About Sulcata Tortoise

Sulcata Tortoise Overview:  They make ideal pets for first-time reptile owners who are ready for a lifelong commitment. This species can live for over 100 years. Typically they are solitary pets and thrive in captivity when raised in areas that are hot and dry year-round. Southern states like Texas are ideal.

Size: Sulcata tortoises are big, slow, and tough survivalists. Adults average 18 inches in shell length and 70 to 100 pounds in weight, but specimens reaching two to three feet in length and upwards of 150 pounds aren’t uncommon. Sulcatas dig burrows in the ground where they take shelter from their harsh, hot, arid habitat.

Housing:

Diet: Along with fresh water, the most important staple in your sulcata’s diet is grass. They are grazers, much like a cow, and they love to walk all day, lazily munching on it. Try to feed them at least 80% grass and 20% flowering plants, succulents, hay and weeds.

How many times a day should I feed my leopard tortoise?

Feed hatchlings and young tortoises daily or divide the daily portion in two and feed morning and afternoon. Adult tortoises can be fed daily or you may choose to omit to feed for one day a week.

How often should I bathe my tortoise?

Older juvenile tortoises should be bathed 2-3 times a week and adult tortoises bathed weekly, but more frequently if kept indoors under heat lamps. All tortoises should be bathed daily or every other day in the period of winding down in preparation for hibernation.