Time sensitive question

[The captain]

Hey there, im looking to buy a December hatchling sulcata.

Only issue, the guy cant get me a pic and says the animal is in good health, and still has "creases" on its shell from hatching. does this sound normal? i dont get what he means. should i pass? he says they are soft, but not squishy. please reply ASAP.

Oh and nice to be part of your site. hope i can learn new stuff. I have a few snakes and saltwater fish.

thanks
sam

 

[Coldliz]

I wouldn't buy it without a pic, but that's just me. I would think by now its shell should not be soft but I'm not positive. Hopefully someone else can help you more. Welcome to the forum and good luck!

 

[Yvonne G]

Hey there, im looking to buy a December hatchling sulcata.

Only issue, the guy cant get me a pic and says the animal is in good health, and still has "creases" on its shell from hatching. does this sound normal? i dont get what he means. should i pass? he says they are soft, but not squishy. please reply ASAP.

thanks
sam

There are many, many sulcatas out there, and you don't have to settle for one that you can't see a picture of. A 3 or 4 month old hatchling wouldn't really look wrinkled anymore and the creases would be all gone. There would be a bit of "give" when pressed , but fairly firm and certainly not soft. If he really wants to sell you the tortoise, he will show you a picture. But I think you can find one elsewhere. There might not be any hatchlings at a rescue, but there usually are quite a few sulcatas at rescues that are looking for a new forever home. And the price would be FREE! Where are you located?

Yvonne

 

[The captain]

im in michigan. i think i will back out.
unfortunately everything here is more expensive. baby sullys at a show are 180 on average

 

[Yvonne G]

im in michigan. i think i will back out.
unfortunately everything here is more expensive. baby sullys at a show are 180 on average

Here's a link for the Michigan Turtle & Tortoise Rescue:


http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Zoo/5939/


And here's a list of Herpetelogical Societies. Maybe you can look through it and see if there's one near you:

http://www.tortoise.com/facts_and_information/tortoise_organizations.html

Check with your local SPCA too. They sometimes pick up lost Sulcatas.

Yvonne

 

[Itort]

Sam, there are a couple young sulcattas for adoption in Bay City on www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=7471313 and www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=9853072

 

[Yvonne G]

Sam, there are a couple young sulcattas for adoption in Bay City on www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=7471313 and www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=9853072

Hi Sam: If you are looking for a very young sulcata, the second link in Itort's email above looks pretty young. Under a year.

Yvonne

 

[The captain]

thanks all, i decided to cancel on this tort in particular.

im going to have one cherry picked for me from a breeder by a friend. hopefully that works out.

bay city is far from me and i dont want to go through all the adoption process.

 

[The captain]

oh and another question

i noticed some sullys grow up to be light in color and some have a deep brown shell. are there different color morphs?

i dont really favor the dark ones will a light colored baby grow up light?

 

[The captain]

actually one more question, where do all of you get the hay and grass for the torts?

i don't get it. i mean, there is a petsmart here for timothy hay and stuff, but where do i get the grass? grow it? i don't think our meijer has grass.

 

[Itort]

I grew up in Grand Rapids. What part of Michigan are you in?

 

[The captain]

west Bloomfield, lower thumb.

2 hours from GR. i think.

why? giving free sulcatas to Michiganders?

 

[Itort]

No, my torts play in the mud. I keep Redfoots and Black Mountain torts.

 

[The captain]

Thats cool. so can someone please answer the questions? k thanks

 

[Yvonne G]

Thats cool. so can someone please answer the questions? k thanks

I don't like the hay you buy at Petsmart because it is old, dry and very hard. I buy mine from carolinapetsupply.com/ It's called "salad-style hay" and it is cut and dried while still green. It keeps its soft texture and smells fresh. Its already cut up into small pieces so you just sprinkle it onto your wet greens and it sticks. That way they have to eat it. Oxbow.com also sells it, but it doesn't seem to be as fresh or good quality. You can also take a plastic bag and a pair of scissors and go for a walk around the neighborhood. When you see a tasty week or clump of grass just snip, snip. Just be sure they haven't been sprayed with pesticides or herbicides.

Yvonne

 

[Itort]

Do you know anyone who keeps horses or other livestock ? If so see if you could could get a flake of grass hay from them.

 

[The captain]

i think I'll order from the first link, is the TNT supplement good?

Thanks!

 

[Yvonne G]

i think I'll order from the first link, is the TNT supplement good?

Thanks!

All of the people on the African Tortoise Yahoo group site swear by it. Its ground up nutrients for tortoises, and you don't need to use any vitamins or calcium supplements if you use the TNT.

Yvonne

 

[The captain]

alright cool i'll order it.

 

[Yvonne G]

Do you know anyone who keeps horses or other livestock ? If so see if you could could get a flake of grass hay from them.

But be sure it is GRASS hay, and NOT alfalfa.

Yvonne