Looking into getting a sulcata

[Nathan Avila]

First let me introduce myself my name is Nathan Avila I live in southern California and I was looking into getting a baby sulcata tortoise as a pet. I've read some of the threads on the forums and I do understand that they get very large and sooner or later they will need to be moved outside, which is okay for me. But one thing Im still confused about is setting up an indoor enclosure and I was wondering what I need to get started with one. Also I heard something about closed chambers and I don't know what they are.

 

[Nathan Avila]

Also does anyone know about any breeders going to the reptile super show in San Diego on July 18-19 I believe ?

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome Nathan!

A lot has been learned about how to properly care for sulcata tortoises, and why, in just the last few years. We've been doing it all wrong for decades and much of the tortoise keeping and breeding public has still not clued in. Here is all the current info:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/closed-chambers.32333/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

BEFORE YOU BUY!!!! Read this:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/hatchling-failure-syndrome.23493/

I strongly recommend AGAINST buying one at the reptile expo unless you somehow find a breeder who is starting them right. Damp substrate, daily soaks, yolk sac absorption in a brooder box, not on the incubation substrate, warm humid enclosure, NOT outside all day in the sunshine, etc... It is very unlikely that you will find someone who meets those simple criteria at the San Diego show, but there are a few breeders here on the forum that do it right.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Nathan - Welcome to the Forum!

 

[bouaboua]

Hello and Welcome to the forum ! ! !

 

[Prairie Mom]

Also be warned...they graze like a goat and poop like a BULL! I have a really young sulcata and am already seeing this is true.

You can't really buy a tortoise enclosure. You'll have to make one. Tom sent you some really good links that helped me a lot when I first got mine. His closed Chamber thread should give you some ideas.

They're great animals. Welcome to the forum.

 

[Lancecham]

Make sure you read the links provided to you. There is a lot of valuable information. Don't hesitate to ask questions after you read the information. There are several breeders of sulcatas in Southern California. I am I. Southern California and breed sulcatas as well and have some available.

 

[Maro2Bear]

Nathan

Take a good look at what @Lancecham has to offer you. We purchased our Sully last June (2014) from Lance and have only good things to say about Lance and his sullys. Lance is there all the time to answer your questions, arranges great shipping if you need and his torts are great.

Here's our now THREE pounder who was hatched by Lance last May 2014 and shipped to us in early June.