What's the largest tortoise available in captivity? Im in the UK so probs different from the USA etc. Just a random question really, all I ever see here are horsefield tortoises and on here I see far more different species.
Keith
Keith
Largest Tortoise?
- Thread starter armaggedonx
- Start date
Aldabras are likely the easier to come by than galaps but both will fetch a multi thousand dollar price tag
Sulcattas are going to be the easiest to come by and are the 3rd largest torts I do believe
But there is one thing of concern to me, seeing as though you are in the UK, these species will require a huge amount of space that in reality an outdoor enclosure can really only provide unless you wish to use a space that takes up an area the size of a fair sized room.
IMO a much more manageable species would be a leopard tortoise, they don't get quite as large but still get a nice big size, they will not need near as much space. I can send you some links in a pm if you wish to a good site for torts, and a new thing about keeping sulcattas and leos that has been deemed "the end to pyramiding"
EDIT sorry, I thought you were interested in getting one
The largest torts in the world are generally quite available in the USA if you have the money
Sulcattas are going to be the easiest to come by and are the 3rd largest torts I do believe
But there is one thing of concern to me, seeing as though you are in the UK, these species will require a huge amount of space that in reality an outdoor enclosure can really only provide unless you wish to use a space that takes up an area the size of a fair sized room.
IMO a much more manageable species would be a leopard tortoise, they don't get quite as large but still get a nice big size, they will not need near as much space. I can send you some links in a pm if you wish to a good site for torts, and a new thing about keeping sulcattas and leos that has been deemed "the end to pyramiding"
EDIT sorry, I thought you were interested in getting one
The largest torts in the world are generally quite available in the USA if you have the money
I'm considering it, this is me doing my research, send a few links if you have them to hand!
Im looking at the Sulcata's but theres like no info on them and all sites give different information, I know nearly every animal gets slightly different fact files but theirs differs quite alot from site to site
yea there's a good mix of BS and truth in each one and you really have to pick out the BS to get to the truth sometimes
The largest tortoise "available" in captivity in the US is definitely the Aldabra. I frequently see young ones for around $2K or less. Galaps are bigger, but they're so regulated and expensive that it is difficult to consider them available.
The next largest tortoises would be sulcatas, manouria, yellowfoots, and leopards. Sulcata are generally recognized as the largest of these but manouria come pretty close in terms of length (though not in mass). If you want a large tortoise that isn't going to set a life goal of destroying your yard, home, enclosure fence, etc, stay away from a sulcata. MY sulcata currently isn't all that destructive and doesn't dig yet, but if YOUR sulcata turns out to be one of the entertaining ones, you could find yourself in trouble.
IMO, the best place to find accurate info on the sulcata is tortoiseforum.org. Check out the stickied threads in the sulcata section as they won't steer you wrong.
The next largest tortoises would be sulcatas, manouria, yellowfoots, and leopards. Sulcata are generally recognized as the largest of these but manouria come pretty close in terms of length (though not in mass). If you want a large tortoise that isn't going to set a life goal of destroying your yard, home, enclosure fence, etc, stay away from a sulcata. MY sulcata currently isn't all that destructive and doesn't dig yet, but if YOUR sulcata turns out to be one of the entertaining ones, you could find yourself in trouble.
IMO, the best place to find accurate info on the sulcata is tortoiseforum.org. Check out the stickied threads in the sulcata section as they won't steer you wrong.
Nothing much left to say other than I agree with the sulcatas being distructive, I've seen the damage they can do to a outdoor pen or lawn and it looks like a bulldozer came through. Personally I would go with a leopard or yellow foot if you want size but not a multi thousand
$ price tag or your lawn destroyed
$ price tag or your lawn destroyed
I've kept both sulcatas and red foots. The red foots that I worked with were so much more personable than the sulcatas. The reds would come up to you in their enclosure and follow you for berries. The sulcatas were always too exhausted from excavating/destroying things to be sociable. They may be smaller than you are looking but in my opinion red foots are great pets. Plus, it is nice to be able to move your tortoise by yourself.
They may be smaller than you are looking but in my opinion red foots are great pets. Plus, it is nice to be able to move your tortoise by yourself.