Tortoises are very difficult to look after, particualrly if they are young and don't let anyone try to tell you otherwise!
My tortoise is 50+ but I still have to have the correct lamps etc ready to set up in case he wakes at the wrong time or loses too much weight whilst sleeping. The tortie table set up cast nearly £200, although was some while ago. Mine went through a bout of ill health after one hibernation which involved hospitalisation and tube feeding for several weeks which was very expensive.
Tortoises can carry Salmonella, the can give you a nasty nip - although this is mostly accidental when hand feeding.
They are good for young children inasmuch as they cannot run away too quickly and big ones (mine weighs nearly 2 kilos) are fairly robust, they can scratch and trap fingers against shelll as the are so strong this really hurts.
Mine has free run of the garden May-sept, under lights indoors March - May and prep for sleep/sleep Oct - March. All this depends on the weather, his weight, health etc. Contrary to popular belief a tortie really shouldn't be asleep for too long during the winter as they use up all the glycogen stored in their liver and can start to 'eat' muscle inc heart muscle. They need to be weighed every few weeks during hibernation to make sure they are within the ranges stated by Jackson's Ratio.
I've had him since I was a child and wouldn't be without him.