Turtle or Tortoise: Which Makes the Best Reptile Pet?

[findi]

[FONT=&quot]What do you think? I’ve kept several hundred species in zoos and at home, but still often find it hard to make a clear recommendation…your thoughts appreciated. R[/FONT]ead the rest of this article here Turtle or Tortoise ? Which is the Best Reptile Pet for Me?
Hi, Frank Indiviglio here. I’m a herpetologist, zoologist, and book author, recently retired from a career spent at several zoos, aquariums, and museums, including over20 years with the Bronx Zoo. [FONT=&quot][/FONT]
Please also check out my posts on Twitter http://bitly.com/JP27Nj and Facebook http://on.fb.me/KckP1m

My Bio, with photos of animals I’ve been lucky enough to work with: That Pet Place Welcomes Frank Indiviglio | That Reptile Blog

Best Regards, Frank

 

[RavensGryf]

It seems to me, maybe a tortoise (provided the owner has the outdoor space) might be a bit "easier" than the water turtles?
With turtles you have all the other equipment considerations as well. Almost like keeping an aquarium with the water changes and researching the best filtration, and mechanics of the system. Also the added concern about Salmonella. Seems like it could spread easier with the water turtles because of the messier nature of water. If everyone in the household isn't absolutely meticulous about washing with soap right after, I'd be afraid people AND our other pets can get Salmonella.

I LOVE that little flat "pancake" shelled turtle in the article! Aww, how adorable he is! Just look at his face. Lol.

 

[Timothy]

They are really like two totally different animals even though they have some common traits. People are misled to believe they are almost the same thing. I have kept both. Turtles - especially certain types, like red eared sliders, are very messy, take a lot of upkeep. Not that tortoises don't - they do - I just find it more time consuming to care for Turtles. That's just my opinion.

- I'd also like to add that i am just not a very good keeper of turtles. I have never killed one, but i've had my enclosures checked by professionals and i always mess things up. so i choose not to keep them anymore.

Don't get me wrong, they aare rewarding pets to have. Just not for me anymore ^^

 

[findi]

It seems to me, maybe a tortoise (provided the owner has the outdoor space) might be a bit "easier" than the water turtles?
With turtles you have all the other equipment considerations as well. Almost like keeping an aquarium with the water changes and researching the best filtration, and mechanics of the system. Also the added concern about Salmonella. Seems like it could spread easier with the water turtles because of the messier nature of water. If everyone in the household isn't absolutely meticulous about washing with soap right after, I'd be afraid people AND our other pets can get Salmonella.

I LOVE that little flat "pancake" shelled turtle in the article! Aww, how adorable he is! Just look at his face. Lol.

Thanks....I agree re the water...it is the point most often mentioned by folks having trouble; tortoises are easier as regards cleaning, as you say, if outdoor space is available (and you're not keeping adult spurred tortoises, or Aldabras, etc!), but feeding is in general more difficult,,..very easy to make mistakes. Pancakes are amazing...shell squishes between the fingers with little pressure (they wedge themselves into rock crevices at night). Best, Frank

 

[RavensGryf]

Frank, it says softshelled turtles can grow very large and be dangerous? How large can they get, and how are they dangerous? Their whole head looks soft like the body. They sure are cute as hatchlings.

 

[DallyTsuka]

i used to have turtles and they were amazing. looove them! people are wrong when they say they are boring pets that dont do much. my turtle resangan was awesome, she was super friendly and loved attention and having her shell washed with a toothbrush and shed come flying off her basking rock each time she saw me. i miss her. unfortunately she was dropped when she was a baby and this caused her to float. she needed a very shallow tank so it was easy to look after her, but unfortunately one time i went away to visit my grandmother i came home and she had flipped herself over and couldnt get up and drowned

because of her, i will say i am biased and think that turtles make awesome pets if given the chance. but i have no experience with tortoises.

findi, i always enjoyed your posts about reptiles!

 

[findi]

Frank, it says softshelled turtles can grow very large and be dangerous? How large can they get, and how are they dangerous? Their whole head looks soft like the body. They sure are cute as hatchlings.

Hi,

They are among my favs also, esp as hatchlings; record for a female Florida softshell (common in pet and food trade) is 96 lbs, although 20-35 is much more common. Smooth and spinys grow to over 2 feet in length, and need lots of room. Nile and some of the SE Asian species can top 4 feet in length...I've never seen any snake strike as fast as do most softshells, and they have very sharp, powerful jaws; while they adjust well to captivity if cared for properly, they tend to remain aggressive and always resent handling. males much smaller than females; some more info here The Natural History and Captive Care of Softshell Turtles - Part 2 enjoy, Frank

 

[findi]

i used to have turtles and they were amazing. looove them! people are wrong when they say they are boring pets that dont do much. my turtle resangan was awesome, she was super friendly and loved attention and having her shell washed with a toothbrush and shed come flying off her basking rock each time she saw me. i miss her. unfortunately she was dropped when she was a baby and this caused her to float. she needed a very shallow tank so it was easy to look after her, but unfortunately one time i went away to visit my grandmother i came home and she had flipped herself over and couldnt get up and drowned

because of her, i will say i am biased and think that turtles make awesome pets if given the chance. but i have no experience with tortoises.

findi, i always enjoyed your posts about reptiles!

Thanks for the kind words, much appreciated. Yes, they are much more responsive than given credit for, but they do have many fans ...I know folks with 2,000 - 2,500 individuals each (wealthy folks!). best, Frank

 

[Mattroma]

I have owned several species of turtles and tortoises over the years. Living in the north east in found it harder to meet the needs of the tortoises than the turtles.
1. It hard for most people to provide a tortoise with proper room inside, even fewer people have safe outdoor grazing enclosures outside.
I felt that the 10x10 pen in the basement was inadequate size. Never mind heating it properly. The 40x 40 grazing paddock (for the summer months) was good but I was worried about feathered predators going after the smaller tortoises. Also I was lucky, my tortoises never showed any really interest in excavating the enclosure.
2. Dietary needs was more in the lines of our fids. Yet too much fresh produce could have adverse effects on a tortoise. Pyramiding, obesity, and I read increased growth rates. Factions also required some stoping by daily to remove uneaten produce and provide fresh produce. Longer vacations often required someone going to the store to buy more produce.
3. Lighting was a joke. I'm not sure if they have got any better, but proper lighting required the lights be rather close to the tortoises.
4. While tortoises are more docile, and I never had to worry about being bitten, they are strong. I had my finger nearly broken when my then baby sulcuta (under 10") pulled his front legs in trapping my finger between his leg and the shell.
5. Messy, yes they are messy. Food and hay every where and urine and poop are just that urine and poop. Big tortoises mean big poop.
I could see the difference in my tortoises health and over all well being after spending the summer outdoors grazing on grasses and other safe weeds vs the long months indoors.
While I will never object to someone owning a tortoise. I personally won't anymore. At least not here in New England.