How to Choose a Turtle or Tortoise

So you’re ready to buy a turtle or a tortoise, but you haven’t thought beyond that yet. By narrowing your options ahead of time, you can make your decision an educated and easy one.

Are you looking for a pet that doesn’t take up too much space? While most turtles and tortoises can be housed either indoor or out, an outdoor enclosure if preferable for some, including Russian tortoises. Do you have enough space to provide a suitable outdoor home for a tortoise? If not, you may want to consider a turtle that can be housed indoors.

What kind of turtle or tortoise food can you easily provide for your pet? Different turtle and tortoise species have different dietary needs. Some species eat only plants while other eat a variety of foods. Box turtles are known to be particularly picky eaters. If you don’t have the time or resources to devote to figuring out which foods are most appetizing to your tortoise and changing his diet as often as necessary to make sure he’s eating, this may not be the right pet for you. However, other turtles and tortoises have more adaptable tastes and may be easier to care for when it comes time for feeding. Think about this concern when determining which turtle or tortoise might make the best pet for you.

Once you’ve narrowed down your options, visit your local pet store, breeder, or reptile show to pick out your new pet!