Hello,
I am new to tortoises and the tortoise world. I have been considering a tortoise for about two years or so. I worked at a zoo with two russians that were so charming they kind of sold me on the species. I had done some research and was originally intending on adopting a russian. I was going to adopt rather than purchase because there seem to be more of them looking for homes after a few years.
Well, a family friend has a sulcata they are looking to re-home. It actually sounds like a sort of non-tortoise friendly home. The enclosure is too small for the animal and the UV lamp burned out about a month ago and has not been replaced. The tortoise is being fed a diet of lettuce and peas. This tortoise is also having weakness in its hind legs. I think its a UV issue but the owner thinks its lack of exercise. I have been offered this animal. I have not yet met the tortoise and when asked how long it was I was given a measurement of around 10-12 inches and told it weights about as much as a cinder block. Its around 11 years old. It does have some mild to moderating tenting or pyramiding.
I am currently a student who goes home on weekends. I will graduate in a year. So my plan for the winter was to have the tortoise either in my apartment or living in a kiddie pool in the sun room. In the spring and summer, I planned to have the tortoise live outside in an old abandon dog kennel that will be retrofitted for the tortoise. If I adopt this tortoise I will of course take it to the vet in the first few weeks and try to have it on a hay diet. After graduation, I anticipate living in an apartment for the first few months to years post graduation. The tortoise would come along. The plan for that would be an indoor enclosure and then during summer a temporary outdoor enclosure on either a ground floor of an apartment or balcony. I do eventually plan on having my own home but realistically it might take a few years. Once I own my own home it will be ideal.
I have a few questions. The first is does this sound like an okay home for this tortoise? I understand that most sulcata's do most of their growing during the first ten years of life in captivity due to in theory better nutrition. So, will this tortoise experience a massive growth spurt if put on a balanced diet? Do people have trouble finding apartments that are tortoise friendly? What do you recommend for substrate? I have heard that people suggest hay (which would be most convenient for me) but I also thought about peat moss, reptile sand, reptile sand/coconut fiber mixture.
I am new to tortoises and the tortoise world. I have been considering a tortoise for about two years or so. I worked at a zoo with two russians that were so charming they kind of sold me on the species. I had done some research and was originally intending on adopting a russian. I was going to adopt rather than purchase because there seem to be more of them looking for homes after a few years.
Well, a family friend has a sulcata they are looking to re-home. It actually sounds like a sort of non-tortoise friendly home. The enclosure is too small for the animal and the UV lamp burned out about a month ago and has not been replaced. The tortoise is being fed a diet of lettuce and peas. This tortoise is also having weakness in its hind legs. I think its a UV issue but the owner thinks its lack of exercise. I have been offered this animal. I have not yet met the tortoise and when asked how long it was I was given a measurement of around 10-12 inches and told it weights about as much as a cinder block. Its around 11 years old. It does have some mild to moderating tenting or pyramiding.
I am currently a student who goes home on weekends. I will graduate in a year. So my plan for the winter was to have the tortoise either in my apartment or living in a kiddie pool in the sun room. In the spring and summer, I planned to have the tortoise live outside in an old abandon dog kennel that will be retrofitted for the tortoise. If I adopt this tortoise I will of course take it to the vet in the first few weeks and try to have it on a hay diet. After graduation, I anticipate living in an apartment for the first few months to years post graduation. The tortoise would come along. The plan for that would be an indoor enclosure and then during summer a temporary outdoor enclosure on either a ground floor of an apartment or balcony. I do eventually plan on having my own home but realistically it might take a few years. Once I own my own home it will be ideal.
I have a few questions. The first is does this sound like an okay home for this tortoise? I understand that most sulcata's do most of their growing during the first ten years of life in captivity due to in theory better nutrition. So, will this tortoise experience a massive growth spurt if put on a balanced diet? Do people have trouble finding apartments that are tortoise friendly? What do you recommend for substrate? I have heard that people suggest hay (which would be most convenient for me) but I also thought about peat moss, reptile sand, reptile sand/coconut fiber mixture.
I agree with emysemys. This tort is already in trouble and needs some immediate attention, good old sunshine and calcium, proper diet. You idea would be better then where it's at, but still not really ideal, especially for a tortoise that already lots of sunshine and room to roam. I would look into a sulcata rescue and see if they can find a home for it. Check out this thread and see if they can help you 
