Tortoises vs. Turtles

[emroul]

Can somebody please tell me the main differences between turtle species and tortoise species? I mean, what makes a turtle, and what makes a tortoise? Does it have to do with the need for turtles to swim and tortoises can live on dry land, or..? I'm sorry for being so ignorant, but I never really thought about it (or cared; hey I'm a snake person) 8) But now I do care and I would like to know. :) So any help would be great and appreciated. :)

Jennifer

[alexhue]

that just about sums it up :-)

Turtles primary need water in order to survive...with the exception of a few species, where as tortoises are 100% bonafide land lovers.

[emroul]

Sweet. Maybe I'm not as dumb as I thought. :roll:

[kenster]

jennifer,
I get asked that question many times! I have two turtles and one tort. If you are pondering getting one or the other I would say go for the tort! They are som much easier to keep clean. Heck the aspen getrs dirty just dump it out and add more. With turtles once the water gets green (which doesn't take that long) you have to drain the tank, clean it all out. No fun playing with green stinky water I tell you! Plus you get a herd of torts and you'll never have to mow your grass again :wink:

[emroul]

Hey Ken,

I was actually thinking about getting a leopard tortoise. They breed them at my work (a Reptile Center) and I love them. I already take care of them and feed them and stuff, and they're no pain. :) I just don't think a shelled animal is right for me right now but I love learning about stuff anyway!

Jennifer

[Repticheart]

heya well tortoises are great for people who dont like to clean out ewwy stinky things and they are hard some to care for!...but lovely markings of shells!..
turtles/terps...have wunderful..like skin/scale markings and small shells...but the great thing is...they are less harder than torts!

i love both torts and turts/terps!!

they are all wicked!

my faves are....Red ear sliders softshell turtles <<turtles/terps
my faves are leopard torts hermanns torts russian torts sulcatas and redfoots/yellow foots <<tortoises!

there ya go thats my opinion / answer!

speak soon tay!