Since theres no area for it...

[katie_]

I'm very curious about tortoises. More so peoples personal experienes, as i've read most available information online.
What types do you keep, and whats the set up like? I'm eyeing a Hermanns. Maybe a red foot. I am limited with indoor space for the winter, so I'm leaning towards the smaller species (and would have a
Difficult time with the humidity requirements of a red foot at adult size.

 

[Poppy243]

My boyfriend is really into turtles and tortoises. He picked up a couple of wild box turtles that were crossing the road and kept them for a couple weeks, really loved them. If this thing we've got lasts, I think I'm going to eventually get him a Sulcata (African spur-thigh) tortoise. He's already in love with the species. We met one at an expo and it made him really happy! Unfortunately I'm no help as to information on care hahaha. Sorry! ^.^"

 

[katie_]

I was thinking of a kiddie pool like enclosure with pendant lighting.

 

[bohannbj]

I kept red foots for a few years before I moved. They are very easy to keep and will eat any leftover greens and vegetables you have. I kept mine on coco mulch with a large hide and a place to sit in water. They are fun.

 

[lisa127]

If you want to go with an open topped type enclosure, such as a kiddie pool then I'd look into any of the testudo species. The Russian, hermanns, or greeks. Or marginateds, which are beautiful. The redfoot and other tropical type tortoises would need a closed chamber type enclosure for humidity. I'm not sure what you consider small. The marginateds can get pretty good sized but the others are fairly small.

 

[katie_]

Thats what I thought. I could in theory build a green house like enclosure but it would be expensive and take up a large portion of our basement. I think my husband would appreciate being able to use his work shop. I think a Hermanns would be the perfect size for a kiddie pool.
I was thinking of a playsand/coco fibre mixture, some rocks and a "cave". Some sort of shallow "pond".
The only thing I'm concerned of is their apparent ability to climb. How tall do you think the sides have to be?

 

[Tongue Flicker]

Those inflatable kiddie pools with less to no side segments would be good. Height should be at least twice their carapace length though

 

[katie_]

I was thinking more of a hard plastic just for safety. Hopefully they make them with taller sides.