Want to get a tortoise

[snakekid6996]

Hey everyone. I want to get a pet at my dads house. I wanted a snake, but my step mom refuses to let me have one at there house >.>. I was thinking about getting some kind of tortoise, frog, or lizard. A tortoise is probably a the top of my list, but I don't know crap about them. Can you guys give me any and all information you know?? Anything would be helpful. I want something that will stay decently small. I was even thinking that ifthey are small enough I could get 2 :). Also, how often do they eat?? I'm not at my dads everyday and I want a pet that is mine and only mine. If I buy a animal and someone else takes care of it I feel like it's not just mine. I like snakes, because they are a pet I can take care of by myself even when I'm not at my moms everyday. She does nothing except turn on and off the lights for one of my snakes (I will be getting a timer soon though). How often do tortoises eat?? I know they like fresh fruits and greens. I assume they eat daily, but I was woundering if there are any pellets I could buy to leave in the tank for them to eat while I'm not there. Everyday I am there I would feed them fruits and veggies, or whatever else they might need. Also what are the temps, cage sizes, humidity, ecs. Like I said, I don't know ANYTHING so EVERYTHING you know will help. Thanks :).

[Trollbie]

All I know is that it's a huge commitment. I'd recommend a lizard instead.

[Bradyloach]

So, you do not want a tortise. Your 14? You shouldn't be worrying about that! My parents are split up to I'm 19 and yah I wouldnt get a pet at your dads it's not a good idea. If you want a pet that you can bring to your dads get a puppy. Even a small one! Just reptiles are a hassle and you will regret it having reptiles at 2 places. If you want something to keep you busy get an Xbox or an iPhone! Just it's really hard having stuff in 2 places and tortoises need everyday care. What if something goes wrong and your dad doesn't know what to do? In some cases a reptile needs heat of the moment attention and it can never wait till tomorrow. And they can live 150 years

[Trollbie]

So, you do not want a tortise. Your 14? You shouldn't be worrying about that! My parents are split up to I'm 19 and yah I wouldnt get a pet at your dads it's not a good idea. If you want a pet that you can bring to your dads get a puppy. Even a small one! Just reptiles are a hassle and you will regret it having reptiles at 2 places. If you want something to keep you busy get an Xbox or an iPhone! Just it's really hard having stuff in 2 places and tortoises need everyday care. What if something goes wrong and your dad doesn't know what to do? In some cases a reptile needs heat of the moment attention and it can never wait till tomorrow. And they can live 150 years

I think if he got a gecko or maybe a beardie he'd be okay. His dad can learn.

Well are you doing 50/50, snakekid? Or do you spend more time at one parent's house than the other?

[youngster]

If a reptile needs imminent treatment wouldn't you just have your dad call you up and you come over? That's not a big problem. However a tort is a big commitment and I would recommend a lizard or frog as well.

[snakekid6996]

So, you do not want a tortise. Your 14? You shouldn't be worrying about that! My parents are split up to I'm 19 and yah I wouldnt get a pet at your dads it's not a good idea. If you want a pet that you can bring to your dads get a puppy. Even a small one! Just reptiles are a hassle and you will regret it having reptiles at 2 places. If you want something to keep you busy get an Xbox or an iPhone! Just it's really hard having stuff in 2 places and tortoises need everyday care. What if something goes wrong and your dad doesn't know what to do? In some cases a reptile needs heat of the moment attention and it can never wait till tomorrow. And they can live 150 years

I don't want a dog. My dad got me one after a spacifically told him not. My step mom tool care if it when I wasn't there and it became her pet. All I do at my dads is sit in my room and play piano all day. Me an my dad don't get along. I love music, but sometimes I need a break an want to do something else. Also, when Im thinking a lot, am pissed, or stressed at my moms I like to hold my snakes to calm down. I really want a reptile and I really do think I can take care of it.


Everyone else just assume all I want is a tortoise an I have a way to give it everything it needs. What would it need??

[Bradyloach]

Tortoises live along time. Umm what about s lizard tho! Bearded dragons are sweet. If your dad doesnt like crickets and stuff. Umm what about a uromastyic there great reptiles and love veggies there veggitarians. Or what about a res turtle? Look them up. I recomend a res turtle for you :)

Me and my dad didn't get along ether! Don't sweat it. Time wil pass and eventually you will realize that it's not inportant. Respect is key and it goes both ways! My step mom is evil to. Haha

[snakekid6996]

Tortoises live along time. Umm what about s lizard tho! Bearded dragons are sweet. If your dad doesnt like crickets and stuff. Umm what about a uromastyic there great reptiles and love veggies there veggitarians. Or what about a res turtle? Look them up. I recomend a res turtle for you :)

Me and my dad didn't get along ether! Don't sweat it. Time wil pass and eventually you will realize that it's not inportant. Respect is key and it goes both ways! My step mom is evil to. Haha

My sis has a beardy at his house. An a heidgehog. But I can't even get a tiny little snake. I'll look up that turtle. Thanks for the help. And the respect thing?? Yea I know.. He doesn't respect me and he expects my world to revolve around him. So I just try my best to stay away.

[Bradyloach]

Oh same here! Dads are over rated :p

[snakekid6996]

Yea ha. I know you are against it and all, but would you still tell me what you know about tortoise care?? And don't try to give me reasons not to get one just tell me the basic care please. I know what your opinion is now and I respect it. Im not saying I'm going to get one I just want to know about the care and requirements so I can think about it.

[youngster]

Well it really depends on what tortoise you want. A sulcata for example, will get huge and eat pounds upon pounds of veggies every single day.

But say a russian will be small and obviously won't eat as much but can still be quite a handful.

Why don't you find a caresheet? There aren't a whole lot of tortoise keepers on here.

[Bradyloach]

Well they need big enclosures. Live for a very long time. Like 100 years. They get so big so it's hard to move them. But very rewarding pets, you will get attached to it. Very infesting animals. They eat a lot like they eat 75 % of the day like greens. That's all I really know :p

[snakekid6996]

I wasn't really interested in tortoises until I saw a thread on here with a picture of a leopard tortoise they picked up. It was like love at first site. I couldn't find very many care sheets on them. Do you have any idea how big they get??

[Bradyloach]

There like the fourth largest tortise. They get big! :p

[snakekid6996]

Darn :c oh well the more I read the more it sounds like tortoises just aren ment for me. Thanks for the help everybody.

[Bradyloach]

Don't get me wrong there beautiful animals :D start looking up uromastyic or however there spelt, there great reptiles. Just a tortise you should wait till your a little older and have your own place! Don't get discouraged tho :)

[snakekid6996]

I wish my step mom would just let me get a snake >.> I have 9 years of experience. Even if those nine years were with more of a beginner snake I have still learned a thing or two. Im fairly confedent I know what I'm doing with snakes. It would be really cool to get a rainbow boa :). I like columbian and brizilian rainbow boas. There is no chance I will ever get her to let me get one that gets that big though. At the moment she won't even let me get a ball...or a corn...or a milk...or even one of those small sand boas that stay like 14" :( blahhh

[Valvaren]

To be honest I wouldn't suggest getting something at a place you aren't at everyday. I have to point out that lizards,frogs,snake etc aren't like dogs and cats and do need a careful eye especially if random unpredicted circumstances came up, like black out or sudden sickness, your dad wont always be home and you wont always be able to get to him. If your dad goes out for a day and your his power kicks out or something, you may not know or if you do you can't get over there, what would you do then?

Keep an animal where you can keep as eye on them everyday so that when something happens you can respond to it as quickly as possible, you shouldn't trust anyone else with YOUR pet because they might not treat it as anything else but YOUR pet.

My parents have been separated since I was 6 and I went through a lot of back and forth an neither wanting the responsibility. I hated mine and went through a lot of stuff with them, we aren't a family now (I'm 21) but they have apologized and have been trying to make amends and I realize that they weren't ready for me and it took them a while to own up to that responsibility and I realized the worse thing I could do was to cut them out of my life.

You might not think it will happen now but trust me you will get to a point where all this stuff that is happening will be moot and you'll want your parents around, they will realize you are an adult and will treat you with the respect you want and you'll get along better then before. I went years without talking to both my parents, and even though I realize if I hadn't it would have added to the worse years I regret missing out on that time, I only wish we had all grown up together and had the ability to act as we do now back then.

[totheend]

Hermanns, greeks, russians....all stay small. BUT....just because they stay small doesn't mean that their enclousures should be small. They still need a lot of space.
They require heat and UVA/UVB. They eat mostly greens, but diet depends on the tort.
I absolutely love my torts. Wonderful creatures. But they need daily care not just for food and heating/light issues, but for safety issues too! I have a tort appropriately named Flip because he often flips on his back. When he is on his back he is stuck until I find him and right him. So imagine if you left for a few days and he flipped over in his water dish...he would die (Flip gets water once a day for a brief period and then I remove it). So you can't just leave them for days....
I think that you should just wait until you are at a point in your life where you are able to care for one everyday.