I dont know what she is!!!!

[rookie123]

So i have had this tortoise for a couple of months now. I got her from an old co worker who said she was some type of madagascar tortoise. I want to know exactly what she is though so i can create the right enclosure and prepare the right food. She is very healthy: eats, drinks, very mobile and likes human company. But i also want to know: does she swim, what is the best diet, substrate ideas, etc... Please help, my daughter and i really want to give her a cozy home. Thank you

 

[cmacusa3]

Looks like a Sulcata to me.

 

[Carol S]

A Salcata tortoise

 

[cmacusa3]

Check out the Sulcata section under African tortoises

 

[rookie123]

Thank you much. I have also heard it could be a ploughshare tortoise. I hope and doubt not from what i have read but again i am no tortoise expert

 

[cmacusa3]

Thank you much. I have also heard it could be a ploughshare tortoise. I hope and doubt not from what i have read but again i am no tortoise expert

Definitely not a ploughshare

 

[Yvonne G]

Nope - not from Madagascar, but rather captive bred right here in the good old U.S. of A.! Sulcata for sure. If you were to have been given a ploughshare tortoise it would be very, very rare indeed.

 

[Big Charlie]

They don't swim but they should be soaked in warm water. Larger tortoises like ponds or mud puddles. I hope you realize that these tortoises get huge. Where are you located? It is easier to keep them in warmer areas.

 

[JoesMum]

Hi

Just to warn you that your Sulcata will rapidly grow into a 100lb bulldozer that cannot hibernate - it's important you know because outdoor space will be essential soon and a heated night-box in the cooler months.

Here are the care sheets you should read.

Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

How to raise a healthy Sulcata
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

 

[Tom]

You have a tropical species. They need to be kept warm day and night, 24/7. Loose in the house is very dangerous for them.

In addition to the links from Joe's Mum, read this one for feeding: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

 

[TheSulcata]

Definitely a sulcata

 

[rookie123]

I have readvthe articles on the food diet. But i guess im comfused.... there are sooo many choices, what do i use as a regular diet? How often for treats? How often do i give supplements? Should i use just calcium or a calcuium mix... how deep should the water dish be (she is 4 is inches tall to tip of shell.), why are the ramped dishes hazardous im sorry i may sound dumb about this. I am very aware of the size but i do have the room and patience. Plus my 4 yr old fell very much in love with her.

 

[JoesMum]

Sulcatas diet put simply is a variety of leafy greens, weeds in preference to store bought, and hay/grass.

They cannot digest sugars properly - they cause digestive and kidney problems - so fruit, tomato, bell pepper and carrot should only be fed very sparingly and very occasionally if at all.

Treats are not necessary- it's better to feed healthy and keep your tort healthy.

Sprinkle a tiny pinch of calcium powder on food 3 times a week. That's plenty.

Here's a list of suitable greens

Look them up on The Tortoise Table Plant Database if you're not sure what they look like.
http://thetortoisetable.org.uk/site/plant_database_14.asp

Mulberry leaves
Grape vine leaves
Hibiscus leaves
African hibiscus leaves
Blue hibiscus leaves
Rose of Sharon leaves
Rose leaves
Geraniums
Gazanias
Lavatera
Pansies
Petunias
Hostas
Honeysuckle
Cape honeysuckle
Leaves and blooms from any squash plant, like pumpkin, cucumber, summer squash, etc...
Young spineless opuntia cactus pads

Weeds:
There are soooooooo many...
Dandelion
Mallow
Filaree
Smooth Sow thistle
Prickly Sow thistle
Milk thistle
Goat head weed
Cats ear
Nettles
Trefoil
Wild onion
Wild mustard
Wild Garlic
Clovers
Broadleaf plantain
Narrow leaf plantain
Chick weed
Hawksbit
Hensbit
Hawksbeard

 

[Speedy-1]

Looks like a Sulcata to me.

I think you are right !

 

[Gillian M]

A very warm welcome to the forum @rookie123 .

A cute sulcata. Please give her daily soaks in warm water - torts do NOT swim.

 

[Tom]

I have readvthe articles on the food diet. But i guess im comfused.... there are sooo many choices, what do i use as a regular diet? How often for treats? How often do i give supplements? Should i use just calcium or a calcuium mix... how deep should the water dish be (she is 4 is inches tall to tip of shell.), why are the ramped dishes hazardous im sorry i may sound dumb about this. I am very aware of the size but i do have the room and patience. Plus my 4 yr old fell very much in love with her.

For the diet use a variety of all the things on that list and more. Lots and lots of stuff. Make grass or grass hay a large percentage of the daily diet.

No treats. Feed good foods and that is its own treat.

Generally, a tiny pinch of a calcium supplement twice a week will be plenty and a tiny pinch of a vitamin supplement once a week.

Use a 10" or 12" terra cotta saucer sunk into the substrate for a water bowl for a tortoise this size. The ramped ones are dangerous because they can flip and drown in them. The sides are too tall and too steep and a tortoise cannot maneuver around them well with their rigid shells.

Please feel free to ask all your questions. We are here to help you have a healthy long-lived tortoise.

 

[rookie123]

For the diet definitely ariety of all the things on that list and more. Lots and lots of stuff. Make grass or grass hay a large percentage of the daily diet.

No treats. Feed good foods and that is its own treat.

Generally, a tiny pinch of a calcium supplement twice a week will be plenty and a tiny pinch of a vitamin supplement once a week.

Use a 10" or 12" terra cotta saucer sunk into the substrate for a water bowl for a tortoise this size. The ramped ones are dangerous because they can flip and drown in them. The sides are too tall and too steep and a tortoise cannot maneuver around them well with their rigid shells.

Please feel free to ask all your questions. We are here to help you have a healthy long-lived tortoise.

Thank you for all the help everyone on here seems to definitely know their stuff.
when you say you feed your tortoise all the foods on the list do you mean all in 1 feeding or over a period of time? Is there a mixed food i can buy at a feed store or do i need to find all of these myself? How much per feeding?

 

[Tom]

when you say you feed your tortoise all the foods on the list do you mean all in 1 feeding or over a period of time? Is there a mixed food i can buy at a feed store or do i need to find all of these myself? How much per feeding?

You can feed one item for a few days and then switch to a new item, or you can feed a mixture of all sorts of different things every day, or somewhere in between. You'll need to either scrounge or grow most of that stuff yourself. There are all sorts of good tortoise seed mixes to be found. You probably have many of those around you right now.

Feed your tortoise as much as it wants daily. If there is some left over at the end of the day, feed a little less the next day. If its all gone before noon, feed more. Tortoises are grazers and they need to be able to eat the right foods all day.

Once your tortoise gets a little bigger, grass hay from the feed store will be a life saver. Start planting your spineless opuntia now.

Finally, your questions don't sound dumb. Your questions sound like someone who is new to this hobby, but wants to learn and do a good job for their tortoise. That is the kind of person we all want to help and those are the kind of questions I don't mind answering all day. (And night…)

 

[Big Charlie]

Thank you for all the help everyone on here seems to definitely know their stuff.
when you say you feed your tortoise all the foods on the list do you mean all in 1 feeding or over a period of time? Is there a mixed food i can buy at a feed store or do i need to find all of these myself? How much per feeding?

You don't need to provide everything on the list, just give a variety. Whatever you can grow yourself is best. Charlie eats mostly the grass and weeds that grow in our yard. He gets other stuff when it is available and when I cut it for him since he can't reach everything.

Did you mention where you live?

 

[TerrapinStation]

Hello and welcome!

Congratulations on your new friend & you are in the right place for up-to-date info and proper care.