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***josh*** · 08-22-2007, 06:15 PM

i've heard some pretty outrageous requirements for a single sulcata. i was wondering how much space people really have. do you think your tortoise wants more or is he/she happy?

Iluvemturts · 08-22-2007, 06:30 PM

I do not have a Sulcata because they truely need that outrageous amount of space.
At first they are such cute "little" things and then they become a HUGE tort that are not the easiest to maintain. I have read and read stuff on them about how they are becoming a thow away pet in the Southern states. They dig burrows big enough to sink a VW bug ( Wink

)
Most people dont know what they got their selves into when getting one.
Most Southern rescuse are over run with them.

Sorry I get a little excited when talking Sulcatas. I think they are an awesome Tortoise, but not for everyone.
I strongly suggest researching the tort befor you get one.
Peace out Smile

LOL

SulcataPappa · 08-22-2007, 06:31 PM

I have 1.3 acres when mine get bigger they will have a half of a acre. I sure they will be happy right now they spend the nights in side in a 2 foot by 3 foot tank. In the day they play out side in a 6x8 foot pen with a wire lid after all they are only 4in right now.

pouncethecat2002 · 08-22-2007, 09:14 PM

Some place's say if you plan on getting a sulcata plan on a acre per tort,thats the space they will need when they get bigger!.
I my self have 2 1/2 acres here,i live in Nv.

binnyc · 08-23-2007, 09:05 AM

Have a "city yard" about 20x40....Squeek is there for 6 months a year....he seems happy and mows the grass/weeds/clover,(planted for him).....lives in my office in the winter.....
We do bring him to our country place to let him run around...an acre of meadow.....
I do agree these guys need some major space...they are adaptable to human encroachment and co-habitation.

Iluvemturts Wrote:I do not have a Sulcata because they truely need that outrageous amount of space.
At first they are such cute "little" things and then they become a HUGE tort that are not the easiest to maintain. I have read and read stuff on them about how they are becoming a thow away pet in the Southern states. They dig burrows big enough to sink a VW bug ( )
Most people dont know what they got their selves into when getting one.
Most Southern rescuse are over run with them.

Sorry I get a little excited when talking Sulcatas. I think they are an awesome Tortoise, but not for everyone.
I strongly suggest researching the tort befor you get one.
Peace out LOL

Tortoise Mommy · 08-23-2007, 11:30 AM

I do believe it is an acre per tortoise, Sulcata's get very bored. I have also heard that if you just move things around in your yard, they feel that they have gone somewhere new. Adult torts do need more space. I have a 35 x 70 ft space for them now, but they are only 4 years old,we will be moving to a much bigger place so my torts will be happy.
Iluvemturts is correct. Most people dont understand what they are getting themselves into. Yes, they are very adorable, tenny tiny babies, but they get so large, and have needs as they mature. People do not research sulcatas, and we are so overwhelmed by them. My sulcata i had purchased, i did not do my research until after i brought him home. I found out that he was not healthy, very small for his age. he is four years old about 7" @ approx 8 lbs. His diet consisted of dog food, iceburg lettuce, & watermelon. i have had him for 2 years now. Vet said he is doing GREAT. HE will never see iceburg lettuce again. I learned the hard way, i learn more everyday. I am happy to have this forum, listen & learn more from eveyone.

Tiffany · 08-24-2007, 03:57 AM

We have 2 acres and that was part of my reason for letting 2 of the sulcata I had go to a friend. While the four were small and I had the room now, in the future there was no way I would have the space for them all to be happy, and the fact that 3 were boys and 1 was female I was already having issues with that! lOL No babies here from them were allowed. So I kept two boys, the first one I got as a present and a rescue that was too messed up to go anywhere else, the medical issues with him have gotten me attached anyways! lOL Spending that much time fixing him.

Right now they are seperated in cages, I still worry about coons getting to them and we are reinfocing the fencing around the yard. In a few years they will have the run of the yard.

I have heard from alot of places they need 10 square feet for every inch, Mine do not have that yet! They do have 8 times the length of their shell on all sides. Sulcata in the wild are grazers, walking miles to find food, it's in them to walk a long way and giving them space to do so is better.

Tegan · 08-24-2007, 06:45 AM

The only reason I even considered getting sulcatas is that we live on 6 1/2 acres in hill country and will have plenty of space to roam when they get to be big boys(?). Right now they are about the size of a golf ball and live in my bedroom away from my 3 y/o. Back to the point. Had i had not had an acre or so of land that i could dedicate to them in 5 or 6 years there is no way i would have got them.

Rockysmom · (This post was last modified: 08-25-2007 11:26 AM by josh.)

Iluvemturts Wrote:I do not have a Sulcata because they truely need that outrageous amount of space.
At first they are such cute "little" things and then they become a HUGE tort that are not the easiest to maintain. I have read and read stuff on them about how they are becoming a thow away pet in the Southern states. They dig burrows big enough to sink a VW bug ( )
Most people dont know what they got their selves into when getting one.
Most Southern rescuse are over run with them.

Sorry I get a little excited when talking Sulcatas. I think they are an awesome Tortoise, but not for everyone.
I strongly suggest researching the tort befor you get one.
Peace out LOL

I agree, We have one and only one. We were told taht they should not be taken in pairs because of the room that they will need as they grow....

***josh*** · 08-25-2007, 11:48 AM

my next question is how do you even start to secure that much land? do all your fences go underground? do your sulcatas have free range or are they corralled?

firewoman73 · 08-26-2007, 06:04 PM

I visited the Austin Zoo in South Austin the other day. They have a few large tortoises and a couple of smaller ones. The area they have for them is not all that large but a nice setup. They seem to be doing great over there. It gave me an idea of how to create an area in my back yard in a few years when my baby gets bigger.

Tegan · 08-27-2007, 01:57 PM

I take my daughter to the Austin Zoo pretty regularly and they do have a very nice setp for it being that small. It just a shame they don't have enough room to seed it and let them graze. With the size of Tortoies I'd be willing to be they could eat that much grass in a day or 2...lol... But you really do have to give props to the Austin Zoo. They have made the best with what they have and I love the train ride. :-)

firewoman73 Wrote:I visited the Austin Zoo in South Austin the other day. They have a few large tortoises and a couple of smaller ones. The area they have for them is not all that large but a nice setup. They seem to be doing great over there. It gave me an idea of how to create an area in my back yard in a few years when my baby gets bigger.

Bansh88 · 08-27-2007, 02:05 PM

I have a relatively small backyard. I hope to have alarger yard before my guys get big.
An acre per animal is a bit outrageous. Sure, it's nice. But I don't see that as being realistic. I'd like my dog to have 100 acres to run but I don't see that being possible.

sharkstar · 08-27-2007, 10:56 PM

We live on a city lot in south phoenix. the yard is not large, but is devoted to citrus trees and RV. The place is hers to roam. She has dug her own burrow (much nicer I'm sure in the 110+ heat we've been having. As I'm a potter in my spare time, I've made 2 large water bowls for her to drink from as needed. She gets her soaks and trims up the weeds and lawn very nicely. I don't think she is bored, but I do wish we had larger space for her to roam.

teri

Laura · 09-14-2007, 09:43 AM

I have read one acer per tort to 40x40 minimum. I have a 100-60 pasture area with a covered area plus heated stall. Out in the middle is a bunker above ground burrow. If you provide a place for them to hide in the tend not to dig thier own. If they do, the risk of collapse or drowning when it rains is a concern. The barrier/fence should be solid so they cant see thru it. We used 16x1 boards, stacked two high so they are 2 feet tall and they are set on 2x4 greenboard on the ground.
I live on 8 acers, so I do have room to grow if nec. I would love to have a 'retirement' home for these guys..