Never Owned a Tortise

[toptooty77]

I’m totally new to Tortoises and I’m inheriting a 20inch 10 year old Sulcata male. I live in the UK so it can get cold he lives out side currently. I have an acre of grass area for him a shed/house and lamps and heaters what’s the best book to buy on how to feed them and what temperature they need to be at etc.. sorry

 

[jsheffield]

There's a lot of information in the species specific forum ...

Sulcata tortoises
https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?forums/88/

Good luck and welcome!

Jamie

 

[toptooty77]

There's a lot of information in the species specific forum ...

Sulcata tortoises
https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?forums/88/

Good luck and welcome!

Jamie

That’s great thank you

 

[JoesMum]

Hello and welcome to TFO from Kent, UK

Sulcatas are less common in the UK and, as you undoubtedly know, cannot hibernate.

@Lyn W keeps a Leopard Tortoise in Wales and the care of these species is broadly similar. If she doesn’t respond to my tag, I suggest you message her through TFO

I wouldn’t recommend any book. Unfortunately there is a lot of outdated information in them and circulating on the internet. Pet stores and, sadly, some breeders and vets are no better unfortunately.

You have come to the right place for up to date information. On this forum we have species experts like @Tom who are around regularly and have written care guides to try to get the up to date information out there. (He’s in California, so you may have to wait for a few hours for him to be about)

Ask as many questions as you need to

There are examples of night boxes in the Enclosures forum and his Care Guides are in the Sulcata forum.

https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-night-box-thread.88966/

 

[toptooty77]

Hello and welcome to TFO from Kent, UK

Sulcatas are less common in the UK and, as you undoubtedly know, cannot hibernate.

@Lyn W keeps a Leopard Tortoise in Wales and the care of these species is broadly similar. If she doesn’t respond to my tag, I suggest you message her through TFO

I wouldn’t recommend any book. Unfortunately there is a lot of outdated information in them and circulating on the internet. Pet stores and, sadly, some breeders and vets are no better unfortunately.

You have come to the right place for up to date information. On this forum we have species experts like @Tom who are around regularly and have written care guides to try to get the up to date information out there. (He’s in California, so you may have to wait for a few hours for him to be about)

Ask as many questions as you need to

There are examples of night boxes in the Enclosures forum and his Care Guides are in the Sulcata forum.

https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-night-box-thread.88966/

Thank you for your reply, you’ve been very helpful.

 

[Ray--Opo]

Welcome and good luck from a fellow sully owner

 

[Lyn W]

I’m totally new to Tortoises and I’m inheriting a 20inch 10 year old Sulcata male. I live in the UK so it can get cold he lives out side currently. I have an acre of grass area for him a shed/house and lamps and heaters what’s the best book to buy on how to feed them and what temperature they need to be at etc.. sorry

Hi there, sorry I've taken a while to reply to JoesMum's tag - pc probs.
You have a steep learning curve to climb as I did when I first had my tort.
I wouldn't bother with a book as you will get all the personalised answers and up to date info you need here from experienced sully keepers all over the world in similar climates.
There is a caresheet for sulcatas in the species specific section which will tell you all about diet, temps, humidity, substrate etc You will also find www.thetortoisetable.org.uk a good guide to tort safe foods and plants.

If you have a room /heated conservatory that you could adapt to house your sully in over winter I would do that to be on the safe side. Our winters can be cold and wet which is a recipe for respiratory problems. What did his previous owner do with him over winter?

My leopard lives indoors in an adapted shower room all year round with access to outside when ground temps are at least 70'F. I have a large rubber mat on most the floor with a big tray of substrate, a large plant saucer so he can self soak in and an another deeper drinking bowl as they submerge their heads or at least nostrils when drinking. He has his mvb, che on a thermostat, additional basking lights and a radiator to keep him toasty. There are also plants in there, and to help with humidity I keep containers of water to help - out of his way of course. He has a hide which is the top of a covered cat litter tray but you will need something a little bigger I think.

If you are unable to do that Tom has a great design for a heated night box you could make (if you are handy and have a source of electricity in your shed.
It all sounds very daunting but this forum is a godsend and if you google tortoise clubs you may find one on your area that could help.
Good luck and keep asking questions!