Re: What kind of Tortoise should I get?

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Posted by Terry on December 12, 2000 at 19:31:56:

In Reply to: Re: What kind of Tortoise should I get? posted by Bill on December 12, 2000 at 18:46:26:

Please reconsider.
Tortoises are not toys, they are living creatures.
Hundreds of tortoises suffer every year in the hands of children too young to realise they are hurting the creature.
Some suffer cracked shells after being dropped by small clumsy hands.
Or broken legs or worse.

Just like any other pets, tortoises need fresh clean drinking water, food , a clean habitat etc.
They can't just be put in a box and kept in the garage.

Russian tortoises are wild caught, they are usually very stressed already and often infested with internal parasites.
That means a vet visit should be on the top of the list for any Russian tortoise, as soon as you get it home.
You will need a UV light, basking light, clean fresh substrate that must be changed often and the list goes on.....

Turtles and tortoises don't make good pets for small children. They are not furry hands on pets they don't enjoy being petted and handled. Esp. a wild caught tortoise such as a Russian.

I would get a kitten, fish or other type of pet if you must get a living creature for such a young child.

But to be honest I would wait a few years before getting her a pet. And this year get something that won't be hurt, injured or killed if it's dropped on the ground.

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: Please reconsider. : Tortoises are not toys, they are living creatures. : Hundreds of tortoises suffer every year in the hands of children too young to realise they are hurting the creature. : Some suffer cracked shells after being dropped by small clumsy hands. : Or broken legs or worse. : Just like any other pets, tortoises need fresh clean drinking water, food , a clean habitat etc. : They can't just be put in a box and kept in the garage. : Russian tortoises are wild caught, they are usually very stressed already and often infested with internal parasites. : That means a vet visit should be on the top of the list for any Russian tortoise, as soon as you get it home. : You will need a UV light, basking light, clean fresh substrate that must be changed often and the list goes on..... : Turtles and tortoises don't make good pets for small children. They are not furry hands on pets they don't enjoy being petted and handled. Esp. a wild caught tortoise such as a Russian. : I would get a kitten, fish or other type of pet if you must get a living creature for such a young child. : But to be honest I would wait a few years before getting her a pet. And this year get something that won't be hurt, injured or killed if it's dropped on the ground.

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