Hi, glad to find this forum! We have 2 sulcatas

[TweedleDeeDum]

Ok- got it, thank you so much for your help. I do all those things, just not as often as I should I guess- Good to know. They do love to graze- whenever I'm home before dark take them out to graze- it's hard to keep my eyes on them both!

 

[Angie Robinson]

Hi, glad to find this forum! We have 2 Sulcatas, Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum. They are about 3 1/2 yrs old. I'm figuring things out on my own, & have had them for about 15 months. This is a pic of their yard, I move the bricks every few weeks to give them fresh grass. I also give them kale nearly every day, just don't know how much they should be eating. Also, their shells seem to be dry- what do I do about it, if anything? I have so many questions! Thank you!!

View attachment 199744 View attachment 199745

I wish I had your yard and set up. That's great. Welcome. Welcome.

 

[Gillian M]

He just sits in there and relaxes, and when the water is running he will sit right under it.

A very good looking tort! GOD bless.

 

[Gillian M]

Hi, glad to find this forum! We have 2 Sulcatas, Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum. They are about 3 1/2 yrs old. I'm figuring things out on my own, & have had them for about 15 months. This is a pic of their yard, I move the bricks every few weeks to give them fresh grass. I also give them kale nearly every day, just don't know how much they should be eating. Also, their shells seem to be dry- what do I do about it, if anything? I have so many questions! Thank you!!

View attachment 199744 View attachment 199745

A very warm welcome to the forum!

Love your torts' names.

Your torts are pyramided. Please give them daily soaks in warm water so as to stop the pyramiding where it is.

They're so lucky to have all that space.

 

[TweedleDeeDum]

Moved bricks and digging another pond- this is their yard for now.

 

[Cowboy_Ken]

They do love to graze- whenever I'm home before dark take them out to graze- it's hard to keep my eyes on them both!

Graze/walking is great for them and they are hard wired to do so while searching out foods to eat in their natural environment. I own 5 acres of pasture here in Oregon. And like you, I've built a large outdoor pen. And both of ours are very similar. As for keeping an eye on them outside of their pen, I came up with this idea. I just kickback on my patio while the tortoise grazes and strolls.
One other water pan I use in the outdoor pen, is a thick rubber type horse feed pan. These are very heavy duty and standup to those brittling affects of the sun. I do often keep a layer of 3"-4" crushed gravel in the bottom just for whatever. as you can see from the serious pyramiding present on this male, you can see he is a rescue here at the ranch.

 

[Angie Robinson]

Graze/walking is great for them and they are hard wired to do so while searching out foods to eat in their natural environment. I own 5 acres of pasture here in Oregon. And like you, I've built a large outdoor pen. And View attachment 200177 both of ours are very similar. As for keeping an eye on them outside of their pen, I came up with this idea. I just kickback on my patio while the tortoise grazes and strolls. View attachment 200178View attachment 200179
One other water pan I use in the outdoor pen, is a thick rubber type horse feed pan. These are very heavy duty and standup to those brittling affects of the sun. I do often keep a layer of 3"-4" crushed gravel in the bottom just for whatever. View attachment 200181as you can see from the serious pyramiding present on this male, you can see he is a rescue here at the ranch.

The balloons are an awesome idea! I need a bigger yard

 

[TweedleDeeDum]

Oh wow! I love this- I always wondered if the ballon trick really worked!

 

[TweedleDeeDum]

Ours were given to us by a family whose kids were bored with tortoises They had never grazed or been in water, and were kept in a 4x8 pin on the porch. They are the same age, but Dee is 1/2 the size of Dum. We've finished the new pond, but now have thunderstorms and have to wait for it to dry out to fill it & let them have access to it. They love grazing, but Dee mainly searches for dog poo to eat- it's very frustrating to say the least!

 

[TweedleDeeDum]

How do you keep them warm and with decently warm water for soaking in the winter months?

 

[Angie Robinson]

Ours were given to us by a family whose kids were bored with tortoises They had never grazed or View attachment 200280been in water, and were kept in a 4x8 pin on the porch. They are the same age, but Dee is 1/2 the size of Dum. We've finished the new pond, but now have thunderstorms and have to wait for it to dry out to fill it & let them have access to it. They love grazing, but Dee mainly searches for dog poo to eat- it's very frustrating to say the least!View attachment 200286

I have to keep my dogs in the front yard and my tortoise in the backyard. If I just let them eat each other's poo, I would never be on poo doodie duty. Hahahahaha

 

[Ramirezm2]

Man the things i would do to have that type of space for my tortoises. Im sure that they are loving life!

 

[Yvonne G]

All my outdoor tortoise yards have a heated, insulated shed and the tortoises retreat into the shed at night or if they get cold:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/dudleys-rebuild.111350/

 

[Angie Robinson]

All my outdoor tortoise yards have a heated, insulated shed and the tortoises retreat into the shed at night or if they get cold:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/dudleys-rebuild.111350/

Wow his nighttime home is awesome. Great job!

 

[TweedleDeeDum]

Mine do the same, I'm still not sure about the ideal temp for them in their house- it seems like it's too warm inside- and they are very warm to the touch- also, what about humidity? Is it a concern for them at their age and where we live? They are free to roam in and out as they please, should I trust their instincts?