We have a sulcata african spurred tortoise identified by the vet she is healthy according to him but weighs a little over a pound and is approx. 6 yrs old. He(vet) says she is extremely rare, he also consulted another vet. He says there aren't dwarfs of her species. He also says she should hibernate, contrary to all reserch on internet. She did previous yrs but shows no signs of doing it this yr. We recently gave her a very large indoor habitat 3.5 by 8 ft. Her appetite is like we have never seen since new habitat. Anybody have any info to share Thank-you in advance
tortoise size
- Thread starter astock64
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Hello and Welcome
. If you have a sulcata, they are not rare and will not hibernate/brumate. I would not return to that vet again for this tortoise. The vet has no clue what he is talking about. Now, if you will post a pic of your tortoise, we can verify what you really have. I'm guessing by the hibernating info you mentioned, you might have a Russian, which still are not rare.
. If you have a sulcata, they are not rare and will not hibernate/brumate. I would not return to that vet again for this tortoise. The vet has no clue what he is talking about. Now, if you will post a pic of your tortoise, we can verify what you really have. I'm guessing by the hibernating info you mentioned, you might have a Russian, which still are not rare.
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Did the vet use the term 'sulcata'? I have a feeling he may be talking about North African T.Graeca, which are commonly called Spur Thighed Tortose.
wellington said:Hello and Welcome
thank-you for your response and Welcome. By rare I meant her small size for being aprox. 6 yrs old
astock64 said:
It is not you. A new person must have their first five post moderated (approved) before they show. You just were not lucky enough to have a Mod on hand when you posted.
Now you may indeed have a sulcata. I know we do hear of some being really tiny for their age. This could be from their genes, but often it is from some thing or things not being correct in their lives. With going into a brumation each year, that could be a major factor in why he is so small. Other things may be a lack of warmth so it did not eat enough, for some it is an issue with how their body is formed or works so for example it can't graze correctly, a lack of food or the proper foods, just so many factors could be at play here. If it is a sulcata, I would bet if everything is provided that it needs, it could have a major growth spurt on you unless it is a gene factor. While it is rare for a sulcata to be brumated/hibernated, there are some that do.
Hi astock64:
Welcome to the Forum!!
We'll need to see pictures of your tortoise to be sure we're talking about the right thing.
Sulcatas come from a warm climate, and have not evolved to have the need to hibernate (brumate), so you have to keep them warm throughout the winter. If you have been "hibernating" your tortoise these past winters, then that's probably the reason you have a small-for-his-age tortoise.
Some of us here on the Forum use a free download called Photobucket. You put your pictures into Photobucket, then you copy/paste the IMG code into your post
Welcome to the Forum!!
We'll need to see pictures of your tortoise to be sure we're talking about the right thing.
Sulcatas come from a warm climate, and have not evolved to have the need to hibernate (brumate), so you have to keep them warm throughout the winter. If you have been "hibernating" your tortoise these past winters, then that's probably the reason you have a small-for-his-age tortoise.
Some of us here on the Forum use a free download called Photobucket. You put your pictures into Photobucket, then you copy/paste the IMG code into your post
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Yes, it is a sulcata and a split scute at that!
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Can you tell us about your care please? Diet? Substrate? Lighting? Humidity? Temps?
Most sulcatas are unfortunately started very dry as if they come from a desert. In fact they hatch during the rainy season when its wet, rainy, humid, marshy and there are puddles and green food a plenty.
When they are started dry and dehydrated it damages their internal organs permanently. Some of them make it through and seem to do fine, some of them survive but grow very little, and some of them die.
At this point all you can do is provide her with the best diet and conditions possible and hope for the best.
When they are started dry and dehydrated it damages their internal organs permanently. Some of them make it through and seem to do fine, some of them survive but grow very little, and some of them die.
At this point all you can do is provide her with the best diet and conditions possible and hope for the best.
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Definitely a Sulcata and wow she has a split scute ! Nice , thats really cute have fun with her ! Whats her name ? I have a Sulcata named Sheldon
have fun with her ! Whats her name ? I have a Sulcata named Sheldon lkwagner said:
My daughter aquired the sulcata from somebody who bought it at a pet store. They quickly lost interest and my daughter was babysitting it once and they never picked it up. Lol Along with it came the aquarium with calci-sand and no information about its sex or breed.So for a long time it was known as Rocky and confusion about what "it" was because she brumated. It was fed greens largely romaine because it liked it. I used the reference "it" because after a trip to a vet its name was changed to Rockette, she was a she! This year I built a 3.5 ft by 8ft turtle table with 18" sides open at the top. We have a humidifier, an UV light and heat lamp. Oh the substrate is coconut coir. We feed a mixture of greens. Shortly after the new habitat she ate more then ever really large amts of greens. She receives regular soaks. She lives in Vegas and seems to be thriving. Normally by Oct she would brumate but not this year so far. She is probaly 5 to 6 yrs old. Thanks to everybody for the help on this site, so glad I found it.
When you brumate her, what temps do you keep her at? For how long? Where or what is she brumated in?
Does she get outside time?
Does she get outside time?
Jacqui said:
A special effort was never made to force her to brumate she just did. There were no special temp controls just normal house temp probaly about 68 she would sleep under an imitation half log, water was kept in the aquarium and it was covered. She always had some outdoor time but this yr quite frequently. She would typically sleep from oct to early april. She has had a 11% weight gain since Sept. with new habitat and conditions described above.
Jacqui said:
Although it appeared she was not going to brumate this yr she apparently is going to. It has been four days since she came out from under her log. Previously she would brumate late Oct. or early Nov. As I stated above we changed her habitat significantly including different conditions and food. If in fact she is going to brumate what temps, humudity etc. would you all recommend? Thx
I have a feeling it is the temperatures that are causing her not want to eat and go into hibernation.
What are the temperatures in the tortoise table(basking spot and throughout the table). What is the ambient room temperature that the table is in?
What are the temperatures in the tortoise table(basking spot and throughout the table). What is the ambient room temperature that the table is in?
The room she is in holds about 72 her table is 3.5 by 8ft with 18inch sides open at the top. The basking area where heat lamp is reaches over 80. The other end where she stays under the log is about 74 humidity is 40% her table has a small himidifier above it.
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TOO COLD!
They need at least an 80 degree cool side, 90 degree got side, and a 100 degree basking spot. Along with the correct temps they need at least 80%+ humidity.
Your tortoise table isn't helping this much unfortunately. Think of how air rises and sets outside, warm humid air rises to create precipitation and cool dense air sinks. Much like a tortoise table the warm air rises and escapes. Depending on the size you should build a closed chamber, I have a couple set up for my babies and my rule of thumb is it has to be large enough that they have TONS of growth room, running room, and room for tons of decorations and places to crawl on and hide in. It stimulates them to explore and move around and check out all the cool stuff.
Back to the closed chamber, they hold heat and humidity extremely well along with they are pretty simple and cost efficient. All in all tables and aquariums aren't for this animal, no matter what you do to them. Too time consuming and too much money wasted in them.
They need at least an 80 degree cool side, 90 degree got side, and a 100 degree basking spot. Along with the correct temps they need at least 80%+ humidity.
Your tortoise table isn't helping this much unfortunately. Think of how air rises and sets outside, warm humid air rises to create precipitation and cool dense air sinks. Much like a tortoise table the warm air rises and escapes. Depending on the size you should build a closed chamber, I have a couple set up for my babies and my rule of thumb is it has to be large enough that they have TONS of growth room, running room, and room for tons of decorations and places to crawl on and hide in. It stimulates them to explore and move around and check out all the cool stuff.
Back to the closed chamber, they hold heat and humidity extremely well along with they are pretty simple and cost efficient. All in all tables and aquariums aren't for this animal, no matter what you do to them. Too time consuming and too much money wasted in them.
If you bump up the temps as Tiyahlove, suggested, you should see a change in your tortoise's behavior.
