what is the best tortoise for beginners?

Answer 1

A dead one, or a good book about them when they get one.

Answer 2

Whatever you get, please do lots of research on a variety of sites before making your decision. Take into consideration where you live North or south? High or low humidity? Do you want something you can hibernate during the winter? How much room do you have outside and indoors? Can you build predator-proof enclosures outdoors?

Also make sure, if buying, to get a captive bred tortoise. This will save you money in vet bills in the long run, and is more humane and ecologically sound. Almost ALL Russian and Greek tortoises in pet stores are wild-caught. This includes those sold in Petco and Retsmart. Try to buy straight from a breeder or consider adoption from a rescue.

Avoid a hingeback tortoise (all adults and older juveniles are wild-caught and need an experienced keeper). Unless you have the space for a 40-150lb tortoise, avoid sulcatas and leopard tortoises. There are lots of captive bred redfooted tortoises on the market, but they still get a bit bigger than most people want, and they need it warm year-round and need high humidity.

Russians and Hermans stay relatively small, but still like to dig and need plenty of space.

Try www.rusiantortoise.org and www.tortoisetrust.org to learn more. You can chat with experienced keepers and look for quality breeders at www.turtleforum.com

Answer 3

I've got a horsefield and she is really easy to keep. They grow to about 8 inches. I've had her for 8 years.I n a vivarium you need, a heat lamp, a uv light(gives it vitamins that it would get from the sun), a shallow water dish and a rock or stone for it to wear down it's beak and house as it makes the tortoise feel more secure. A wooden box is ok. Mine lives in a vivarium and I never hibinate her. I put her outside on sunny days but bring her in at night. It's only tortoises keep out side that need to be hibinated.

Always remember if your hibinating your tortoise to feed it up well and then stop feeding it for about 2 weeks b4 hibinating. Doing this makes sure the stomache is empty. As the tortoise hibinates it's digestive systems slows down and any undigested food left in the stomache rots and then slowly poisons the tortoise. Thats why a lot don't survive hibination. Make sure you buy one with a certificate stating that it is captive bred.

Answer 4

The Mediterranean species like the Greek or Spur-thighed (Testudo graeca), or the Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni) are good, cheap, and relatively easy to care for.

The Red-foot tortoise (Geochelone carbonaria) is a great tortoise- very personable and one of the most fun pets. Its cares are a little trickier- high humidity, etc., but not terribly hard.

A common tortoise is the Russian tortoise (Testudo horsfieldi), but I personally don't think we have their cares locked in yet. You'll read a gazilion different opinions about this species.

You often find the Sulcata tortoise (African Spur-thighed, Geochelone sulcata) available and often at a great price, but if you think about this species you need to be truely ready to deal with a giant tortoise as an adult so strong it can actually walk THROUGH drywall and bulldoze through most fences, gates, etc.

Answer 5

It truly depends on the type of lifestyle you could provide for a tortoise. I would say in my years of learning that African Spur-thighed Tortoises have to be the most hardy and resilient that I can think of. There requirements are minimal but the one this is that they can get BIG. Which means alot of room. As with all pets, it is always best to figure out which will fit your lifestyle best and go from there. I would be glad to provide you with any information I can that may help you in your search for a good Tortoise. They are very wonderful pets!

Answer 6

I have a russian tortoise and he is pretty easy. I have had him for 5-6 years now. The expense of setting up for a tortoise is not cheap though. You need a good size tank (min 50 gallons), UV lights, heat lights etc.

Answer 7

I have a 2 murray short neck turtles and i find them great. they are relativley easy to care for and can live for up to 50 years. You will pay around 80 to 90 dollars and have to have a license to keep them. I keep mine in a four foot turtle tank and as long as you have a good flitration system and keep the ph right you should be off to a good start.

Answer 8

Early learning tortoise with stabilisers

Answer 9

something slow to start then move to a faster tortoise later as your skills increase

Answer 10

redfoot, russian, or greek check out those also hermans are extremely impressive yet might want to be kinda troublesome to locate yet thet dont hibernate and arent tiny and they arent huge they're a superb length

Answer 11

horse Field