Question

[bsr8129]

I have two Spurs, they are approx 4 yrs old, ones Mr. Booth and Mr. Abe. Thier sex are unknown at this time. They are out side and have free range of the back yard. They use to be in a "pin" that had a heated dog house. Now they just have free range of the back yard and the dog house is still there for them. Mr. Booth has dug a hole or should say a den under our concrete walk way during summer to escape from the heat. Well now it has become Abes and Booths home. Last time i checked its approx 5 feet in and 2-3 feet down. We are slowly starting to come to winter here in So.cali and the they continue to stay in there den and will not sleep in thier heated house, anything i can do to get them to go in the dog house? How cold outside before I become concerned?

Also Booth is always out wondering the yard eating while Abe seems to only come out once or twice a week to eat. Abe doesnt seem to have anything wrong with him/her should i be worried about this? At what age will they lay eggs?

 

[dmarcus]

You will have to block off the burrow other wise they will not use the dog house. I just had to do that with my Sulcata..

 

[yagyujubei]

How about posting a couple of pics, we may be able to tell you the sexes.

 

[tyler0912]

Cover up the burrows and put them in the heated shed at night!

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi bsr8129:

I looked back for your "introductory" thread to see if you ever told us your name and where you are, but there wasn't one. So....

Hi bsr8129!! Welcome to the Tortoise Forum!!

May we know your name and where you are (ok, southern California!).

On a day that both the tortoises are out of the burrow, block the entrance. They're not going to like it, but its for their own good. It gets a bit too cold in Southern California to let sulcatas stay in their burrow during the winter. You may have to physically pick them up and place them inside the heated house every evening for a week or so, but eventually they'll get the idea. Once they're inside the house, block the door so they can't come out.

 

[bsr8129]

My name is John and I am in Ontario in Sunny Souther Cali. I think I will hav to block off their entrance, its going to be in the 90's this week so they still have time to use their den.

Here is a picture of Abe, if you need a better picture let me know. I will take one of Booth if i catch him out of his hole.

 

[Yvonne G]

I'm pretty sure that Abe is really Abby.

 

[dmarcus]

I think Mr. Abe is Mrs. Abby also, lol

 

[bsr8129]

well I guess its no more Mr. Abe, now it will Mrs. Abby or a new name. At what age will they lay eggs

 

[pdrobber]

hehehe thought so too...

I think it's more size that determines that rather than age...but I could be wrong.

 

[bsr8129]

Here is booth. What do u think it's sex is?

 

[dmarcus]

I don't know it this is good or bad for you, but I think that both of your Sulcata's are female..

 

[Maggie Cummings]

That is extremely unusual for somebody to have 2 females, but I also think the second one is female. We'll have to wait for Yvonne to know for sure. Now block off the entrance to the burrow and every night put both in the dog house and block that entrance as well. Then let them out in the morning. You'll have to do that 3 or 4 times before they do it themselves. Don't allow them to dig another burrow.

 

[Yvonne G]

well I guess its no more Mr. Abe, now it will Mrs. Abby or a new name. At what age will they lay eggs

"Mary Todd Lincoln and Mrs. Booth"

 

[bsr8129]

well a little dispapointed to have two females, would like to have reasied one from an egg, but also glad I dont have to cull eggs. Did block off the entrance they slept in the Dog house for 2 nights then it was in the 80's and they dug around my attempt to block off their burrow and made it back in, will catch them out and really block it off.