what would be the best starter tortoise to go for and what would be the best way to house it. Can they be kept in vivs as long as there is enough ventilation? Do they require UVB. (As my auntie has kept two in her green house for YEARS and i mean years and there are ok, they was also passed down to her so they are about 60+) Would it also be possible to use a uva/uvb combined BULB rather than a uvb tube and a regular uva bulb (such as an incandecent house bulb).
I don't think any are good for a beginner. They do require UV for proper growth. Check out: www.turtleforum.com
I was told the sand spur were really good for newbies as long as they do there research and can give them the care they need...I just love them there as cute as a botton :lol:
No a good starter tortoise not a tortoise for a beginner. I already own 10 reptiles including a veiled chameleon, 3 leopard geckos, 1 crested gecko, 5 dune geckos. I also own 2 scorpions and 2 giant african land snails.
I have no idea why no one has given a real reply. Russians are super easy to keep. They are small, can be kept in a viv. Need ventilation but a 3' x 2' enclosure or bigger is fine. Can keep them outside when it is warm, can keep inside year round if you want, eat broadleav plants that you can easily buy at the grocery store, hunidity is not a huge issue as you can give them a soak a couple times a week, UVA/UVB needed but you can buy a bulb pretty cheap nowdays. Overhead heat light in the day again pretty cheap. Sulcata's are hardy but grow huge so you need big enclosures. They like to dig so if you keep them in your yard you have giant holes and burrows to deal with. I have no experience with redfoots, hermans or greeks which are all smaller but my understanding is they are all easy to care for. My Russian is hands down the easiest pet that I have ever had. I wake up turn on the lights and throw some greens in the dish. At night I turn the lights off, that is it. No worry about bad sheds, they live in pretty harsh climates in the wild so they are tolerant of temp changes. No crickets, no rodents, no having to stun or thaw anything.
I like redfoots.They are easy to keep and don't require much maintenance.As long as humidity and temprature needs are met and they are kept on a suitable substrate,they do fine.I can't imagine telling someone that no tortoise is good for beginners.Granted,you will need a tort table inside for colder weather,but any reptile kept will need some kind of enclosure.Tortoises in general aren't hard to keep,as long as their needs are met.I just can't imagine discouraging anyone from the hobby
30+ years w/ tortoises, and, IMABO, the Hermann's is best for a beginner/starter, w/ the Russian a close 2nd. Iberians are also great. Sulcatas are easy enough, but very few people can do right by a sulcata when it's an= 200# adult...yet many don't think that far ahead...
Yeah tortoises live a very very very long time. They need certain temperature and humidity for each species and the size of the cage can vary. I would have to say, that there is no beginner tortoise, just more hardier ones. I would start off with a Hermans or a Russian tortoise. They are pretty cool. Nice and colorful and they have awesome personalities. Some of them do. Just because they require a lower over all temperate heat in the terrarium. They do however need huge enclosures. 2 by 3 feet or more I would say if you want multiple tortoises.
