Sulcata Care Sheet (2024)

FAQs

How hard is it to take care of a sulcata tortoise? ›

Sulcatas are probably the biggest commitment of the tortoise breeds outside Albara and Galapagos. They will need a very large outdoor space with plenty of sun and plants. You will need to make sure there are no toxic plants or chemically treated grass in their enclosure.

The wooden vivarium should have good ventilation to allow good air flow in and out of the enclosure. The vivarium should be at least 1150mm (46"). The enclosure needs to be hot at one end, but have enough distance for the temperature to drop at the cool end.

Adults should be fed three times per week minimum, and hatchlings fed daily.

As well as bathing the tortoise regularly you can provide your tortoise with a suitable microclimate to prevent fluid loss from the body. You can do this by making the substrate deep enough so that the tortoise can dig down, and you can mist it daily using a water sprayer.

For the baby Sulcata tortoise for sale, daily soaking in 82 degree warm shallow water is necessary. Providing water access for a baby Sulcata tortoise is optional so long as you are soaking them daily, since they can flip or drown. Adult Sulcata tortoises will soak themselves sometimes for hours in their water dish.

Cucumber can be offered to help with hydration, or prescribed medication can be hidden within it and offered to the tortoise as a tasty treat. The leaves and flowers of the Cucumber plant may be fed in small amounts to all species. Tortoises easily become addicted to store-bought diets so avoid long term use.

Sulcata tortoises live in arid places in the wild and will do well on a variety of dry substrates in captivity. Forest Floor™, Eco Earth® and ReptiSand® can all be used as substrates. It is important to offer your tortoise both dry and humid areas within their enclosure.

Grasses and hay: Sulcata tortoises NEED access to grasses and hay on which to graze. This is the bulk of their diet (90%) and should be from pesticide- and herbicide-free grass and grass cuttings, cheatgrass, clover, edible flowers (nasturtium, geraniums, hibiscus, rose petals), and shrubs.

Temperature Guidelines: 95-101° F (ground temperature) If a tortoise is out above 95 F ground temperature, it is close to dangerous conditions. Tortoises need to find adequate shade, although they can survive these temperatures for a short time. Dangerous- 103-113° F is critical maximum body temperature.

Unless your tortoise is a fruit-eating species, the fruit of the Banana or Plantain (Plantain is a variety of Banana that is eaten cooked, as a vegetable) should not be part of their diet, as it is too high in starch, sugars, and potassium.

How to tell if your tortoise is happy? ›

Interest in its environment. When a tortoise is happy and healthy, it will generally show a lot of interest in what's going on around it. It will move around its enclosure and be keen to investigate anything new introduced to the area.

Like most diurnal, herbivorous reptiles, they need a UVB light in their indoor enclosures to help them properly process the calcium in their diets. Keep lights on 12 to 14 hours a day, and turn off all light and heat sources at night. Sulcata tortoise hatchlings measure approximately 1½ to 2 inches in carapace length.

A tortoise should feel noticeably warm to the touch when handled.

There are many benefits to keeping a sulcata tortoise as a pet, such as the fact they are easy to care for, friendly, and extremely gentle. They make great pets for children.

In the proper care, however, most tortoises appear to enjoy being touched by their caretakers.

Due to their size, Sulcata tortoises are best kept in an outdoor area. They can be kept there for most, or all, of the year. A desert-type set-up outdoors with a large grass area in the center and dirt around the perimeter is the recommended setting.

If being kept indoors, an adult Sulcata tortoise will need at least a space of 80 ft². Zoo Med's Tortoise House™ is an ideal enclosure to house this species as a hatchling and juvenile.