Sulcata Tortoise for Sale | Reptiles for Sale (2024)

FAQs

How much is a full grown sulcata tortoise? ›

$199.95 – $1,449.00 Sale!

Sulcata tortoise: 30-50 years commonly, up to 120 years. Horsfield's (Russian) tortoise: 50-100 years. Spiny softshell turtle: up to 50 years. Alligator snapping turtle: 20-70 years.

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.

Sulcata tortoise growth rate

Factors including protein content, humidity %, types of supplements, and how much you feed your tortoise all contribute to its' own unique growth rate. As a rule of thumb, expect 2-4″ of growth in length per year with 1-2″ of width.

As we mentioned earlier, sulcata tortoises can be housed in an outdoor enclosure if you live in a warmer climate, however be prepared to move them indoors if it gets too cold, or provide them with supplementary heat lamps.

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.

Sulcata tortoises that live outdoors are tolerant to various temperature ranges. High temperatures are not going to be a problem provided the tortoise has a shaded area to escape to if desired. The tortoises themselves can handle surprisingly cold temperatures, as low as 45 degrees Fahrenheit, with no problems.

Sulcata tortoises reach sexual maturity at approximately 5 years of age, when they reach 11-18 kg (25-40 lb). This species breeds very well in captivity. When breeding occurs, a female may lay up to 6 clutches a year and 15- 20 egg clutches are deposited.

Truth: Sulcatas are destructive

Tenacious and powerful are understatements. Underground barriers, secure pens and a large amount of space are required.

They also are a very gentle and intelligent animal that will bond with their whole family. African spurred tortoises, specifically, are often referred to as “heirloom pets” because their long 100+ year lifespan means they have to be willed to family members.

Can you leave a tortoise alone for a week? ›

Tortoise expert and breeder Ed Piroj on the other hand said he himself leaves his tortoises alone when he goes away for less than ten days: “They are reptiles. If they are well fed and well hydrated they can go months without food or water. Dropping the temperature will help.”

If they have separate enclosures, we will happily consider adopting more than one to that home. Sulcatas are loners in the wild and do not get along well in pairs or small groups. They can fight to the death or bully to the death. A male will over-breed a female to death.

Always be sure your tortoises have plenty of water. Preferably a large enough dish to soak in, but a bowl at least. They do and will drink, it's essential for their good health. They use their nares like a straw, you can see their necks move as they suck up the water.

Sulcatas are, like most turtles and tortoises native to dry areas, extremely efficient in their use of water. A sulcata may urinate just 0.64 ml a day, significantly less than their spur-thighed cousins living in the relatively lush Mediterranean countries who may urinate 1-2 ml a day.

A sulcata tortoise diet consists of vegetation. Good foods include dandelion, clover, honeysuckle, leafy salads, watercress, curly kale, brussel tops, spring greens, coriander, parsley, rocket, carrot, parsnip, courgette and bell peppers. The bulk of the vegetation should be leafy greens.

Some common pet tortoise species, such as Russian tortoises or red-footed tortoises, can cost anywhere from $50 to $300. More rare or exotic species can cost several thousand dollars. Additionally, the cost of a baby tortoise will generally be less than that of an adult.

Hatchlings are very small, usually about 2-3 inches. Neonates grow to be the third largest tortoise on our planet and can take 15 to 20 years to become fully grown, given the proper care.

sulcata is currently ranked as an endangered species. Studies suggest that African spurred tortoises exist in approximately 16.7% of the area where they had previously been found. These studies also show an average of 1-5 tortoises per site canvassed which indicates a rapid decline of the species.