Tell me about tortoises. I don't think I want one but I always see them at shows and when I go to Regal Reptiles and they make me curious because I know nothing about them. I once met one of my friend's pet box turtle and that is about the extent of my knowledge. What do they eat? What are the smaller species? How old to the aforementioned species get? What sort of environmental parameters do they require? Are they social?

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Official hostage of the GFWD
"The truely dangerous people are the ignorant ones."
Founding Member of Logical People Against Arcane Boa Subspecies Classification (LPAABSC):
B c.c 1758, B. c. i. 1803 B. c. o. 1873!
"A BOA CONSTRICTOR IS A Boa constrictor!"

Torts vary almost as much as snakes. Some large and some small. most have extremely long lives,,,like 50+ yrs. and as a general rule eat predominately veggies. I happen to be fond of the Russian and here's a link I rather like ( I wrote it !!!)

http://www.herpcenter.com/article.php?a=27

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Ken
" The United States Marine Corps......sure we are a department of the Navy,,,,,,we're the MENS department "

I have a Russian, a Red- foot and a Sulcata housed together in a 40 gallon breeder, they are both about 4 inches long. They get along fine, eat a diet of greens and fruit similar to Iguanas but with dry grasses mixed in. They spend most of their time in a burrow that is made from a cradboard box. Generally they require very little care other than monitoring the diet. The red foot will top out at about a foot long and under 10 pounds, but the Sulcata will get to 30 inches long and about 125 pounds. As far as age I have already put them both in my will for my nephew. The russian is only about 10' long.

They are a favorite of mine because the children are fascinated by them and they are easier to transport than the snakes and lizards.

I keep the enclosure at 85 degrees with a basking area at almost 100. They have a reptisun 5.0 and a small waterdish that they can walk into (it's kept at 1/4 inch deep).

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Answers are great. But I prefer questions!

Visit me at www.jaysreptiles.com

That's a good article Ken!

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Answers are great. But I prefer questions!

Visit me at www.jaysreptiles.com

Thanks Jay,,,a lot of research and some excellent input from our most esteemed admin Rich

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Ken
" The United States Marine Corps......sure we are a department of the Navy,,,,,,we're the MENS department "

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Zane Neher.

The great and strong man is one who bears within his character many contradictions.
Crocodilian care.

Great article Ken
I wondered about them beng social because Sean has all his big spur-thighs in a paddock together and because of the hippo article.
Zane- I spend most of my time talking to Sean, Beth, Matt or Ryan

__________________
Official hostage of the GFWD
"The truely dangerous people are the ignorant ones."
Founding Member of Logical People Against Arcane Boa Subspecies Classification (LPAABSC):
B c.c 1758, B. c. i. 1803 B. c. o. 1873!
"A BOA CONSTRICTOR IS A Boa constrictor!"

Sadly many people purchase adult torts and have no clue as to the age. 2 of my friends have purchased them within the last 2 yrs and they have passed on already. And I know it was not due to improper husbandry. Most torts today are wild caught adults (at least Russians) and the buyer might be getting one that's already 30 yrs old or older !!

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Ken
" The United States Marine Corps......sure we are a department of the Navy,,,,,,we're the MENS department "

Jay put in his post that the three are housed together, the Russian tort (Pickles) actually has his own 18x48 enclosure. The red foot and the sulcata seem to get along just fine, they even get fed together and we have never had a problem.