I don’t think I actually have a sulcata

[Beebermd]

Hi guys. So I got what I was told was a baby sulcata hatchling. I was excited. I had an outdoor set up with everything eagerly knowing it would soon be big enough to require out door housing. The problem is, that was 6 years ago! Lol. Im still waiting. Hes very healthy, happy and eats well. So I’m wondering if maybe I don’t have a sulcata after all. I’ve looked at all the identification stuff and he seems to have them all so I dunno. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Thomas tortoise]

Hi guys. So I got what I was told was a baby sulcata hatchling. I was excited. I had an outdoor set up with everything eagerly knowing it would soon be big enough to require out door housing. The problem is, that was 6 years ago! Lol. Im still waiting. Hes very healthy, happy and eats well. So I’m wondering if maybe I don’t have a sulcata after all. I’ve looked at all the identification stuff and he seems to have them all so I dunno. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

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You've got a sulcata all right I dont know if its a Hypo sulcata but its a sulctata. Just to clarify. You said its six years old?! It is way to small for a 6 year old tortoise! What have you been feeding it. And your tortoise is starting to pyramid. Humidity will help with that. @Lyn W I dont know how to post links so could you send her the link. "Best way to raise sulcata, leopard, and star tortoises"

 

[Beebermd]

You've got a sulcata all right I dont know if its a Hypo sulcata but its a sulctata. Just to clarify. You said its six years old?! It is way to small for a 6 year old tortoise! What have you been feeding it. And your tortoise is starting to pyramid. Humidity will help with that. @Lyn W I dont know how to post links so could you send her the link. "Best way to raise sulcata, leopard, and star tortoises"

Thanks for the response. Yup. 6 years old. That first pic was when I Brought him home on june 24, 2016. He would never touch hay or grass. So I’ve only fed him store greens with some wild snuck in so he wouldn’t notice. Maybe I’m not feeding enough. All the fresh greens he wouldn’t eat would go bad and smell and make a mess. Maybe I should leave something dry at all times so he can graze…..but just won’t eat dry greens. UV is good. He’s a great little tort. He been rocking it out on his tort table for the last six years. Lol. I was never planning on it being part of my home decor for so long. And thanks for the tip on the humidity. I’ve been thinking about changing substrates.

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome to the Forum!

If a tortoise isn't kept in conditions that mimic his home world's conditions, it stunts their growth. Please read our care sheet and make changes accordingly:

Sulcata tortoises

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Lyn W]

Hi and welcome,
This is the caresheet you need

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

If you follow that as closely as possible your baby should thrive, so read it through but ask as many questions as you like to clarify things.
If you post a picture of his housing and lamps etc you'll get good feedback to make sure its as safe as possible - there's a lot of old and incorrect information still being passed around on other forums, FB, pet shops etc, but all advice here is up to date.

 

[Grace-Sophia]

Little cutie you got there -
My three and a half year old Hermann's is bigger than that!!!

 

[Tom]

Hi guys. So I got what I was told was a baby sulcata hatchling. I was excited. I had an outdoor set up with everything eagerly knowing it would soon be big enough to require out door housing. The problem is, that was 6 years ago! Lol. Im still waiting. Hes very healthy, happy and eats well. So I’m wondering if maybe I don’t have a sulcata after all. I’ve looked at all the identification stuff and he seems to have them all so I dunno. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

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I agree that is is a sulcata. Most breeders start them all wrong, and then tell their buyers all the wrong care info. Most don't survive. Some survive, but they don't grow much. The info from vets, pet shops, and the internet is often worse.

You cannot maintain that correct conditions in an open table for this species. Too cold and much too dry. Your tortoise has managed to survive, but not thrive. Normal size for this age would be 40-60 pounds.

Read the care sheet that Lyn linked, set your tortoise up that way, and it may eventually start to grow normally after a few months. Questions are welcome.