Sulcata size and humid environment

[Jackyyyy]

What's the size of Sulcata you think they no longer need humid environment? My tort is 5inch and 400gram now, planning to build a big tortoise table.

 

[G-stars]

From my observations as long as your tortoise is still growing it will still need a humid environment to grow smoothly. Even after it is full grown they can still benefit from some humidity.

 

[Yvonne G]

I've always figured if they're big enough to go outside, then they can get by with maybe just a humid night box.

 

[Jackyyyy]

Yea I guess humid night box would be best bet. The place I live only allow torts go out for 3 months a year which means they spend most of their time indoor. And it's hard to build a large closed chamber. That's why I'm thinking a tortoise table.

 

[Jodie]

My large leopards are doing well with a humid night hide indoors. I make them sleep there because the rest of the enclosure is not heated at night, but they spend time there during the day as well.

 

[Gennifer11]

I was told 8-10 inches or 2 years, by folks on here

 

[Jackyyyy]

I was told 8-10 inches or 2 years, by folks on here

I remember some one said 6-8inch, not too sure

 

[Gennifer11]

You might be right about that. Maybe it was 6-8 or two years. I have a terrible memory

 

[Brendaf]

So enclosed humid chamber in side, but it's ok to be out side when warm enough to but provide shade and water?
My guys are inside and have been fallowing Toms guide lines,still think I see a bit of pyramiding,

 

[Tom]

So enclosed humid chamber in side, but it's ok to be out side when warm enough to but provide shade and water?
My guys are inside and have been fallowing Toms guide lines,still think I see a bit of pyramiding,

Brenda, this thread is 4 and a half years old...

Outside too much is bad for tortoise babies of any species. They do much better when housed mostly indoors until they start putting some size on. My general rule of thumb is one hour of outside time in a safe enclosure per inch of tortoise. I progress faster than that for small species like Russians, but this rule works great for sulcatas, leopards, stars, etc... This assumes that the weather is permitting, and climate doesn't matter. Same for Palm Springs CA, or Boca Raton FL. Outside too much slows their growth tremendously and also causes the pyramiding you are seeing.

 

[Brendaf]

Thank you...another nugget of information in my basket!
So it looks like I have a couple of years or more to plan a outside enclosure.