Keeping a tortoise in London?

Everybody knows what the weather in London is like, but I can't help thinking of buying a tortoise... they're so adorable! What do you think about keeping one here?

Hi Lizzie and welcome to the English Corner!

As I think you've already been told, you can check our caresheet by clicking on the following link:

Testudo Hermanni caresheet

Actually, I'm not really and expert in tortoises and my colleagues will surely help you more than I can do, but for sure, you'll be forced to prepare an indoor settlement (terrarium) for your (future) turtle, in order to grant him/her the required heat and humidity ranges.
Most probably, this terrarium would be the house of your tortoise for the bigger part of the year, according to the outside temperatures..

Hi Elizabeth

First of all, a quick disclaimer: I hope to write in english in the same way you do in italian

Now..

As I already told you in the other thread, unfortunately I haven't the knowledge to advise you about totoises.. The only thing I could reccomend you, is to think about turtles (I hope to have understood correctly the difference between the two: tortoises = earth chelonians, turtles = water chelonians)

Obviously, they are very different in terms of how to keep them, but I think that they could be more suitable to be kept indoor, given the not really optimal weather you have in London..

There are specific species that remain relatively small, like those belonging to the Strenotherus genus.

Anyway, I'm pretty shure that you will receive more valuable advices from the other, more experienced users.

Originariamente Scritto da Drakul

Hi Lizzie and welcome to the English Corner!

As I think you've already been told, you can check our caresheet by clicking on the following link:

Testudo Hermanni caresheet

Actually, I'm not really and expert in tortoises and my colleagues will surely help you more than I can do, but for sure, you'll be forced to prepare an indoor settlement (terrarium) for your (future) turtle, in order to grant him/her the required heat and humidity ranges.
Most probably, this terrarium would be the house of your tortoise for the bigger part of the year, according to the outside temperatures..

I've just read your presentation post and saw that Lucio already told you that it would be best to avoid to keep them in a weather like yours. I think that an indoor solution is possible but actually it would require a lot of space and electricity costs and I don't think it would be a great idea either.

What about trying with another species maybe a freshwater turtle?

Hi Drakul! Yes, I have already been told so, but I have changed my mind about Hermann's tortoises, as I noticed all of you agree with the fact that they need to live outside, in a (sunny!!) garden...

Albebia, your English is perfect!
I suppose you have a turtle, but I read in your bio that you don't... uhm..
I like turtles as well (actually even more than tortoises) but I knew they never really enjoy living in a house, what do you think?

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Drakul, I see we have thought the same thing No Hermann's tortoises if you can't manage to make them happy!

Originariamente Scritto da elizabeth

Hi Drakul! Yes, I have already been told so, but I have changed my mind about Hermann's tortoises, as I noticed all of you agree with the fact that they need to live outside, in a (sunny!!) garden...

Albebia, your English is perfect!
I suppose you have a turtle, but I read in your bio that you don't... uhm..
I like turtles as well (actually even more than tortoises) but I knew they never really enjoy living in a house, what do you think?

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Drakul, I see we have thought the same thing No Hermann's tortoises if you can't manage to make them happy!

Sorry, but I lost your change of thought about the Hermanni
Well, for sure a tortoise won't be really happy in a home.. but turtles could be good choice.. otherwise there's planty of reptiles that can suit your desires. for example a nice Pelomedusa can give you a lot of satisfaction, as per Sternotherus genus..

Originariamente Scritto da elizabeth

Hi Drakul! Yes, I have already been told so, but I have changed my mind about Hermann's tortoises, as I noticed all of you agree with the fact that they need to live outside, in a (sunny!!) garden...

Albebia, your English is perfect!
I suppose you have a turtle, but I read in your bio that you don't... uhm..
I like turtles as well (actually even more than tortoises) but I knew they never really enjoy living in a house, what do you think?

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Drakul, I see we have thought the same thing No Hermann's tortoises if you can't manage to make them happy!

Actually, I don't (still) own any turtle...

I've been setting up an aqua terrarium in the last couple of months, where I'm going to keep two sternotherus odoratus. If no problem occurs, I'll bring them home this Saturday!

About the fact that "they never really enjoy living in a house", I think that this concept could be extended to almost every turtle, tortoise or animal in general.

The fact is that it is "relatively" easier to crete a set up with the right parameters, especially if kept indoor..

Indeed, I totally agree...
If you don't mind me asking Albebia, where are you taking them from? Is there a shop? I don't think they are sold here but perhaps I have never payed enough attention

Elizabeth if you think that turtles are scared by human, take a claudius angustatus and you can see their fear

Acquarion, Haha! I see it's trying to bite you in the picture, maybe it's the opposite, we should be afraid

Originariamente Scritto da elizabeth

Indeed, I totally agree...
If you don't mind me asking Albebia, where are you taking them from? Is there a shop? I don't think they are sold here but perhaps I have never payed enough attention

I'm taking them from a user that I "met" here in the forums..

I also found a couple of shops where they sell Sternotherus Odoratus, but USUALLY the way animals are kept in shops are anything but ideal, where overpopulated acquariums are the most common problem, and probably the less serious.

For that reason, it is usually better to take animals from amateur breeders, because they tend to put love and care above gain when keeping them, thus the animals tend to be more healthy..

At least here in Italy, there are far more common species of turtles then Sternotherus, Trachemys above all, that can be bought almost in every animal shop for below €10, but they grow bigger than sternotheurs, thus they require much more space when they become adult.

I would suggest you to ask for someone who breed them near you.. otherwise, you could always try to look in shops, but paying attention on how they are kept and if the shopkeeper is reliable.

Out of curiosity, I gave a quick look to possible UK sellers, and I found Blue Lizard Reptiles.. UK prices seem to be quite higher than in Italy, probably because they are less common.

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Originariamente Scritto da elizabeth

Acquarion, Haha! I see it's trying to bite you in the picture, maybe it's the opposite, we should be afraid

The turtle in Acquarion's avatar is actually a Sternotherus Odoratus, or Common musk turtle.. Claudius Angustatus are sligthly bigger and far more aggressive

It is probably the turtle with the most powerful bite related to his size.

Blue Lizard reptiles... I've never heard of it, thank you I'll check it out!
I know, I have been to Rome and I remember I could count 25 turtles in one aquarium!!! I think they were thrachemys, poor animals

I am quite sure nobody here keeps them. English people like having those small white dogs that you can pat while drinking tea!

Originariamente Scritto da elizabeth

I am quite sure nobody here keeps them. English people like having those small white dogs that you can pat while drinking tea!

A really british picture Maybe you can also find an exhibition near London and check it out. Prices would be definitely lower and you can find many different species (compared to the ones you could find in a store).. the only problem is that I don't really know how you can look for it in the internet.. I found some exhibitions but they were more "insects-oriented"..

I just found this: London pet show, may 17-18.. London Pet Show 2014 - Reptiles
You may want to check it out

Thank you to both for checking out for me!
Wow Albebia, May 17th-18th! Are you sure that they can sell them at the exhibitions? Or maybe for exhibition you mean "fiera"?