The African spurred tortoise, also known as the Sulcata, is a popular pet. Captive-bred and imported Sulcatas can be increasingly found in the pet trade. Commonly referred to as sulcatas, are a hearty tortoise from the deserts of Africa. These tortoises are curious, intelligent reptiles with lively personalities, especially when young.
The most common health issue for sulcata tortoises is poor diet and/or husbandry (environment and living conditions). They also commonly have calcium deficiencies, respiratory disease, or high protein. What you feed your Sulcata is critical to its health and development. This article provides a detailed guide to ensure your Sulcata tortoise receives the nutrition it needs to thrive.
Understanding the Sulcata Tortoise
The sulcata is the largest of the African mainland tortoise, with specimens easily reaching 24-30 inches (60-75 cm) in carapace length and 80-110 pounds (36-50 kg). The largest on record was a male resident of the Giza Zoological Gardens (Egypt) who weighed in at 232 lb (105.5 kg) and measured 41.6 inches (104 cm) over the carapace. Sulcatas come from some of the Sahel, the hottest, driest area in Africa. Some regions may not get rain for years.
Sulcata tortoises evolved to deal with life in a semi-arid environment, where the only food available for much of the year is dry grasses and weeds. Sulcata tortoises require a very high-fiber, grass-based diet to stay healthy. If you feed the wrong foods to your tortoise, it will grow too quickly, develop a bumpy, pyramided shell, and may develop other health problems that could drastically shorten its lifespan.
Key Dietary Components
The ideal sulcata diet should be: high in fiber; low in fats, oils and protein; and rich in minerals,trace elements and vitamins. Provide variation in your sully's diet. The key to a good diet is variation. Provide as much variation as you can to ensure that your tort is getting a wide variety of vitamins and nutrients.
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High-Fiber Diet
Grasses and hays are a critical component of the Sulcata’s diet. Experts recommend that mixedgrasses comprise 70-75% of your Sulcata’s diet. Sulcata tortoises need access to grasses and hay on which to graze. The following grasses are considered suitablefodder grasses: buffalo grass, Bermuda grass, bluegrass, Darnel rye grass, western wheat grass,blue grama grass, and a variety of Fescue sp. Bermuda or Timothy grass hay (not alfalfa hay) canalso be provided.
A grassy area within the enclosure is best, as it will provide a good source of fiber for yoursulcata. In captivity, sulcatas require a very high fiber diet. A lack of fiber can result in digestivetract disturbances, diarrhea, and can increase susceptibility to flagellate and worm problems.
Edible Flowers and Weeds
This grass-based diet should be supplemented with flowers as frequently aspossible. Edible flowers and weeds that should be included in a regular diet include: hibiscusflowers and leaves, wild dandelion flowers and leaves, petunia, viola, thistle, chickweed, opuntiacactus, plantain and clover. Be sure all flowers and weeds are free of pesticides and herbicides,and avoid picking plants from roadside areas or parks where plants are routinely subjected tovehicle exhaust and chemical spraying.
Vegetables
Vegetables should be about 10-15% of the diet. Grocery store produce should represent only a very small part of your sulcata’s total diet. Acceptable produce includes chicory, dandelion greens, collard greens, endive, mustard greens,romaine lettuce, shredded carrots and pumpkin. Greens to offer include collard greens, kale, mustard, turnip, and dandelion greens.
Fruits
Fruits should be fed sparingly, as a treat. Sulcatas respond to bright colors, so always include at least one vividly colored food in your selection. Fruits should be given sparingly as a treat as they are high in sugar and water content, which sulcatas are not accustomed to receiving in the wild. Fruit treats include strawberries, bananas, and berries.
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Grazing tortoise species such as sulcatas will opportunistically eat sugary foods such as fruits and flowers when they come across them in the wild. These foods make up a small percent of their diet. If you choose to give your torts fruits and/or flowers, do so in moderation.
Foods to Avoid
Avoiding certain foods is crucial for the health of your Sulcata tortoise. Here's a list of foods to avoid:
- Animal Protein: Although sulcatas will eat animal protein, DO NOT feed them anything containing animalprotein, as it will cause carapace deformity. Avoid animal protein such meat and dairy products.
- High Protein Vegetables: It should also be noted that excessive quantities ofbeans, bean sprouts, peas and similar vegetables rich in protein can lead to scute pyramiding.
- Harmful Vegetables: Vegetables such as broccoli, Brussel sprouts, kale and cabbage can lead to goiter andhypothyroidism and should be avoided or provided only on rare occasions.
- Greens High in Calcium Oxalate: Greens high incalcium oxalate such as parsley, broccoli, kale, and spinach can bind calcium, which could leadto metabolic bone disease. Collards also contain calciumoxalate and therefore if provided should be done so in very limited quantities.
- Commercial Foods Not Specifically Designed for Tortoises: Never Provide commercial foods not specifically designed for tortoises, such as dog food or cat food.
Here are a few suggestions to help you avoid the typical dietary pitfalls:
- AVOID giving your tortoise foods that contain high levels of protein.
- AVOID giving your sulcata fruit!
- AVOID over-feeding your tortoise.
Calcium and Vitamin D
Sulcata tortoises require a great deal of calcium in their diet to help them grow healthy bones and shells. The Sahel area of Africa where sulcata naturally occur is a semi-arid region that has calcium-rich soils. Wild sulcata tortoises therefore get sufficient calcium by eating the grasses that grow in these calcium-laden soils.
Sulcatas need Vitamin D to absorb the calcium provided in their diet. The best way to ensure that your tort is getting the required Vitamin D is house your tort in an outdoor enclosure where it is free to bask in the sun at will. Another option is to allow the animal to graze outdoors daily in natural sunlight.
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Calcium Supplements
Calcium supplementation is not required if a tort is eating a high calcium diet. Think about where you live and how you feed your tortoise. If you live in a semi-arid or arid area with little rainfall, the calcium levels in your local soil will be relatively high.
In choosing a calcium supplement, make sure you choose one that does NOT contain Phosphorus. Calcium (CA) and Phosphorus (P) are both necessary to build healthy bone tissue. Rep-Cal is a good calcium supplement, and is available at many pet stores. However, a large bag of plain, powdered limestone (calcium carbonate) will probably cost you a lot less. The best way to use Rep-Cal or powdered calcium carbonate is to sprinkle a small amount lightly over the tortoise's food on a regular basis.
One way to ensure that a tort has enough calcium is to leave a cuddlebone or calcium block in their enclosure. Ideally, the sully will nibble on the cuddlebone or calcium block when it needs calcium. Many owners use calcium powder if they believe that their tort is not getting enough calcium in their diet. Calcium powder can be sprinkled over food once or twice weekly.
Hydration
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 seldomdrink from it. A large (30”) plastic plant saucer set into the ground works well for this purpose.The dish should be cleaned frequently and the water replaced daily. In addition, juvenile andsub-adult Sulcatas should be soaked weekly to ensure adequate hydration.
If there is no wallow available, a shallow water bowl, with sides low enough for the tortoise to reach into, should be available at all times. Tortoises do not swim and can drown easily. While housed indoors it is good to soak them in a shallow water bath to their chin for 15-30 minutes once a week.
Indoor Housing and Diet
Young tortoises are often kept indoors for the first few years to minimize risks of escape or harm from cats, birds, and dogs. There are some important things that need to be done to keep your tortoise healthy while housed indoors.
Feed a mixture of dark leafy greens and offer grasses and grass hay. Commercial pelleted grass diets (Zoomed Grassland Tortoise diet) can be soaked in water and also fed. Keep fruits limited to occasional treats. Grasses and grass hay are the best diet for the tortoises.
Indoor housing must include both basking and cooler retreat areas, and a den box in which to burrow. An area for feeding and a shallow water dish must also be provided.
Table: Nutritious Food Options for Sulcata Tortoises
Below is a list of nutritious options. This list is not all-inclusive and there are many many more great options plants not listed here.
| Food Category | Examples | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Grasses | Buffalo grass, Bermuda grass, bluegrass, Darnel rye grass, western wheat grass, blue grama grass, Fescue sp. | Form the majority of the diet (70-75%) |
| Hays | Bermuda or Timothy grass hay | Avoid alfalfa hay |
| Edible Flowers and Weeds | Hibiscus flowers and leaves, dandelion flowers and leaves, petunia, viola, thistle, chickweed, opuntia cactus, plantain, clover | Ensure they are free of pesticides and herbicides |
| Vegetables | Chicory, dandelion greens, collard greens, endive, mustard greens, romaine lettuce, shredded carrots, pumpkin | Offer in small quantities |
| Fruits | Strawberries, bananas, berries | Offer sparingly as treats |
| Calcium-Rich Plants | Oputunia cactus, dandelion greens, grape leaves, mulberry leaves | Helps ensure adequate calcium intake |
