African Sulcata Tortoise Gender

Wardog

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Hi! I just adopted a seventeen year old "female" from a friend that has had her since she was a hatchling. From what I've seen on this forum and other sites, I think "she" is a "he." What do you think -- is Toto a boy???
 

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Yvonne G

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That's right, Toto is a boy. That big gular is the first clue. Nice tortoise. Are you prepared to have your yard excavated...to have the rose bushes uprooted...to have the lawn furniture tipped over??

If so, then welcome to the Wonderful World of Sulcata Keeping, and welcome to the Forum!
 

Wardog

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That's right, Toto is a boy. That big gular is the first clue. Nice tortoise. Are you prepared to have your yard excavated...to have the rose bushes uprooted...to have the lawn furniture tipped over??

If so, then welcome to the Wonderful World of Sulcata Keeping, and welcome to the Forum!

Actually, no! Ha ha!

We have a wrought iron "pen" in the middle of our fenced-in yard for now. In the spring, I'd like to something more elaborate.

We live in Central Illinois, so we are planning on keeping him in our basement over the winter. I was told that he doesn't hibernate, but gets pretty lazy and doesn't eat as much. The former owner didn't do anything extra like supplemental lighting. I have some T5 fixtures from our reef tank that I can set up. I want to keep him as healthy and happy as possible :)
 

Yvonne G

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Then provide him with heat along with the T5 fixture. They don't hibernate in the wild, however, some unknowing folks will allow them a cool down period. I've seen many of these sulcatas and it doesn't seem to have had an adverse affect on them, but to be on the safe side, keep him warm.
 

Blakem

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Congrats! You came to to right place to learn about your new forever friend!
 

Tank'sMom

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What Yvonne says is very true! The big guys can do a lot of damage! Just review most of my posts and you'll see! Lol! Mine is also 17 years old but is 120 lbs. he was raised well outdoors in South Texas. Our climate is fairly similar to their wild environment.
Welcome to the forum! And good luck! You're gonna need a lot of hay! Ha!
 

Tom

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Your boy there can bust right through wrought iron anytime he wants and he could injure himself in the process. You'll need a visual barrier like 16" high strips of plywood or something.

This is a tropical species. There is no cold season where they come from. Keep him warm all year. If he is "slowing down" its because he is too cold.
 

Tank'sMom

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Ditto on that! I have a post regarding just that! Broke right through my wrought iron pen. I was warned as well.....
 
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