First time tortoise owner

[Maui'smom]

Hello. I am a first time sulcata owner. We are in west central Florida. I did so much research before bringing my tort home. But I do have a serious question. Does it hurt them to be picked up by the side of their shells? I'm find ing conflicting info.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

It doesn't hurt them. But tortoises don't like to be picked up in general.
They may panic and kick.
Hold him securely

 

[wellington]

Doesn't hurt them but they will feel safer if after you pick it up you can support its feet.

 

[Tom]

Hello. I am a first time sulcata owner. We are in west central Florida. I did so much research before bringing my tort home. But I do have a serious question. Does it hurt them to be picked up by the side of their shells? I'm find ing conflicting info.

Hello and welcome. Are we talking about a baby or an adult?

Most of the info found online, from breeders, from vets, and from reptile "experts", is all wrong. Here is the correct care info:

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...

tortoiseforum.org

Picking the tortoise up from the sides does not hurt them in any way.

 

[Ray--Opo]

Welcome from a fellow floridian and sulcata owner. I am directly east of you in Palm Bay. Did you make it through the hurricane ok?
Pics of your sully would be great. When they get big, if you are picking them up. Make sure your hand and fingers are away from the legs. Especially the rear legs. If your fingers are in the wrong spot. They can either pinch your fingers between a leg and shell. Or they can catch your hand with a leg and make you lose grip. If you're holding a large sully and it falls to the ground. It may turn into a bad situation. Especially if they fall onto concrete.

 

[Jacqui]

Hi and welcome.

 

[Maui'smom]

Hello and welcome. Are we talking about a baby or an adult?

Most of the info found online, from breeders, from vets, and from reptile "experts", is all wrong. Here is the correct care info:

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...

tortoiseforum.org

Picking the tortoise up from the sides does not hurt them in any way.

He's a baby hatched July 26.

 

[Tim Carlisle]

It doesn't hurt them. But tortoises don't like to be picked up in general.
They may panic and kick.
Hold him securely

Boy do they ever!

 

[Maro2Bear]

Greetings & Welcome. Not sure what your particular arrangement is, but when our Sully was small I would always use a small plastic bucket to transport it from controlled habitat to soaking area & back. It’s very easy to drop a rambunctious scrambling young tortoise. Being in a bucket keeps their feet flat & keeps them calm.

And @Ray--Opo is correct! Once they are hefty, those back legs in particular can make a quick nasty mess of your fingers. Gloves keep any injuries to a minimum.

 

[Maddoggy]

Welcome.Stay tuned in that baby sulcata will grow fast and giant torts can be a handful. Good news is it doesn't happen overnight and Florida is a great place to raise a sulcata.

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome!