The Sulcata tortoise of North-Central Africa, also known as the African spurred tortoise or spurred tortoise, is one of the most popular and well-known pet tortoise types. Once rare in the United States, the Sulcata tortoise has shown a fantastic ability to adapt to many climates and habitats in captivity. Before purchasing your Sulcata tortoise, understanding proper care is key to enjoying your new tortoise.
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Kenan's Baby Tortoise Care!
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Purchasing a Baby Sulcata Tortoise
Baby Sulcata tortoises are available from many sources, including local pet stores, reptile expos, and breeders. All baby tortoises are captive bred, as importation has ceased. The pricing for a tortoise depends on size, age, and even season; when more babies are available, the price can drop. Purchase an alert, active Sulcata tortoise with bright, clean eyes and no discharge from the nose, or buy one from a reputable source.
Hatchling Sulcata tortoises will be about 1 ½ to two inches in shell length. The growth rate is more diverse than other tortoises; 10-inch tortoises could be three years old or 10 years old. Many adults will surpass 100 pounds. Big females can range from 90 to 120 pounds. All Sulcata tortoises, especially males, can reach 200 pounds, but that is when the tortoise has reached old age. It hasn’t been determined how long a Sulcata tortoise can live in captivity as they haven’t been raised in captivity for long, but it is believed they can live for more than 80 years.
Housing
First things you will have to be concerned about, will be the size and shape of the habitat. Due to their large size, housing sulcata tortoise inside can be quite impractical. Please consider this carefully prior to purchasing.
Young Sulcata tortoises should be raised indoors. Outdoor housing is acceptable when the temperature is in the correct range. It is recommended to grow the baby indoors for the first few years and then transfer it outside. The best enclosure for a baby tortoise is a shallow terrarium or plastic tub.
Sulcata tortoise hatchlings may be raised something small with limited air movement like a sweater box. A good sized habitat for a Sulcata hatchling is 2 foot by 2 foot. Keep in mind that they will outgrow this quickly and need a larger habitat within 18 months. For an adult African Spurred tortoise, the indoor habitat should be at least 8 foot by 8 foot!
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Baby tortoises should have access to a humid hiding area. This helps their shells grow smoothly and keep them hydrated. To help tortoises with winter climates, an enclosure can be built in a garage. Sulcata tortoises will burrow more if there isn’t a proper hide box accessible. When the tortoises do dig, these spots should be filled with large stones or bricks to prevent future digging in that area.
Tortoises should never be raised in a glass tank! It is important to understand that all tortoises should spend most of their lives outdoors with easy access to natural sunlight. In addition, all tortoises should be provided with adequate shade to escape the hot sun and should also have access to fresh water on a daily basis.
During hot summer days allow your baby sulcata tortoise to roam under close supervision.
A natural outdoor habitat for a Sulcata Tortoise
Substrate
For substrate, there are many different options. Cypress mulch can be great bedding. Coconut bedding or peat moss is also good. There are many types of substrates that can be used. Substrate is very important because it allows the animal to burrow down and Thermo regulate.
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As a substrate, a mixture of topsoil and children play sand or cypress bark works well, but for this and other arid loving species, the best substrate is grass hay. Here at Arturs Farm, our baby tortoise habitats Are kept with 4 inch deep substrate and spray down each morning to maintain ambient humidity in the range of 70%.
Outdoor enclosures don’t need added substrate, provided that the soils are natural and not tainted with fertilizer.
Temperature and Lighting
Outdoor Sulcata tortoises can be tolerant of many temperature ranges. High temperatures are not a problem is they have a shaded area to escape from the sun. When nighttime temperatures drop below 50 degrees, provide a heated hide box that maintains at least 55 to 60 degrees, with the mid-‘70s being the ideal temperature, or you should bring the tortoise inside.
For indoor tortoises, they can be maintained at average room temperatures of 68 to 75 degrees. Provide a basking area heated by an overhead light in the 100 plus degree range. They need a UVB light to help process the calcium in their diets. Keep the light on 12 to 14 hours a day and turn it off at night.
In one corner of the environment, a heat spot lamp should be positioned to provide artificial basking facilities. This should be positioned to provide a basking spot of 90 degrees F in that section of the habitat, while the rest of the enclosure can be heated to 80-90 F during the day with a drop at night. The enclosure should also be equipped with a full spectrum fluorescent light to provide for UVB. A UVB source is necessary for Vitamin D3 syntheses (needed in calcium metabolism).
Diet and Nutrition
The Sulcata tortoise is always an eager eater and will rarely turn down food. For adults, the best staple diets are various dry grasses and leaves. They will graze on lawn grasses, grape leaves, hibiscus leaves and flowers. Most will also eat hay. Spring mixes work well, especially for babies. Include kale, collard greens, turnip greens and any darker lettuce type. Mazuri Tortoise Diet can be offered occasionally to cover anything nutritionally.
At least 75% of their diet should be given as grasses and hays, along with some edible weeds and flowers. Also, we include: zucchini, squash, shredded carrots, and Spring mix.
Feed the tortoise from a flat rock or shallow dish. If you live in areas with prolonged dry months, such as Los Angeles, offer water to keep the tortoise hydrated. Use a shallow, low-sided dish for water. This makes cleaning easy, which must be done regularly, as most tortoises will soak and defecate in the water dish.
Providing proper Vitamins and nutrition is key when trying to properly grow a healthy baby tortoise. Here at the farm, use a 5250 mixture of a reptile multivitamin along with calcium With vitamin D3. We sprinkle this mixture on top of our tortoises food every other day or three times a week.
A shallow dish of water should be provided at all times, and needs to be cleaned daily. It is normal for your baby Sulcata tortoise to want to spend time and it’s water bowl.
The tortoise needs to be soaked with shallow, warm water once or twice a week for 15 to 30 minutes to get fully hydrated and clean the shell. A soft toothbrush can be used to remove dirt from the shell.
In captivity, sulcatas require a very high fiber diet. A lack of fiber can result in digestive tract disturbances, diarrhea, and can increase susceptibility to flagellence and worm problems. The frequent feeding of fruit will result in similar problems. Fruit, if given at all, should only be an occasional treat. A grassy area within the
The ideal sulcata diet should be: high in fiber; low in fats, oils and protein; and rich in minerals, trace elements and vitamins. Mazuri pellets for tortoises also provide these essential nutrients. Another essential component of your daily feeding routine is the provision of clean water. A combination wallow and water dish should be provided even though your tortoise may seldom drink from it. The dish should be cleaned frequently and the water replaced daily. In addition, juvenile and sub-adult Sulcatas should be soaked weekly to ensure adequate hydration. Use a container large enough to accommodate the tortoise, add tepid (not hot) water that is no deeper than is necessary to cover the edge of the carapace. Allow your tortoise to soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Tortoises will generally take advantage of this time to replace their water stores, voiding the old, and replacing it with fresh. For a very large tortoise, you may need to insert the container into the ground and encourage it to enter the water for several minutes.
Tortoises that graze outdoors and have a healthy diet do not require great amounts of vitamin and/or mineral supplements. In fact, A.C. Highfield, in his book, The Tortoise and Turtle Feeding Manual (2000), states, “There is a great deal of misunderstanding concerning the role of vitamins and minerals. Many people believe that the more you give the better - this is categorically not true, indeed, some vitamins and minerals can be positively dangerous if taken in excess.” Highfield recommends that you provide your tortoise with as varied a diet as possible for optimal health.
Tortoises need significant quantities of calcium, particularly as they are growing. Unfortunately, in the captive environment, it is difficult for them to obtain all the calcium they need from their diet alone. It is recommended that you occasionally sprinkle their food with a calcium supplement, preferably formulated for tortoises. The best supplements for tortoises are phosphorus-free, contain a wide range of trace elements, and are free of added amino acids (these supplements generally include vitamin D3 as well). Tortoises that are maintained outdoors throughout the year do not need D3 supplements. Finely ground egg shells, finely ground oyster shells or cuttlefish bones are a good sources of calcium. The need for extra calcium is especially high in females and hatchlings.
The carapace and plastron of a tortoise are comprised of living tissue that needs oxygen and exposure to sunlight to keep healthy. Recent studies have determined that applying a thin coat of coconut oil or olive oil to their shell on a regular basis is beneficial in absorbing UV rays more effectively.
Appropriate Greens for Sulcata Tortoises
Here is a starter list of appropriate greens for sulcata tortoises:
- Alfalfa
- Aloe vera
- Arugula
- Bermuda grass
- Bok choy
Health Considerations
These tortoises can suffer from most of the common reptile health problems but respiratory infections are the most widespread. Sulcata tortoises can get easily stressed out when overhandled. Always keep the tortoise right-side-up when holding. Adults are more resistant to handling. Avoid pinning them down or restricting them, especially when they are young.
Although sulcatas are a very hardy species, they can be susceptible to respiratory ailments if kept in cool, wet conditions. Some of the signs to watch for are a runny nose, bubbles from the nose, loss of appetite, gasping and lack of activity. These symptoms can also be signs of mouth rot, bladder stones, or parasites. These indications are warning signals that something very serious is wrong with your tortoise. Left untreated, the tortoise may die. An experienced vet specializing in tortoise care should be consulted immediately.
Problems and health issues in chelonian are often hidden and your pet may appear healthy at first. It is also recommended that you measure and weigh your tortoise on a regular basis.
Table 1: Ideal Temperature Ranges for Young Sulcata Tortoises
| Area | Temperature |
|---|---|
| Basking area | 100-105°F / 38-41°C |
| Ambient/cool zone temperature | 80-90°F / 27-32°C |
| Nighttime temperature | 70-75°F / 21- 23°C |
