by Cheryl Abney

Created on: March 29, 2009   Last Updated: April 02, 2009

Ponds and lakes of my childhood provided countless hours of watching and feeding turtles. Baby boomers probably remember the brightly painted little turtles sold at the five and dime store that every child wanted. My fascination for turtles continues to this day, as the proud owner of Thea, a Russian Tortoise. She's been an excellent pet choice: quiet, responsive, and small-compared to her larger cousin, the Galapagos Tortoise. Russian Tortoise's only grow about eight to ten inches in length. Tortoises and turtles are both reptiles, but tortoises live most their life on dry land, unlike turtles that live in the water.

Baby tortoises are little and cute, so you might think they need little care. Actually, their care can be demanding, depending on their breed. They need special large containers, special food, and special lights. Little tortoises can grow big and live a very long time. Will you want to take care of a tortoise in 20 years? They have a life span upwards of 50 years. Tortoises will always demand a lot of time and help. As for any pet, it's a big decision to get a tortoise. Particularly for tortoises, since it's not as easy to find another owner to assume the responsibility, if you find yourself in a position where you can't provide for the tortoise any longer. The following questions may help you decide if a tortoise is a good fit for you.

1-Have you allergies? No problem. Tortoises do not trigger allergies in humans.

2-Have you a garden or yard? Tortoises enjoy fresh outdoor air in summertime.

3-Have you a patio or balcony facing south or southwest? Build a comfortable tortoise box.

4-Have you an appropriate place for a terrarium? Tropical species that do not hibernate spend most of their lives in terrariums, free of drafts and constant vibrations that may be caused by loud music, lawnmowers, and such.

5-Have you other pets? Dogs and cats see tortoises as prey. Friendships rarely occur.

6-Are there children in the home? Some children may be too active and impulsive to hold the tortoise safely or stroke the shell gently (they do feel through their shell). Some children are very responsible and careful handling a turtle or tortoise. Children can enjoy observing quietly, building obstacle courses and slowly feeding by hand. A word of caution here regarding salmonella and children. Please refer to the salmonella section at the end of this article.

Living in Florida is a definite advantage when it comes to providing Thea with plenty of sunshine and food. Red

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