pet turles

Question
I have been researching turtles or tortoises as a pet and find that many sites aren't forthcoming with how large the animals will become at maturity.  I have been reading about the redfoot and sulcata tortoises and it seems that from what I have read that they can live in a terrarium setting, with the proper amount of light, etc.  How large do these tortoises get and do you have a better suggestion?


Answer
I am trying really hard not to laugh- you see, the Sulcata is the largest of the mainland tortoises. These guys get BIG and they get big quick! They can get to 200 lbs and 36" long! A 35 pounder is just a big kid (a full-grown desert tortoise weighs about 18 lbs).

Redfoots on the other hand are smaller and generally average about a foot long, but can get to about 18".

Neither is what I would call a 'terrarium' tortoise.

Smaller, more likely species might include:
- Various Mediterranian species- Hermann's, Spur-thighed, Russian, or Egyptian
- African Hinge-back tortoises
- Pancake tortoise (not a good 'beginner's' species)
- Various species of Star, Geometric, and Tent tortoises- but most are quite illegal to own and the others are usually really expensive
- Speckled or Padloper tortoises- one of the smallest, but harder to find, groups
- Chaco tortoise- another rare one, and reported to be difficult to keep



However- a word of caution...

Even though many of the above species will do OK in a terrarium, most if not all of them will do better in larger enclosures. Indoor pens can include small rooms rigged as pens; wading pools rigged with heat and light, etc.; plywood-walled pens over 2'x4', etc.