Getting a BIG tortoise

[solstitialis]

Hello,

I am new and this is my first post! Tomorrow I am picking up a ~60# sulcata. I am finding that there isn't really a whole lot of information about keeping large sulcatas. Most information I've found is just about general tortoises who live in small terrariums

Does anyone out there have bigger tortoises and have any good advice?

I have a tortoise shed set up but I have a couple of questions...first, what is the best temperature to keep the shed at at night? Does anyone have a thermostat brand to recommend? I want it to be as energy efficient as possible to keep the electricity bill down.

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome.

Oh Boy, where to begin? First of all you've got some reading to do. Check out the enclosure section and the sulcata section. Where do you live? A lot of your decisions will be determined by your climate.

You'll probably want to use an oil filled heater or "pig blanket" style heat mats. I bought several " A Life" thermostats from LLL and they've been working great for me.

60-65ish will be enough for a big one like that as long as he can warm up during the day.

Here's an example of two different set-ups that work just fine in Southern CA. Probably not enough for colder areas.
http://tortoiseforum.org/Thread-Heated-Den-Boxes

I'd soak him the day you get him or ask the person you are getting him from to do it first. Good luck and keep us posted on how it goes. We all love pics. Do you know if its male or female?

 

[chadk]

Here is a good resource:
http://www.sulcata-station.org/

 

[Len B]

Check out Osborne Industries in north central Kansas, they have Stanfield heat pads from 1x3 to 3x6 feet are made of rigid fiberglass and are very durable.I bought the 3x4 ft size and the FP911 power control 5 years ago and am very satisfied with both.------I still don't know how to add a link to a post, maybe someone else can.

 

[Missy]

I hope you have lots of room for roaming, LOL. I keep Lana in a small 5'x8' pen for now but I walk her up and down the sidewalk 2 times a day. When we get moved I plan on a large area for the tort kids. Have you tried feeding dry grass hay?? You can get bales a lot cheaper and will help on the food bill this winter

 

[Becki]

Welcome! You've come to the right place. Can' t wait to see pictures!

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Solstitialis (may we know your name?):

Welcome to the forum!!

My best advice is for you have have a very large area for the tortoise to roam and graze. Make sure your shed is well-insulated. I use the Stansfield pig blankets plus an overhead fixture containing a black light bulb for overhead heat at night, but this time of year, here in the Central Valley of California, I don't use anything at all. Its quite warm enough for my Dudley with no outside heat sources.

I used to have Dudley's pasture divided into three parts so that two could be growing while he was grazing the third, however, he keeps breaking down the fences, so now its only divided into two parts. However, I'm sure that other fence will be broken down when he realizes the grass in there is better than what he has access to. So, bigger yard is better! They do a lot of "marching."

 

[RV's mom]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on getting a sulcata! I agree with the above.. Lots of room to roam - or as much as you can spare. RV takes the entire back yard, grazes at will and is happy .. there are a lot of good folks here with good advice. My advice is to never be afraid to ask questions..
and post pictures! we love pictures!!

teri

 

[jensgotfaith]

Congratulations! We adopted Tex Wasabi (formerly known as Gimli) about one week ago. We just added another row of cinderblock because just yesterday he was able to knock over the 2 layer in one spot. He is much stronger than he looks. He is amazing though. He's 6 years old and 60 lbs strong. He's definitely more comfortable now than when he first came. Still a bit shy, but so much fun. Be prepared for lots of poo. I do the rounds at least once every day. This forum is an incredible place for information. Welcome!

 

[solstitialis]

Ok, so he is all set up in our yard and HOPEFULLY will not destroy things.



We are going to take him to the vet for a check up.

In the mean time, just *how much* should he eat? He never stops eating or gets to a full point. Is there a quantity of food he should get?

Also.....is it ok for a sulcata to eat a peach AND the pit? We didn't think he would eat a pit, but he did, so we've done a very "creative" job of fencing off the peach tree with scrap material just in case.

 

[tortoisenerd]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the new family member! How big of a yard do you have? Is it chemical free? Read through this forum and you will find lots on keeping large torts like sulcatas.

 

[solstitialis]

The yard is about maybe 50 feet by 100 feet? Its pretty good sized.

 

[Tom]

Its pretty much guaranteed that he will destroy things if he has access to them. Just trying to prepare you for the worst. Then, if something actually doesn't get knocked over, scratched or somehow wrecked, you'll be feeling pretty good.

Peaches aren't good for them. Its kind of like candy for people. Peach pits are toxic. I would make sure he can't eat any more. Hopefully it will just pass through without incident.

For quantity, I always thought they were bottomless pits, but with Cory's help, I have discovered that they actually DO get full... eventually. My biggest is around 50 pounds. I feed a fast food tray full of stuff each day, plus they have bermuda grass hay always available. Even with all the other stuff, they still knock out about a flake of hay each week.

Hope this helps.

 

[Missy]

Ok, so he is all set up in our yard and HOPEFULLY will not destroy things.



We are going to take him to the vet for a check up.

In the mean time, just *how much* should he eat? He never stops eating or gets to a full point. Is there a quantity of food he should get?

Also.....is it ok for a sulcata to eat a peach AND the pit? We didn't think he would eat a pit, but he did, so we've done a very "creative" job of fencing off the peach tree with scrap material just in case.

Cinder block stacked and held in place with rebar stakes make a good barrier. That is what I used for Lanas pen and I am happy with it. Apple seeds are also toxic. Fruit should not be given at all or very rarely as a special treat. Pumpkin and squash are good treats and good for them in moderation. Now how bought some pics and what is his name?

 

[tortoisenerd]

I would not feed fruit at all and stick to healthy stuff if you feel the need for treats like edible organic flowers like hibiscus/roses/pansies, squash blossoms, squash, pumpkin, cactus pads and fruit. That yard is actually on the smaller size to sustain a sulcata (graze for an adult without needing to supplement). You may want to scatter seeds for some variety, or plant stuff in one area away from the tort so it can actually grow, like grape vines for the leaves. Putting a cuttlebone out for it is a good idea. What are you doing for a water dish? They need something large enough to soak in but easy to get in and out. Any info on if it eats hay?

 

[solstitialis]

He doesn't have a water dish and apperently hasn't for the past year. He doesn't ever go in to soak. He does eat hay, so is grass hay the best stuff to give him?

What makes a good water dish? We have a plastic kiddie pool we might sort of bury so he can crawl in it.

We weren't feeding him fruit per se, its just that we have a peach tree and he got to one. We put up a bunch of plywood so he cannot see the peach tree and picked up as many as we could.

Here he is.

<img src="http://images1e.snapfish.com/232323232fp:84>nu=323;>3:8>44;>WSNRCG=33:886:9;8339nu0mrj"></img>
http://images1e.snapfish.com/232323232fp:84>nu=323;>3:8>44;>WSNRCG=33:886:9;8339nu0mrj

 

[tortoisenerd]

If you cut part of the side of the kidde pool and sink it in so he can get in and out, that could be great. Especially for a tort that has been chronically dehydrated, placing him in the pool to soak (even if he gets out right away) can be some great encouragement. Sulcatas have been known to also enjoy the hose being sprinkled on them and mud holes. When its hot especially (100+) those are both great tools to cool them down.

Grass hay or timothy hay is good. Sometimes they go right for it, and other times it takes some coaxing such as mixing it in with some other food in increasingly larger amounts. If hes already eating the grasses you may have luck with the hay, which is especially good for the cooler months where there might not be enough grass.

That photo didn't turn out. Take a look here for some help: http://tortoiseforum.org/Thread-How-to-post-pictures-in-your-forum-posts

 

[Missy]

A large plant saucer or even a shallow bird bath top make good water dishes. A kiddie pool would be to deep and they can't swim. He should have access to water at all times even if you don't see him drink. I never see Lana drink but her water dish gets muddy so I know she does get in it. It would be a good idea to give him a warm water soak since he has not been given water. Does he look dry? He could be dehydrated. Tortoises only pee when they have water to replace it, so it may have been a while. Some people think because they are desert torts that they don't need water but that is not true. Bermuda hay is good or orchard is next best. I can't see the pic that you put up Does he have a name? Now the pic showed up. He is beautiful. He has slight pyramiding but not to bad. From what I can see he looks dry he does need a 30 min. soak.

 

[Becki]

He is beautiful! Bet he would love playing in the mud!

 

[Yvonne G]

Thanks for the picture! Be prepared for an unhappy tortoise for a couple or three weeks. They get pretty set in their ways and are not happy to be moved to a new place. He might go off his feed and march the perimeter of the yard for a while. I call this "pouting." But when he gets used to his new area and realizes he's got food and water, he'll settle down and behave himself.

I use the top of a garbage dumpster for water.