Anyone had/have a tortoise?

dandy-candy

I find tortoises rather sweet but i've never actually owned one. There's always plenty of information on their diet/housing requirements but I'm wondering if someone could tell me what they are like as pets, do they have much interaction with their owners? I have no idea how smart they are but do the recognise people and wander over, or respond to being called?

missmilliebean

Hiya,

How are you?

Tortoises I find are quite fun. However they do need a fair bit of looking after... in the sense that they need to be protected from predators... and also the cold. They do need to go into hibernation, but if it's too hot then they just "dry out!!"

As for coming to you when you call them... No they don't.

They do their own thing really, and are very shy. So no fast movements.

They are fine to be picked up, and if you're slow they will even allow you to pet their heads.

Just be careful when somethingcomes down at the back... that means they're going to pee on you... I like to think that it means the tortoise really likes you. (lol)

Tortoises last a very long time. So you do need to think of the commitment you're making to your buddy.

I hope this helps!!!

Millie

xx

hethmar

http://www.hermann-tortoise.co.uk/forms/forum.htm

lfckerry

please visit
www.tortoisetrust.org

theres lots of conflicting advice on the internet. please do not buy one from a pet shop,they are often imported in horrific conditions.

hethmar

I thought importing had been banned? Is it allowed again?

Someone I know has 3 torts. One belonged to her parents, so must be well over 30 years old now.

lfckerry

yes they can be imported if they have been 'captive bred' mainly from slovenia,if you read the tortoise trust website you will read about the shocking treament they receive to the uk and then sold in petshops who have no idea how to care for them.

babyshoes

Growing up in a warmer climate, we had one who just appeared in our garden one day! Goodness knows how he (we assume it was a he) got in, as the property was fully walled and there weren't any holes under the wall that we could find. Anyway, after asking around to see if he belonged to a neighbour, he stayed with us and became quite a character. As others have said, they are generally quite shy, but he did interact as far as food went - on a weekend we would eat lunch outside, and he would come and wait nearby, begging for leftover bits of salad! At first he wouldn't eat from the hand, but eventually he would if the hand was holding tomato, and also eventually tolerated being gently stroked on the head. He also used to nick the dog's bonemeal food, so we fed him some of his own, and he loved it. It was useful having another food to give him when lettuce & salad crops were out of season and expensive, therefore limited!

It was really funny one day when he got at the fallen sour red plums from the tree, and then came wandering along with red stuff all over his face - Mom got a huge fright thinking he was hurt! She didn't think it funny at the time but we all laughed about it later.

He could also really move surprisingly fast when he wanted to - probably about an adult human's normal walking pace. If he got scared or angry he would pull his head in and charge! I know the dog got butted a few times when he wouldn't get out of the way! Poor dog, got bullied by the tortoise and the cat!