Identification please

[petuniapig]

I was just given these two Tortoise with no information at all as to what kind they are, age etc... They are so cool! I have been busy making them a nice home on 1/8 an acre and reading to learn all the do's and don'ts. They probably weigh 50 and 60 pounds each. I have no idea what sex they are or anything. I was told they belonged to a man who passed away and nothing is known on their history.

 

[spikethebest]

they are Sulcata Tortoises.

 

[-JM]

If you turn them over and take pictures of their plastron we can help you determine their genders.

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome. You've got two sulcatas. They are my favorite species and are very friendly and personable. They can get up to about 150 pounds. They eat a lot. They don't hibernate, so you need to construct some sort of heated shed or building for cold nights and winter. Where are you in the country?

1/8th of an acre will make a nice pen, but make sure it has a visual barrier all the way around. They will usually push against chain link or wire and injure themselves.

If you post plastron pics, showing the anal scute region, we can try to sex them for you.

 

[Laura]

they look like males to me.. if they get along GREAT.. but be prepared to possibly seperate them if necc.
Go to the Sulcata section and start reading! Housing, Diet, heating etc.
COngrats on the new additions!!!!

 

[RV's mom]

I agree with Laura ~ these look to be boys.. but the definative answer lies in pictures of the plastron and anal scutes. Any pictures of the undersides and tail section will help greatly.

teri

 

[petuniapig]

I agree with Laura ~ these look to be boys.. but the definative answer lies in pictures of the plastron and anal scutes. Any pictures of the undersides and tail section will help greatly.

teri

Here are the pictures as requested. According to my research, I have a male and a female.

 

[Yvonne G]

They both look male to me.

Welcome to the forum!!

 

[Tom]

The one on the right is definitely male. We need a better pic, or pics, of the one on the left. Is there ANY concavity to the plastron on the left one? Try to get a shot that shows the size of the tail. If you shoot at a little bit of an angle, instead of straight on, we should be able to see any plastron concavity too.

If they are both male, start planning their separation now. My two males got along just fine for nearly 10 years, then, one day, the fight was on! I kept finding one of them on his back in the summer sun. They are now permanently separated.

 

[moswen]

oh how wonderfully lucky you are to be given two adult sulcata tortoises! that's amazing... lift with your legs! actually there is a woman on this website named maggie who has a sulcata, king robert III but she calls him bob, search the "bob cart", she has a wheelbarrow that he can walk into and she carts him around that way... it's the best invention i've ever heard of!! get lots of hay before the winter, they're big eaters! timothy orchard grass, clover, and bermuda (bermuda being the absolute best since bermuda is native to africa) are the best hays, try to stay away from alfalfa if you can. start doing your research, and start growing your own opuntia! good luck, we're always around to help in any way we can!

 

[hali]

wow lucky you - gorgeous torts

 

[petuniapig]

The one on the right is definitely male. We need a better pic, or pics, of the one on the left. Is there ANY concavity to the plastron on the left one? Try to get a shot that shows the size of the tail. If you shoot at a little bit of an angle, instead of straight on, we should be able to see any plastron concavity too.

If they are both male, start planning their separation now. My two males got along just fine for nearly 10 years, then, one day, the fight was on! I kept finding one of them on his back in the summer sun. They are now permanently separated.

The one on the right is very concave and the one on the left is very flat. Pics attached. These were taken the same day as the one of them both side by side. I will get new pics asap from an angle.

 

[Tom]

I'm leaning toward male for both, but I can't tell for sure on the one. The tail seems small, but the pics don't show it well. There also "appears" to be some concavity there, but pics can be deceiving that way. Do you know how old they are?

 

[Scooter]

I think they both look male also. Congrats and welcome to the forum!