Posted this in introductions but been advised I may get more help here.

Hi to everyone
I am here as a complete newbie and have to admit I am here to get as much information as possible off people who know what they are talking about.
I live in Portugal and I was looking at the possiblity of getting my first tortoise.
I know this is a uk based forum and assume most members are from the uk but i was wondering if anyone could tell me if there was any reason for me not to own a tortoise in Portugal, What I mean in regards the health and well being of the animal.
I live in an apartment but i'm on the ground floor and have a hugh enclosed balcony we also have a very large garden area which I have access to for more natural enviroment (obviously this would be supervised ).
I want honest opinions so please if this idea sounds completely crazy then tell me i dont want to look at getting a tortoise if my lifestyle and enviroment arent good enough for it.

sorry long winded and probably in the wrong place aswell.:icon_redface:

Thanks

My advice is to get a wooden enclosure on your balcony and put some soil in it.

Either tall walls or or a roof will keep the tort enclosed.


Make sure it has a shade area.

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If you cannot offer a large area then I would not even look at this option in Portugal. During the hot summers it would be going crazy to escape. There's really no such thing as supervised time for a tortoise as they need to be out and about doing their thing as and when they wish, following the patterns of the sun etc. They are essentially a wild animals and cannot ne trained to do things human way the same as a dog or cat unfortunately. Obviously if you can set up and area for him in the garden this is a different matter. To my mind torts on balconies are similar to birds in cages and rabbits in hutches - not the making of a happy animal IMHO.
Hope this helps

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Take care
Sue

wizzasmum@aol.com

Copied in case you didn't see my response in the welcome to newbies bit....


Quote:
Originally Posted by maccidees2002
I live in Portugal and I was looking at the possiblity of getting my first tortoise.
I know this is a uk based forum and assume most members are from the uk but i was wondering if anyone could tell me if there was any reason for me not to own a tortoise in Portugal, What I mean in regards the health and well being of the animal.
I live in an apartment but i'm on the ground floor and have a hugh enclosed balcony we also have a very large garden area which I have access to for more natural enviroment (obviously this would be supervised ).

Hi,
I'm just over the border from you. I'm not sure of the precise laws in Portugal but they are likely to be very similar to those in Spain. You must obtain a captive bred animal with CITES papers - otherwise you could end up in trouble as well as supporting illegal trade in locally caught wild animals. We see many tortoises on sale in Spain where the seller has "bred" the animals but has "not yet got the papers". So beware.
It would be better if you had the tortoise in the garden area so it could forage naturally but it will still need supplemental feeding. One thing we both have in our favour is that the weather is ideal for these animals here and if you provide suitable microhabitat they do really well and will breed if old enough and fed properly. It would be preferable to get a pair - one animal alone of any species is a bit of a dead end really I always think.

If you can find out the local laws I can put you in touch with breeders here who will guarantee the animals they sell are captive bred and with all the correct papers.

HTH

Rob

Hey
Thanks for the replies very helpful I am still looking into the pro and cons of the enviroment that I would be able to offer at the moment, I had seen the enclosures etc on the internet where the tortoises are kept with the correct lighting and heating etc and that I suppose would have been its main home with the freedom of the large enclosed balcony, Then like I had mentioned the garden area. I have met people before that have had tortoises while living in flat etc and using these wooden enclosure etc I really appreciate the advice off everyone and i'm still thinking seriously about everything. Thanks for the the info on laws etc rob and if I do make the step to getting a tortoise i'll be in touch but the fact is I cant change where I live so that I can get a tortoise and if that isn't the best enviroment for one then its not fair to get one.
Thats the reason I joined to get the info first.

Thanks again

Very sensible. Wish everyone thought like you and didnt just buy them on impulse

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KERRY
0.0.6 Hermanns Tortoises
0.1.0 Hamster
1.0.0 Dalmatian puppy!