Raising a sulcata in Fresno, CA

[Matt Fidelibus]

We have been raising a sulcata in Fresno since June 2020. Acquired as a hatchling of about 40 g, he weighed a little over 1 kg yesterday. We've learned a lot from searching the forums, but still made some mistakes and the learning process is ongoing. Here are some pictures of our tortoise scooter.

Matt

 

[janevicki]

Your Tortie Guy is very handsome! you are doing a great job! Do you have a heated house for him in the winter?

 

[Matt Fidelibus]

Your Tortie Guy is very handsome! you are doing a great job! Do you have a heated house for him in the winter?

Thanks, I really appreciate it. No, we don't yet have a heated house for winter. We plan to keep him inside this winter, moving him outside permanently next spring. Between now and then we plan to remodel our backyard, to include the things he needs for his outdoor house (mainly power, but also beefing up walls and gates). That is the plan anyway. Could change depending on how big he is in the fall. I have seen the plans for houses here but I am sure to have questions as we work on them.

Matt

 

[Tom]

Your tortoise looks great, but I think you got the dates wrong. June 2020 he was 40 grams, and in July 2020 he's 1000? Or you raised him from a 40 gram hatching somewhere else and just moved to Fresno with a 1000 gram tortoise last month?

 

[Matt Fidelibus]

Your tortoise looks great, but I think you got the dates wrong. June 2020 he was 40 grams, and in July 2020 he's 1000? Or you raised him from a 40 gram hatching somewhere else and just moved to Fresno with a 1000 gram tortoise last month?

Thanks for the positive feedback and catching my mistake. We have learned a lot from your posts.
We got him in June 2019 as a 40 grams hatchling and now he weighs a little over a kilogram.

Matt

 

[Tom]

Thanks for the positive feedback and catching my mistake. We have learned a lot from your posts.
We got him in June 2019 as a 40 grams hatchling and now he weighs a little over a kilogram.

Matt

That sounds more reasonable.

1000 grams in its first year is excellent growth, and that reflects excellent care! Well done!

 

[janevicki]

LOL Matt! ?

I don't have sulcatas, I would Love, LoVe, LOVE to have some sulcatas!!! ???

But I have 2 Manouria emys phayrei (they are only the 4 largest tortloise species) and 5 turtles. NO ROOM! ?

So I am enjoying pictures of your handsome Tortie and drooling...?

Have a great rest of your weekend and enjoy your Tortie Guy!

 

[janevicki]

Your tortoise looks great, but I think you got the dates wrong. June 2020 he was 40 grams, and in July 2020 he's 1000? Or you raised him from a 40 gram hatching somewhere else and just moved to Fresno with a 1000 gram tortoise last month?

No steroids pleeze! ? Sorry could not help myself!

 

[Matt Fidelibus]

LOL Matt! ?

I don't have sulcatas, I would Love, LoVe, LOVE to have some sulcatas!!! ???

But I have 2 Manouria emys phayrei (they are only the 4 largest tortloise species) and 5 turtles. NO ROOM! ?

So I am enjoying pictures of your handsome Tortie and drooling...?

Have a great rest of your weekend and enjoy your Tortie Guy!

Thanks. The species you have is so beautiful.
We get a lot of pleasure watching our tortoise. It relieves a lot of stress and anxiety.

M.

 

[Chubbs the tegu]

Nice job!

 

[janevicki]

Thanks. The species you have is so beautiful.
We get a lot of pleasure watching our tortoise. It relieves a lot of stress and anxiety.

M.

MEPs are such funny torts! I love mine, but sometimes they act like ungrateful stinky shelled cows. ?Yes, i love watching my torts. Very peaceful.

 

[Matt Fidelibus]

Nice job!

Thank you

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Matt, and welcome to the Forum!