Hello.

[Carrie Mann]

I am a central Kentucky resident and have dreamed of adding a sulcata to my family for years. Currently I am a Mommy to a cockatiel, Noel (aged approximately 9 months) who joined us in early December, Scooby (10 year old chinchilla) and 4 dogs of varying breeds & ages, Sugar Belle, Aladdin, Oliver (Ollie for short) and Honey. I also have 2 adult children and a grand daughter. I absolutely adore tortoises but BEFORE purchasing I want to be sure I can provide the correct environment to provide a Sulcata with a happy, healthy life. For most of the year I feel a larger tortoise could live outdoors. However, I would like to provide a large, heated area where the tortoise could back and sleep. My plan is to read as much from the different forum threads and absorb as much information as possible. Regardless of how badly I would love to add this type of baby to my family if I don't think it would be in his/her best interest I would rather know I didn't purchase and do harm than bring one to my home and injure or kill one of these beautiful creatures.
I apologize for the long post but please bear with me as I learn more about these amazing animals.

 

[EllieMay]

Welcome and congratulations! I love to see the new posts from people like you who are researching before acquiring! I have 3 Sulcatas and love them all dearly. I have two that are just under a year and 1 that is just under 3.. They are growing very quickly. I joined this forum from the beginning and have raised mine according to the advice of long-standing members here. They are thriving. Their supplies is not cheap and the amount of food that the larger one goes through a day is vast. That being said, I don’t regret getting any of them for one second. We are in the process now of building a heated night box and outdoor living area for the bigger one... DEFINITELY not cheap.. but he has gained almost 6lbs in 4 months so I’m going big and permanent . Don’t want to have to redo this later. They are sweet and surprisingly interactive with me..
Good luck! I will look forward to seeing your progress!

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Carrie, and welcome to the Forum!

I keep only one sulcata. Dudley is about 110lbs (that was how much he weighed last time I could lift him about 4 years ago). Our winters here in Central California are pretty cold for a sulcata, so I have provided him with an insulated shed containing a pig blanket and a hanging 250 watt chicken brooder light. If you hang a light or heat source, you must be careful it is far enough away from the top of the shell to not burn him. My brooder light hangs about 4' off the floor and keeps the whole shed toasty even on the coldest, freezing nights. Last night our overnight temperature was 30F and inside Dudley's shed it was 79F.

 

[LaLaP]

Hello and Welcome!
I'm a Carrie too

 

[Cathie G]

I am a central Kentucky resident and have dreamed of adding a sulcata to my family for years. Currently I am a Mommy to a cockatiel, Noel (aged approximately 9 months) who joined us in early December, Scooby (10 year old chinchilla) and 4 dogs of varying breeds & ages, Sugar Belle, Aladdin, Oliver (Ollie for short) and Honey. I also have 2 adult children and a grand daughter. I absolutely adore tortoises but BEFORE purchasing I want to be sure I can provide the correct environment to provide a Sulcata with a happy, healthy life. For most of the year I feel a larger tortoise could live outdoors. However, I would like to provide a large, heated area where the tortoise could back and sleep. My plan is to read as much from the different forum threads and absorb as much information as possible. Regardless of how badly I would love to add this type of baby to my family if I don't think it would be in his/her best interest I would rather know I didn't purchase and do harm than bring one to my home and injure or kill one of these beautiful creatures.
I apologize for the long post but please bear with me as I learn more about these amazing animals.

You are at the right place. I wish I had had tortoise forum when I got my tortoise. One really neat thing I love about it is...it doesn't matter where I go on the site. I learn something.