Suggestions ?

Rafael Moreno

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First let me intoduce myself im 14 years of age and i live in los angeles california and i recently went to a local pet store and i saw a little sulcata tortoise that was looking at me and i fell in love and i was looking into getting one and taking care of it now i am aware that they live for a very long time and that they will get big but thats not an issue for me because i have a large backyard besides that i was wondering what i would need to start an indoor enclosue for my bedroom i have room for a 3 foot by 1 foot enclosure and i was wondering what i needed if anybody could give me a list of things i need i would really appeciate it :) oh and i have a 200$ budget not including the tortoise also a care sheet would be amazing

Thanks

-Rafael

I'm new to forums please use constuctive critsism and don't be rude sorry if i sound rude
 

ZEROPILOT

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Welcome, Rafael. A 3' x 1' enclosure will be entirely too small even in just a little time. You are a very wise young man to be asking these questions before actually purchasing your new tortoise. I'm sure that someone that knows more about Sulcatas will be along shortly.
 

mike taylor

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If you go to the sulcata section and read all of the top post you will find everything you need to know . Welcome to the forum .
 

Yvonne G

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Hi Rafael, and welcome to the Forum!

A couple of our members - Tom and Dean S - have put together some good reading for beginner sulcata keepers. You'll find the threads pinned at the top of our Sulcata section here on the Forum. Everything you'll need to know, what to buy, etc. is shown in those threads.
 

Tom

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Hello and welcome. Just click here. After reading these you will have a much better idea of what you need to do:

Read this one first. If the pet store does not know the history, or if the history is not good, DON'T buy it there!
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/hatchling-failure-syndrome.23493/

How to care for them and what set up to use:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

What to feed them:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

What NOT to do:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

I don't think $200 is enough to buy the tortoise and all the things you will need. And as you go along, you'll need to spend even more money. Also, a single sulcata will turn a landscaped backyard into bare dirt within a couple of years and it will like try to dig to China when its a little bigger. Are your parent cool with the whole backyard being destroyed? Perhaps a less destructive, less expensive, smaller species would be better to start with.
 

Rafael Moreno

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Hello and welcome. Just click here. After reading these you will have a much better idea of what you need to do:

Read this one first. If the pet store does not know the history, or if the history is not good, DON'T buy it there!
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/hatchling-failure-syndrome.23493/

How to care for them and what set up to use:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

What to feed them:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

What NOT to do:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

I don't think $200 is enough to buy the tortoise and all the things you will need. And as you go along, you'll need to spend even more money. Also, a single sulcata will turn a landscaped backyard into bare dirt within a couple of years and it will like try to dig to China when its a little bigger. Are your parent cool with the whole backyard being destroyed? Perhaps a less destructive, less expensive, smaller species would be better to start with.
What would be a smaller species ? Russian maybe ?
 

russian/sulcata/tortoise

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What would be a smaller species ? Russian maybe ?
welcome to the forum! russian tortoises have great personalties but like all species they require lifetime care and a large enclosure. 4ft by 8ft is the smallest enclosure size for one russian. read the care sheet and if you can meet all the tortoises care needs than get one:p!
 

Heather H

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$200 is tight with what you need. I'm only giving you estimates: light 40, heat lamp 20, fixtures 20, substrate 20, food 30, dishes 5, miscellaneous stuff 10. That's about $145 not including the tortoise and enclosue.
I am getting ready for a tortoise I have spent about $350. Not including the tortoise. I had the enclosure.
 

argus333

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look for a russian or maybe a cool box turtle i got one when i was 12 now 41 and he still lives in my backyard!
 

bouaboua

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Hello and welcome! ! ! !
 
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