18 years ago she bought a pet tortoise. Now she thinks it’s the ‘worst decision’ she’s ever made
"Digs to China."
A mother just wanted to make her daughters happy with a visit to the pet store, only to return home with a lifelong commitment she probably didn’t think through. Brandy Barnard (@livinglifewithhunny) admitted that choosing an African spurred tortoise as a family pet turned out to be the “worst decision” she’s made for several reasons.
“18 years ago, I made the worst decision I’ve ever made,” Barnard said in a video on TikTok. “This is not romanticizing life, okay.” According to Barnard, she visited a pet store with her daughters, who wanted a leopard tortoise. But a clerk told the family the leopard tortoise was already sold.
The clerk, however, suggested an alternative—the African spurred tortoise. “The guy goes, ‘Well, we have this turtle. He’s this big,’” Barnard said as she showed viewers the size the store clerk claimed by connecting her pointer finger and thumb to make a circle.
Her tortoise isn’t low maintenance
Barnard and her daughters ended up taking home the tortoise, which is the third-largest in the world. “This was before we had internet on your phone, guys,” Barnard added.
While some turn out satisfied with taking home nontraditional pets, for Barnard, taking care of their African spurred tortoise has its moments. According to Barnard, their tortoise, named Tank, grew to be 72 pounds and often “chases my toes.”
“He destroys everything. Like, everything,” Barnard said. “Look, there’s my romanticizing. He has pooped. Pooped. Then he rolls in it.” She claimed that Tank “digs to China” and is able to get out of their home this way, leading Barnard to usually place a tile on his back to prevent Tank from escaping.
Although her acquaintances deny it, insisting he’s “great,” Barnard said Tank is a “jerk” because he also hisses at her, which Tank did in the video when she tried to pet him. “He’s a jerk, guys. Hands down, aren’t you, buddy?” she said.
Barnard cautioned others who might be contemplating getting a tortoise of their own, as tortoises aren’t as low-maintenance as some think. “I don’t want anyone to ever be like, ‘Oh, look at that turtle. I wish I could have one,’” Barnard told viewers. “Cause no, you don’t. No, you don’t.”
Barnard later turned to Tank and jokingly told him, “We’ve enjoyed you for 18 years, buddy. Somebody else can have the other 80 [years].” She quickly added that she was just kidding, as her daughters would be upset if she ever gave him away.
African spurred tortoises are a lifelong responsibility
Viewers’ reaction to Barnard’s video was divided. Some were amused by Tank’s behavior, saying, “18 yrs of feeding him and he still hisses at you.” Viewers also joked that Tank is the type of pet that you need to “put in your will,” with another adding, “He will be your great great grandchildren’s pet.”
While they are a popular pet in the U.S., tortoises are unlike cats and dogs. They can easily live to be a hundred years old and outlive their owners—so yes, you will need to take into consideration their future home after you.
Not to mention, African spurred tortoises, also known as sulcata, can grow fast and very large and weigh between 70 and 100 pounds, according to the Chattanooga Zoo. Future African spurred tortoise owners also need to keep in mind their habitat, as they love to dig and burrow into the ground, so it’s essential that they have outdoor space.
African spurred tortoises are also costly to care for due to their needs, such as housing, food, and medical care. Likewise, owners will need to bring these tortoises to vets who are knowledgeable about their species.
While it seemed like Barnard was merely joking in her video, some viewers believe Tank might be better off in a different home. “why are you so mean to him he didn’t ask to be your pet,” a viewer wrote. Another said, “Find a sanctuary for him that won’t talk about him like he’s a burden. No offense to you, but he deserves that.”
Others sympathized with Barnard, saying, “As a male sulcata owner, I’ve never regretted a day, and I recommend it to no one.” Despite everything, Tank will likely continue living under Barnard’s roof and might even meet her future grandchildren.
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