide a large outdoors enclosure? Or are you looking for a tortoise that can live indoors?

 

[Tom]

Hello, I’m from Southern California (Riverside County) and when I was younger my grandpa had a tortoise and I loved to feed him. He was my favorite part of going to Arizona! Recently I was thinking about him and wanted to find out that if I end up wanting to get one after more research, which would be most appropriate for my climate and wants.
I’m looking for a bigger tortoise as the one my grandpa had was around 14-20 inches as well as being suitable for SoCal. The summers get to 115-120 degrees, and the winter nights 40-50 degrees. The average humidity is 45-60%. Any advice on what species are legal, pretty big, as well as suitable for the weather here.
Thanks in advance for your help.

Desert tortoise, sulcata, or South African leopard all meet your criterion.

The desert tortoise or the sulcata will need to burrow in summer and have a temperature controlled shelter the rest of the year. The leopard will not burrow and can just use the shelter year round.

Here are two examples:

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

Double Door Night Box

As the years have gone by and I build more of these boxes, I learn more and more each time. This one is the latest and I incorporated everything I've learned over the years. I also tried to take lots of pics so I can explain in more detail some of what is going on. It will take multiple posts to...

tortoiseforum.org

Build your box and get it set up, tested, and adjusted BEFORE you get a tortoise!

 

[SinLA]

Lots of each of the species Tom listed above need homes, your local (or not local) CTTC will have ones for rescue.

Adoption - California Turtle & Tortoise Club

Greetings from LA by the way!