I used to think horses were the most expensive "pet" a person could own. And I suppose, pound-for-pound, that still holds true. But in my mind, and pocketbook, tortoises run a close second!
Or sure, one tortoise won't break the bank, but what if you have 8-20 at any given time? Add the fact that three are sulcatas, and eating machines in their own right, plus a few onmiviorous land/water turtles, and your fresh produce grocery bill will skyrocket!
Oh sure, I go to the farmer's markets, and the tortoises (at least some of them) are outside during the summer months, grazing, but even then, if you want to feed them so you don't think they're perpetually hungry (although that may be true), you could easily spend $5-$10/day for produce! Multiply that times 30 days in the months, and you'll spend between $150 and $300 all year long! Our horses are on pasture during the summer months, so the cost of hay is not considered. And even with grain, veterinary care, etc, etc, they probably don't cost us much more than $1,000 a year. (We do have 20 acres, so we don't have to board them, or those costs would of course skyrocket.)
Oh sure, we could: grow our own garden; beg the supermarket people for the scraps they take off the produce and throw away; cut down on the number of mouths we feed...but then what would we have to talk about? And not everyone has the time or effort to do some of those ideas we mentioned. So let's just face the fact, that tortoises can be wonderful, albeit expensive, pets! Because you can't own just one!
Or sure, one tortoise won't break the bank, but what if you have 8-20 at any given time? Add the fact that three are sulcatas, and eating machines in their own right, plus a few onmiviorous land/water turtles, and your fresh produce grocery bill will skyrocket!
Oh sure, I go to the farmer's markets, and the tortoises (at least some of them) are outside during the summer months, grazing, but even then, if you want to feed them so you don't think they're perpetually hungry (although that may be true), you could easily spend $5-$10/day for produce! Multiply that times 30 days in the months, and you'll spend between $150 and $300 all year long! Our horses are on pasture during the summer months, so the cost of hay is not considered. And even with grain, veterinary care, etc, etc, they probably don't cost us much more than $1,000 a year. (We do have 20 acres, so we don't have to board them, or those costs would of course skyrocket.)
Oh sure, we could: grow our own garden; beg the supermarket people for the scraps they take off the produce and throw away; cut down on the number of mouths we feed...but then what would we have to talk about? And not everyone has the time or effort to do some of those ideas we mentioned. So let's just face the fact, that tortoises can be wonderful, albeit expensive, pets! Because you can't own just one!
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