Wishlist
Login
There are dozens of different species of captive bred and born tortoises being produced in the US today. Most of them are robust and healthy animals that can live for decades and grow to be impressive animals as adults. Finding the right pet tortoise for sale can sometimes be a challenge and we hope that by discussing some of the pros and cons of a few select species we can help narrow the search down for you. We have divided this article into sections based on the eventual adult sizes of the animals being mentioned.
Smaller pet tortoises like the Greek tortoise and the Russian Tortoise
Some of the smaller pet tortoises available on the market are the old world species like the Russian Tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii) and the Greek Tortoise (Testudo graeca). Both of these animals are considered to be on the smaller side of the size scale reaching adult lengths of 6 to 11 inches and both have females that get almost twice the size of the males. This is to allow for the production and storage of the unfertilized eggs. They are both grassland tortoises that eat a variety of weeds and flowers. Although they are not the most colorful of specimens, both are kept as pets due to their accommodating adult size for terrarium and indoor pens.
Medium size tortoises like the Red Footed Tortoise and the Leopard Tortoise
If you are looking for a pet that can be kept outdoors in garden pens then the Red Footed Tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonaria) or the Leopard Tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) are perfect animals for you. Red footed tortoises average adult size can be up to 18 inches while the adult leopard can reach over 24 inches in length. Both are attractive and colorful animals that will need a 10 to 15 foot pen outside with the availability of heated winter boxes or indoor accommodations depending on where you live. The red foot has a more forgiving ability to handle humidity and a more varied diet while the leopard needs to be kept drier and fed a diet that is grass based.
Large tortoises like the Sulcata tortoise and the Burmese Mountain tortoise
Some of the few lucky reptile keepers that have access to larger outdoor pens should look into the opportunity of owning a land tortoise that can exceed 24 inches as an adult and weigh in excess of 80 pounds. Both the Sulcata Tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata) and the Burmese Mountain Tortoise (Manouria emys) are readily available as captive born specimens and are great giant outdoor pets. Since both animals get rather large and have a tendency to dig it is essential that you have a plan in place for their permanent adult enclosures before you make a purchase. These species and many more are available right now in our dedicated tortoises for sale section at xyzReptiles and we are always here to answer any questions you may have about diet, housing or maintenance of your reptile pet.