Turtles vs Tortoises: Which Will Make a Better Pet for You?

Turtles and tortoises are becoming more popular pets, but figuring out which is right for you can sometimes be difficult. Turtles and tortoises have the same classification of animal type down to being in the same order, the testudines, but tortoises are in the family testudinidae while turtles are in several families depending on the species of tortoise.

Both tortoises and turtles have a hard shell that protects them from predators. They also lay eggs that they bury somewhere on land, whether in the sand or vegetation of some sort. Since turtles and tortoises are reptiles, they need outside methods to keep their body temperature regulated.

Listing the differences between the two issimplest to see in the table below.

Trait	Turtles	Tortoise
Habitat	Water some or most of the time	Land
Feet	Webbed feet with long claws	Short and sturdy
Life Span	20-40 years	80-150 years
Food	Omnivores	Mostly herbivores
Shell	Streamlined for swimming	More dome-shaped

When choosing which to bring home as a pet, consider what type of habitat is going to work best in your home. Turtles require a tank with a lot of water with the recommendation that you have 10 gallons per inch of shell that the turtle has. Since turtles are also very messy animals, a strong filtration system is needed. Additionally, turtles need a place to bask in light to warm up and dry off completely.

Tortoises need space to move around and explore but they need a smaller water dish to drink out rather than space to swim of since they are land animals. However, tortoises will need to be soaked in warm water regularly to help keep them hydrated.

Overall, both turtles and tortoises are great pets but have different habitat needs which will likely be the main deciding factor in choosing which is right for you. The food and other more specific details about caring for your pet will depend on the specific type you bring home. No matter which you choose, make sure to adopt from a reputable rescue. Don’t just bring a turtle or tortoise home from the wild since that can be dangerous for both you and the animal.