how to differentiate a sulcata from Sonoran Desert tortoise

Anet

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I was gifted two tortoises at different times and one has grown immensely. I know for a fact that the smaller tortoise is 3 yrs old and is a Sonoran desert tortoise. I was told that the bigger one is also a desert tortoise and is 2 years old. However the bigger one has doubled his body size. I am wondering if the bigger one is a sulcata because of rapid growth. Thank you

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Toddrickfl1

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The larger one is a Sulcata, smaller one is a desert tortoise.
 

waswondering

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I was gifted two tortoises at different times and one has grown immensely. I know for a fact that the smaller tortoise is 3 yrs old and is a Sonoran desert tortoise. I was told that the bigger one is also a desert tortoise and is 2 years old. However the bigger one has doubled his body size. I am wondering if the bigger one is a sulcata because of rapid growth. Thank you
The lager one is a sulcata, the smaller one is a desert tortoise. You can tell from the color, size, and the legs of the sulcata. Desert tortoise are a brown/black color. Most sulcatas are much lighter in color then your but the fact that theres color at all means it's a sulcata.

Hope this helps,
Any other question please ask
 

Action

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So I know nothing so am just asking....I thought Sulcatas were v shaped at the neck ? Don't know the terminology yet....lol....that 1 seems to have an extra something there.
Thanks
Jack
 

Anet

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Wow, thanks so much for this. The owner of the sulcata said that she had two and had them outside during winter. One didn't make it. So it makes sense since sulcatas don't brumate.
 

waswondering

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Wow, thanks so much for this. The owner of the sulcata said that she had two and had them outside during winter. One didn't make it. So it makes sense since sulcatas don't brumate.
Sulcatas are really easy in winter. All you have to do I put a heat light in an enclosed area and move them in every night if they leave.
 

waswondering

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So I know nothing so am just asking....I thought Sulcatas were v shaped at the neck ? Don't know the terminology yet....lol....that 1 seems to have an extra something there.
Thanks
Jack
I'm not really sure if I know where the v is supposed to be but if you tell me I can check my adult sulcatas. I've never heard of this.
 

Action

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If you look at the pic from the top there is a flat thinging in the center of the neck......Sulcatas dont have that.....I thought that was a sign of a desert tortoise ? Just asking.....cause I don't know.
Jack
 

SweetGreekTorts

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Can you post photos of the larger tortoise's head and front legs? From above they appear to have the same color, shape, and texture as the desert tortoise. Sulcata tortoises have more gold-colored skin and larger scales on their legs. Desert tortoises have darker grey skin and smaller, smoother leg scales. The larger tortoise could be a sulcata-desert tortoise hybrid with it's carapace coloring, but more photos from other angles are needed to verify.

The marginal scutes of the larger tortoise are also like the desert tortoise and not a sulcata.
 

SweetGreekTorts

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If you look at the pic from the top there is a flat thinging in the center of the neck......Sulcatas dont have that.....I thought that was a sign of a desert tortoise ? Just asking.....cause I don't know.
Jack
Are you referring to the nuchal scute? True, sulcatas do not have those, while desert tortoises do.
 

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Sulcatas are really easy in winter. All you have to do I put a heat light in an enclosed area and move them in every night if they leave.
Not quite that easy. That is how people burn the top of the carapace, and it is still too cold on those winter nights. Something like this will work much better:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-night-box-thread.88966/

Or this for someone who has two tortoises to house separately:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/double-door-night-box.129054/
 

Tom

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We need pics showing the front of the tortoises too. Leg scales are the easiest way to tell when they are this size. Color is highly variable on both species.

In either case, regardless of what they are, they should not be living as a pair. Tortoises should never be kept in pairs.
 

wellington

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Agree with Tom. Can't tell by your pics if they are sulcata or not. Need pics from the front showing front legs
The DT will have smooth legs scales while the sullies will protrude and be pointy
 

Tom

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Also, most people don't start either of the two species we are discussing with enough humidity or hydration. If one managed to get a little more hydration early on, it could easily grow at two or three times the rate of the one that was started drier.

The chronic stress of living as a pair can also cause one to grow much slower.

When left to hibernate outdoors, above ground, subject to the whims of Mother Nature, death is a common outcome, even for species that hibernate in the wild. DTs hibernate deep underground out in the wild. Temps down there are cold, consistent and stable. Above ground the temps swing wildly from day to night and even day to day. 85 degrees in January one day, 35 degrees that night, and 50 degrees and rainy a few days later. These extremes take a toll and many don't survive.
 

waswondering

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Not quite that easy. That is how people burn the top of the carapace, and it is still too cold on those winter nights. Something like this will work much better:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-night-box-thread.88966/.

Or this for someone who has two tortoises to house separately:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/double-door-night-box.129054/

You are right of course. I didnt tell in enough detail what I meant. The way I do it is have the lights inside there hut 5 feet off the ground then have a layer of wood that has a metal cover directly under the lights and there is a 6 inch gap on all sides of the wood bord and that's where the heat comes from. The wood its 1/2 inch thick so most of the heat is lost to it and it there for radiates a small amount of heat as well. It works well for me
 

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It's hard to tell from the picture, but I'm thinking both of them are desert tortoises. The smaller one is very small for three years old. I have two hatchlings from last September that are that size. So he's stunted from not having received the best care. If you look closely you can see the front leg scales on the larger one and they are not raised or large like a sulcata would have.

@Anet : I love your invention - the clothes pin to hold greens up off the ground.
 

Maro2Bear

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It's hard to tell from the picture, but I'm thinking both of them are desert tortoises. The smaller one is very small for three years old. I have two hatchlings from last September that are that size. So he's stunted from not having received the best care. If you look closely you can see the front leg scales on the larger one and they are not raised or large like a sulcata would have.

@Anet : I love your invention - the clothes pin to hold greens up off the ground.

Yep, i agree with Yvonne. I don’t see any big scaly claws and forearms/legs on either one either.
 

Anet

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We need pics showing the front of the tortoises too. Leg scales are the easiest way to tell when they are this size. Color is highly variable on both species.

In either case, regardless of what they are, they should not be living as a pair. Tortoises should never be kept in pairs.
Well, thinking that the larger one is a sulcata, I gave it to a good home. Now I have one DT like it should be.
 
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