Reptile owners: considering a tortoise

[mmntech]

Any reptile owners here? I've been considering getting my first pet in over a decade. Been thinking of a reptile. I know a couple of people who have them. One has turtles, another has a bearded dragon. I'm considering a tortoise. They're cool, they pretty much eat people food (veggies), live a long time, and they're absolutely adorable.

Anybody have experience with them, or other reptiles? Tips? All I know is I'd need a 40gal tank and some heat lamps. I've got no idea how much I should spend. Just doing some preliminary research right now.

 

[rasczak]

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images...09/7/22/1248256019842/Lonesome-George-001.jpg

here you go!

 

[waggy]

we are looking to get one.

we have had ball pythons, corn snakes and a bearded dragon.

 

[mmntech]

I'm looking at the little guys. The local pet store has Greek and Russian tortoises. They grow up to 12''.

 

[bobdole369]

Have raised Iguana, tortoise, and when I was a lad, some snakes.

Depends on the tortoise - almost exclusively herbivore. The type of greens you provide are ALL he can get so provide a wide variety of GOOD greens. Look up Iguana diet and you have essentially the same thing, though tortoise need even MORE calcium that iguana do. So green leafies like Collard Greens,escarole, mustard or turnip greens, veg like peas and greenbeans, asparagus, green pepper, zuchinni, yellow squash, occasional fruits like strawberry, melon, blackberry, papaya, banana

Tortoises in nature live in scrub and prarie so they usually eat wild berries, grasses, etc.

Yours may or may not have a desire to dig, and he may or may not need to hide. My tortoise loves to dig AND hide so I have a sandbox for him.

Don't necessarily need a heat lamp or rock, they dont' "need" heat like an iguana would. Mine has done fine with nothing at all in FL. However they REQUIRE sunlight every couple days. Outside on sunny days is best.

 

[Fritzo]

The best thing about owning a tortoise: it won't run away.

 

[zinfamous]

The best thing about owning a tortoise: it won't run away.

oh, yeah it will. It will dig itself out, too.

I've had a few tortoises here an there, and some turtles. Most recent was an eastern painted that picked up off the road one day back in college. little guy was missing an eye and had one gimp foot.

I bought a cheap plastic kiddie pool, filled it with water and tossed in some rocks and logs and pretty much lived in there for most of a year. I eventually let him go at the approach of winter, as I didn't have any good space for him during the cold months.

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

My buddy's tortoise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xz-JOpEyhxA

 

[Spineshank]

I have a russian. You shouldnt put them in glass enclosures cause they cant see the glass. I built a 3' by 3' enclosure for mine. He likes to get out too and walk around.

 

[Newbian]

Don't necessarily need a heat lamp or rock, they dont' "need" heat like an iguana would. Mine has done fine with nothing at all in FL. However they REQUIRE sunlight every couple days. Outside on sunny days is best.

Op lives in Canada, not somewhere where you get no snow like Florida.

A uva / uvb light will be another thing to get because of that.

 

[mmntech]

I have a russian. You shouldnt put them in glass enclosures cause they cant see the glass. I built a 3' by 3' enclosure for mine. He likes to get out too and walk around.

What did you build it out of?

 

[BladeVenom]

Anybody have experience with them, or other reptiles? Tips? All I know is I'd need a 40gal tank and some heat lamps.

I think something more like a sandbox or kids pool would make a better enclosure than a small aquarium.

I had an eastern box turtle when I was kid. Just go out into the woods and find one.

 

[Fritzo]

oh, yeah it will. It will dig itself out, too.

I've had a few tortoises here an there, and some turtles. Most recent was an eastern painted that picked up off the road one day back in college. little guy was missing an eye and had one gimp foot.

I bought a cheap plastic kiddie pool, filled it with water and tossed in some rocks and logs and pretty much lived in there for most of a year. I eventually let him go at the approach of winter, as I didn't have any good space for him during the cold months.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Tortoises love squash blossoms big time!

 

[Newbian]

I think something more like a sandbox or kids pool would make a better enclosure than a small aquarium.

I had an eastern box turtle when I was kid. Just go out into the woods and find one.

Kinda hard to get one in canada during fall.

 

[pcgeek11]

Sort of like a pet rock.

 

[Spineshank]

What did you build it out of?

Just wood. Left the top open and put wire over it so I could see in and lay the UV light on it. You can also buy a tortoise house. They are like 100 bucks. Pretty nice.

 

[mmntech]

I think something more like a sandbox or kids pool would make a better enclosure than a small aquarium.

I had an eastern box turtle when I was kid. Just go out into the woods and find one.

Only ones out in the woods here are snapping turtles. Something tells me they don't make good pets.

Looks like a tortoise table is easy enough to make out of plywood. A tortoise house might be a good choice too.

 

[Zorander]

The best thing about owning a tortoise: it won't run away.

Yes, they will.

If they can dig themselves out, they will.
If they can clamber on top of something (even if it's fellow tortoises), they will.
If they can jump into the sewer, they will.
If they can throw themselves down (whether a table or even floors), they will.

 

[Newbian]

If they can jump into the sewer, they will.

You are thinking of a different type of turtle.

 

[Fritzo]

Yes, they will.

If they can dig themselves out, they will.
If they can clamber on top of something (even if it's fellow tortoises), they will.
If they can jump into the sewer, they will.
If they can throw themselves down (whether a table or even floors), they will.

And what...they'll be 4 ft. away by morning?

 

[mmntech]

You are thinking of a different type of turtle.

Should I be worried about the Technodrome?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8WU6GKCc9A&feature=related

 

[Spineshank]

Yes, they will.

If they can dig themselves out, they will.
If they can clamber on top of something (even if it's fellow tortoises), they will.
If they can jump into the sewer, they will.
If they can throw themselves down (whether a table or even floors), they will.

Yea mine will move around pretty good. They are also a lot faster than people realize. Mine will look down the stairs but he has never tried to go down.

 

[ViperXX]

I had a wild tortoise wonder into the yard last summer. I kept him the backyard all summer and he had his fill of tomato's, reptile pellets and greens. When winter came I put him in an aquarium in the house. He burrowed himself into the dirt in his aquarium and pretty much went inactive. In the spring he woke up became more active and started to eat again. I put him back in the back yard for the summer. One of my kids left the back gate open and he ran away.

 

[lord_emperor]

And what...they'll be 4 ft. away by morning?

Not all turtles are slow. My in-laws have a turtle that they stupidly let their son get as a pet. Of course it became their responsibility and the thing is going to live 200 years... Anyway we got a kitten and brought it over to visit, the turtle chased it around.