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Questions:

1. What kinds are good for keeping indoors? Chicago weather...

2. Tortise / Boxie. Smaller? Less space?

3. What are the selling points of these/ things parents like to hear

4. What species?

5. Begginer / intermediate keepers? (Keep RES & Softies)

6. Male or Female?

7. How much should I pay?

8. How old should I look for.

Any info would be great.

I'm looking @ Pet finder and see a male & a female adult Russian in Milwakee WI and a young Sulcutta in Bay City Michigan

Unless you want to deal with a 200 pound bulldozer, and can provide a huge outdoor area for it, as well as a large indoor enclosure for when it's cold, don't get a Sulcata.

You would probably want to be looking at a 3-toed or eastern boxie. Russian torts are cool as well, but I think a 3-toed or eastern would be a much better choice.

Check with the locals (herp society, re-homing organization, reputable breeder)... for local torts and care difficulty.

Ok. I'm looking around and the only adoptables are the few that i mentioned in my general area. Russian seems the way to go. Any tips on how to persuade parents? Also There is a male & a female. Which one or both?

I don't know much about tortoises, but I'm guessing that like turtles, female = eggs. I'd go with the male, if it were me.

And good luck persuading the parents! "Hey Mom and Dad, can I have a tortoise that will grow to the size of a small dog, live outdoors part of the year but need a pen indoors too, and will outlive my children?" I can't talk my hubby into a potbellied pig, let alone a tortoise!

I did alittle research on Russians because I am interested in getting one some day. If it were me I would go with the male, they stay alittle smaller, and like someone else said, no eggs to deal with. I think you probably would have a huge problem keeping a russian in a good indoor set up year round, but Sulcatas are HUGE and need alot of space. From what I read it seems the dietary needs of the Russians are alittle more complicated than with the RES, so make sure you are prepared for that, and I think you should be fine. Good luck!

russians for sure! specially since you would be rescuing it

hey mom and dad. i think i've proved to you how responsible i am by taking care of my turtle tanks. i want to try something else now too. it wont' take up too much room, and it will also live in a tank... just not full of water.
if you want me to... i'll get a job to help pay for everything.

I AM MATURE AND RESPONSIBLE, MOMMY AND DADDY and i WANNA TURTLEEEEEEEEEEEE. lol

Thanks everyone. I decided on the Russian(s). I know where I would make their habitat. Now all that is left is the convincing.

To anyone with tortoise experience: The one thing other than space between Russians and my mom's approval is her assumptoin that they smell. Truthfully...How uch truth is there to that?

Also how much matinence is involved? (That is my dad's argument.)

They dont smell. Their poop smells. Clean up their poop and indoor environment regularly as well as left over veggies so they don't rot, and you won't be dealing with much smell at all.