Full grown sulcata

[Abdulla6169]

Anyone know how much space a full grown sulcata needs? Is there a way to house it in the United Arab Emirates? What should be done in out desert's heat? Is there a way to stop burrowing? Thanks in advance
(I was just curious about what a sulcata would need, rest assured I won't buy one until I figure everything out)

 

[NicoleB26]

They burrow to avoid the heat so prob won't stop that in the desert lol as far as the space requirements go the popular answer I see is as much space as possible. My sulcata is only 1 but I'm hoping to dedicate an acre to him in the next year or two. I'm curious to see how much space keepers of adults dedicate to their torts

 

[Tank'sMom]

Mine is 17 and 120lbs. He has a 1/2 acre secure backyard to roam as he pleases. I have tried and tried to stop him from digging, but I finally gave in when he found a spot I could live with. You will not stop them. They will burrow if they want to. Some do, some don't.

 

[Abdulla6169]

I'm afraid all those wires, pipes, and other dangerous things... What if he gets away isn't it worrying (the neighbors probably don't want a giant tortoise under their home, especially if they are building under ground)... Will a sprinkler make things ok (if it's too hot)? Thanks

 

[Tank'sMom]

Yes. He has put a hole in our plumbing. Luckily my husband is a contractor and was able to fix it, but if you didn't know how, it might cost ya! the pipes you see in the pic are from an old sprinkler system that hasn't worked in years...
He's dug up all kinds of things. Including my dogs grave. :/
Still can't get enough of the big guy! Love my Tank!

 

[Tom]

They dig to avoid heat. In some areas it is a matter of life and death. Its much cooler underground. If you give them an air conditioned retreat it probably won't be difficult to discourage digging.

Here is what I did to solve this problem and it is still my favorite way to house them.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/daisys-new-enclosure.28662/

When they dig, they usually dig down at about a 45 degree angle and then to the right in the Northern hemisphere. They do not dig back up on a different angle. They come and go out of that one entrance, so there is no danger of it digging down in your yard and popping up in your neighbors yard.

There is no set rule about how much space they need. They will use whatever you give them. I like adults to have lots of room to move around. My adult enclosure is about 7000 sq. ft. I wish it were bigger. Here are some pics: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/enclosure-expansion.38788/

Here are a couple of real burrows:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/sulcata-burrows.50846/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/rvs-burrow.20957/

 

[Abdulla6169]

They dig to avoid heat. In some areas it is a matter of life and death. Its much cooler underground. If you give them an air conditioned retreat it probably won't be difficult to discourage digging.

Here is what I did to solve this problem and it is still my favorite way to house them.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/daisys-new-enclosure.28662/

When they dig, they usually dig down at about a 45 degree angle and then to the right in the Northern hemisphere. They do not dig back up on a different angle. They come and go out of that one entrance, so there is no danger of it digging down in your yard and popping up in your neighbors yard.

There is no set rule about how much space they need. They will use whatever you give them. I like adults to have lots of room to move around. My adult enclosure is about 7000 sq. ft. I wish it were bigger. Here are some pics: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/enclosure-expansion.38788/

Here are a couple of real burrows:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/sulcata-burrows.50846/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/rvs-burrow.20957/

It's just worrying (especially with small kids, like a 6 meter burrow), we will have a yard so that won't he a problem, till what age should they be moved from indoor to out? This forum is the best place to learn! Out new yard will be bigger and probably more fit for a sulcata.

 

[Tom]

I don't go by age. I go by size.

New hatchlings get and hour or two of outside time daily, followed by a soak on the way in. By the time they are 5-6" they go out in the morning and come back in in the late afternoon, weather permitting, of course. At 8-10", I move them outside full time with a proper heated shelter like the underground burrow in the "Daisy" link above or like this or this:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-night-box-thread.88966/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/my-best-night-box-design-yet.66867/

 

[Abdulla6169]

I don't go by age. I go by size.

New hatchlings get and hour or two of outside time daily, followed by a soak on the way in. By the time they are 5-6" they go out in the morning and come back in in the late afternoon, weather permitting, of course. At 8-10", I move them outside full time with a proper heated shelter like the underground burrow in the "Daisy" link above or like this or this:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-night-box-thread.88966/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/my-best-night-box-design-yet.66867/

Do I have to have a night box, I don't think I'll need a heater (it will probably never reach below 50 F, but it gets cold when it rarely rains)? I will probably try to install an air conditioner IF I ever got one, the temp can reach up to 118 F! That is too hot! I think a small "shed-like" building with an air conditioner is it enough ?

 

[Tom]

50 is MUCH too cold. They can sometimes survive those temps, but its not good for them. In your dry climate you will need to have some humidity in your night box so you won't want temps to drop much below 75-80 degrees.

My temps here also reach 118 in summer. This is no problem for a tortoise with a burrow, whether they dig it themselves or you make you own as I did. When temps are 100+ here, its just 80 underground. This is how they live in the wild, and this is how they live best in a hot climate here too. Most of the sulcata owners here in the US in Phoenix AZ (VERY hot climate), allow their tortoises to burrow.

Underground is the only way to go.

 

[Abdulla6169]

50 is MUCH too cold. They can sometimes survive those temps, but its not good for them. In your dry climate you will need to have some humidity in your night box so you won't want temps to drop much below 75-80 degrees.

My temps here also reach 118 in summer. This is no problem for a tortoise with a burrow, whether they dig it themselves or you make you own as I did. When temps are 100+ here, its just 80 underground. This is how they live in the wild, and this is how they live best in a hot climate here too. Most of the sulcata owners here in the US in Phoenix AZ (VERY hot climate), allow their tortoises to burrow.

Underground is the only way to go.

That's almost impossible to reach in the city! I don't think that temp is going to happen everyday (probably that "once-a-year" type of storm... It will probably be around 59 F (if not higher) I'm trying to give the highest and lowest temps possible to prevent problems I'll probably have a small room if I ever get one... What should I put in it? A heater, or will it be alright without one?

 

[Tom]

Where ever you house your tortoise you will need to provide the correct temps. 59 is also too cold. It will need to be 75-80 as I said above. It is easiest to do this in a small outdoor box, but if you want to heat a whole room you can.

 

[Abdulla6169]

Where ever you house your tortoise you will need to provide the correct temps. 59 is also too cold. It will need to be 75-80 as I said above. It is easiest to do this in a small outdoor box, but if you want to heat a whole room you can.

It's small, but not sure if it will need heating, what do you suggest I use? Those indoor heater or something smaller? Do you think proper insulation is enough?

 

[Tom]

It's small, but not sure if it will need heating, what do you suggest I use? Those indoor heater or something smaller? Do you think proper insulation is enough?

There are many options for heating a room. I don't know what is available in your area of the world. Insulation will help and save electricity, but only your thermometer will tell you if you need heat or not. If the room stays around 75-80 all the time, even on a cold night, then you won't need heat. If the room drops lower than that, you will.

 

[DanD]

Huge

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

A big freaking space. My sulcata takes up a 25x30 space in the backyard, and I still feel it's too small for her. They also need a large heated (or air conditioned lol ) house. Hmm, I'm not sure there would be a way to stop an animal that big that determined from doing it wants kind of scary
A lot of people use oil radiators, but I don't have one yet.. almost running out of time here for warmer weather

 

[tryme]

This thread has really made my evening. No way would i buy a wrecking ball sulcata. Im sticking with me russians lol

 

[mike taylor]

They aren't wrecking balls! If you setup everything right you will have a nice tortoise . If you put them outside with no shade and no place to hide they will dig . If yoj make them a hide that stays 75/80 º They will use it unless you have a female they will dig a nest.

 

[evlinLoutries]

I had 5 adult sulcata, and I gave them 15m x 40m yard for them..




I was a Tortoise before!