tortoises as pets

[asmaa]

ok doesnt bode well that im not even sure a tortoise is a reptile but here goes my daughter says shed like one and apart from knowing they live for years 100 or so ive heard and eat veggies and hibernate i have no clue about them what are they like as a pet and how do you care for them

[Dreamer]

Not all tortoises hibernate. I keep Red-Foots & have a Leopard. Neither are
hibernated. They are kept outside in the summer, when temps stay above
70 at night, & kept in the house in the winter. Feeding is easy. They have
 a food out now that you moisten & is made up of dried grasses & hay.
I feed that some in the winter, & fresh vegies & some fruit. Summertime
they eat dandelions & rose-of sharon.Flowers & leaves.
This info is just the start. Be sure to check out care sheets for the species
you may choose. Tortoises in general, when cared for properly, are great
pets. Btw, the two above species only get about 40 to fifty Pd's.
One can be handled & housed fairly easily.  Please no aquairums.
A turtle table is best & directions can be found on the internet.

[asmaa]

could i put it outside even here in uk?? im looking at some care sheets etc and showing my daughter i think shes more wanting a pet because siblings have a one and she seen so many things she likes that im not sure what she will end up getting

[Dreamer]

Don't know much about your climate, sorry to say, but as long as it is above 70 degrees, yes.
If it dipps below that, the tort will need to come inside.
Maybe a kitten would be a better choice.

[Tainted]

In my opinion, I think a child would quickly get bored of a tortoise.

They basically just eat, then sit there...and occasionally walk.

[ladyknite]

I think a child would quickly get bored of a tortoise

  Good point.

Alot would depend on the age of the child and whether or not her interest in a tortise was aquired because she was shown one or because it's a legetimate interest.  When my daughter was little she wanted a pet elephant because she saw a man walking around with one in the village where we lived.  Her interest will vary over time and she should pick a pet thats handleable for a child to help hold her interest.