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I have a baby Sulcata and he likes to sort of bury himself and dig when he sleeps. I though Sulcatas don't like to burrow or do they???
Sulcata Burrowing
- Thread starter lindseyjordan10
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Normal behavior for a sulcata
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Good to know 
if I had more substrate in there I might not be able to find him haha
if I had more substrate in there I might not be able to find him haha
Oh, they definitely like to burrow. Search burrows on here and see some of the HUGE digs that have been made.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-50846.html
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-20957.html
Read these. There are many more threads along these lines.
Yes sulcatas like to burrow. Your babies aren't really burrowing yet. They are just digging in a little bit to make a little humid micro climate. When they start to burrow, and I mean really burrow, you will know it.
Sulcatas and the gopherus genus are about the most avid burrowers there are in the tortoise world. They live the majority of their lives underground. How could you not know this? Girl, you need to get busy doing some studying. What you have there is a potential 200 pound, backyard destroying, massive tunnel digging, landscaping eating, bulldozing, ankle ramming monster. Do you not know what you have? Are you prepared for what your cute little baby is going to grow into?
I'm going to guess that you didn't take the sulcata challenge before buying one, did you?
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-20957.html
Read these. There are many more threads along these lines.
Yes sulcatas like to burrow. Your babies aren't really burrowing yet. They are just digging in a little bit to make a little humid micro climate. When they start to burrow, and I mean really burrow, you will know it.
Sulcatas and the gopherus genus are about the most avid burrowers there are in the tortoise world. They live the majority of their lives underground. How could you not know this? Girl, you need to get busy doing some studying. What you have there is a potential 200 pound, backyard destroying, massive tunnel digging, landscaping eating, bulldozing, ankle ramming monster. Do you not know what you have? Are you prepared for what your cute little baby is going to grow into?
I'm going to guess that you didn't take the sulcata challenge before buying one, did you?
Tom said:
I'm curious, the sulcata challenge?
Re: RE: Sulcata Burrowing
Finding out what a sulcata is like, learning about their behavior, needs and understanding that you can provide, offer and accept all of it.
I failed, so I have different species
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jjsull33 said:
Finding out what a sulcata is like, learning about their behavior, needs and understanding that you can provide, offer and accept all of it.
I failed, so I have different species
Sent from my VS840 4G using TortForum mobile app
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Either way it doesn't really matter to me. I'm just on here asking questions so I can do the best I can for my sulcata. People can criticize me for not knowing things, but everyone has to start out somewhere. I have been doing everything i can for my tortoise including building him his own enclosure and buying all of the top of the line supplies that he needs. I have seen a lot of other people being judged on here too, but clearly that isn't a win win situation on this forum. Point being I don't really care about anyone criticism because at the end of the day i know i'm doing the best i can
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Thank You Baoh!!
[split] [split] Sulcata Burrowing
Lindsey, I apologize if I offended you. I was just having some fun. I had no idea it would be taken that way. Pease stick around and keep asking whatever questions you want.
To everyone else, thank you for the kind words. I'll try and stay out of trouble.
Lindsey, I apologize if I offended you. I was just having some fun. I had no idea it would be taken that way. Pease stick around and keep asking whatever questions you want.
To everyone else, thank you for the kind words. I'll try and stay out of trouble.
When I first started looking into tortoises about 5 months ago or so I too was interested in a Sulcata, thankfully Tom having already having the experience set me straight and I ended up with a Leopard instead. Forget tone and assumptions, this is a pet you will have for the rest of your life and likely beyond if you take care of it. I would rather have a bruised ego for a day or two, even if it is only in my perception, than have a pet I can't really care for or be prepared for.
I will comment that I can see it both ways, but lean more towards Tom's joking comments and frustration for sellers not educating people about the "joys" of owning this species of tortoise. There are several threads on here that show how well these guys can burrow. When mature, their burrows can comfortably house a small family (if they are ok with low ceilings)
I have been keeping DT's for about 40 years off and on, I had an opportunity to get a sulcata for free. Based on research on here, I chose to find a keeper that realize these guys become monsters and require unique care. I try to do the research on the site prior to making decisions and asking questions.
Just my two cents.
I have been keeping DT's for about 40 years off and on, I had an opportunity to get a sulcata for free. Based on research on here, I chose to find a keeper that realize these guys become monsters and require unique care. I try to do the research on the site prior to making decisions and asking questions.
Just my two cents.
Before I post anything on here I always search my question first- 9 times out of 10 I find the answers.
To the original poster who's question got lost in the madness....I have an answer to your question that never really got answered ..... I have one year and a half old and one baby and they both do the same thing. When I put them back into their indoor in closures they find their warm spot they burrow around and throw dirt on themselves and kinda buries himself and takes a nap its really cute and I enjoy watching them do it because they get really serious about it they just do this to keep them selfs warm and cozy...now out side is a hole different subject ....but since I have hide spots n shade they don't burrow ....yet....but inside they do and its normal mine do it every day
its really cute and I enjoy watching them do it because they get really serious about it they just do this to keep them selfs warm and cozy...now out side is a hole different subject ....but since I have hide spots n shade they don't burrow ....yet....but inside they do and its normal mine do it every day
Thank you ICU for stating what I was going to say also before the posts got ugly. Normally my granddaughter is here reading posts. She is 11 and her Sulcata Lily is her first tortoise and she is trying so hard to be a good tortoise mommy. I would hate for her to read this kind of arguing and get discouraged. We all do the best we can. My granddaughter researched tortoises for over a year and even wrote me a report and made a power point presentation to show me of her research. Still, things happen that we don't understand or didn't fully comprehend in our research. That's why people ask questions - esp. new tortoise owners. They want to make sure that they are doing all they can to make their tortoise happy. We know that as she grows we will have to keep coming up with things for her different needs and are willing to do it plus we know that Jess will have her for many years and I hope to help her along the way as long as I can. Please - don't argue - we are ALL learning - even those with alot of experience find that they don't know EVERYTHING....
I would hate for her to read this kind of arguing and get discouraged. We all do the best we can. My granddaughter researched tortoises for over a year and even wrote me a report and made a power point presentation to show me of her research. Still, things happen that we don't understand or didn't fully comprehend in our research. That's why people ask questions - esp. new tortoise owners. They want to make sure that they are doing all they can to make their tortoise happy. We know that as she grows we will have to keep coming up with things for her different needs and are willing to do it plus we know that Jess will have her for many years and I hope to help her along the way as long as I can. Please - don't argue - we are ALL learning - even those with alot of experience find that they don't know EVERYTHING....
I guess I'm a bit dense today, but I don't see that this thread has gotten ugly. And to lilyloveslettuse...no one has picked on you. I think you are just a bit thin-skinned today. It's good that you have asked your question here on the Forum. It's better to learn from other keepers than to have to learn the hard way at the animal's expense. Keep asking those questions, and remember, that when you read something, and are not able to see a person's facial expressions or hand/arm gestures, quite a bit is lost in the translation.
In case anyone is interested in reading the Sulcata Challenge, here's the link:
http://www.turtlerescues.org/sulcata_challenge.htm
I'll go back and re-read the whole thread to see if I've missed any subtle nuances or rude behavior, and if I see such, I will delete it.
You have my apologies on behalf of the Forum. We never mean to or want to embarrass, harass or make fun of any member.
Oh...now I understand why I was dense the first time around. The thread DID contain some pretty ugly stuff until one of the moderators cleaned it up.
In case anyone is interested in reading the Sulcata Challenge, here's the link:
http://www.turtlerescues.org/sulcata_challenge.htm
I'll go back and re-read the whole thread to see if I've missed any subtle nuances or rude behavior, and if I see such, I will delete it.
You have my apologies on behalf of the Forum. We never mean to or want to embarrass, harass or make fun of any member.
Oh...now I understand why I was dense the first time around. The thread DID contain some pretty ugly stuff until one of the moderators cleaned it up.
Yvonne, it wasn't directed at me - it was an argument between Tom and LindseyJordan10's boyfriend. It was just something that shouldn't take place in the forum I believe. Children tortoise owners look at these posts too and I think we grown ups need to be good examples of respecting one another.
I see that you deleted them. Thank you!!!
I see that you deleted them. Thank you!!!
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