Buying a Pet Tortoise
Tortoises are becoming more and more popular as pets in the UK and around the world. There are a number of different places that you can obtain a pet tortoise, however Tortoise-world always recommends that you buy your tortoise from a UK breeder.
Why buy from a breeder?
• You get a captive bred tortoise and you can be informed of it’s full history
• You can get lifelong advice from someone who has real experience of tortoises
• Often breeders will look after your babies if you go on holiday
• Breeders often have lower prices than pet shops
• You will not be sold unnecessary equipment. (Often other outlets sell equipment that is not suitable for the species)
Buying Online/Couriering
Many companies offer to courier tortoises to their new homes. I do not recommend this. I feel that transporting any animal in this sort of manner is inhumane and causes undue stress to the tortoise. Another risk involved in buying an ‘online’ tortoise is that you will not know the country of origin of your tortoise before you agree to buy.