Karen from Lincolnshire, new owner of African Sulcata

[Karen Grafton]

Hi everyone, in a few days I pick up my African Sulcata, named TANK !! We are busy making him a new home, he is 5 years old. I am busy doing lots of research so that we give him a good home. I am pleased to have found this site and think that I may be using it a lot ! I would like to hear from people with Sulcatas as I am worried about the winter. Obviously we are setting up the correct heating lamps etc, but what do you all do.. do they move into house with you for exercise ? I would really appreciate any advise about any aspect of their care, thanks so much, karen

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Karen Grafton]

Welcome to the forum!

many thanks, you obviously dont have much of a problem with the weather where you are !! Tank is an African spurred thigh, will post some pics when I get him..

 

[russian/sulcata/tortoise]

how big is you're torts enclosure? does he have access to water? does he has a night box?

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome to the Forum, Karen!

Do a search for "Bob" and for "Bob's new shed" Bob's caretaker lives in Oregon, where people don't tan, they rust, and where the state flower is mold.

Most everyone who keeps large tortoises in places where the weather gets cold either has a heated outdoor shed, a heated basement or a room in the house devoted to the tortoise (no habitat, just the room)

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hello Karen

 

[Abdulla6169]

Welcome to the forum! hope you enjoy I here.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Welcome. From south Florida

 

[Alaskamike]

Welcome. I've kept sulcata in a cold climate before - but currently am in the sub tropics here in Florida. There is a great thread here called "Frankie Tales " under the sulcata section I believe, that gives you an idea what it is like. Fun, frustrating at times, and funny.

Size matters when it comes to habitat and so you are right to do your research. At 5 yr old, I don't know how big Tank is now, but he willl be a very big boy soon for sure. The bigger they are, the more tolerant of temperature variants. Most do not recommend anything under 18c. They cannot properly digest their food until their internal temps are at 27c. So it can be a challenge indoors. Some use outside heated shed, greenhouses, dedicated breezways with extra heat, UV lights etc. You can be inventive.

You asked about exercise, its good you are thinking about that. Sulcata are roamers and explorers. They also need a hide to retreat and sleep in. Most here will tell you they cannot safely roam in a house - they will get into anything, eat stuff on the floor, tip things over and poop wherever they feel like it - hell on carpet LOL . PLus the temps on the floor are usually significantly cooler that the air temp. But if you can mitigate for these things....some do do it successfully watching them. Be careful about a dog...can't trust 'em.

Its often about how much time , $,and effort are you willing to give, and how much is your tort going to be an active part of your life.
good fortunes to you.

 

[Lyn W]

Hi Karen from scorching South Wales (today) and welcome to the forum where there's usually someone to answer all your questions.
One of my nephews lives in Horncastle in Lincs (RAF).

I have a leopard tort approx. 2/3 years old and 10.5 inches long. He has lived in a disused shower room all winter with a radiator, MVB and CHE at night so he has been very cosy. He is also in when I am at work as my garden isn't secure enough to leave him outside yet, but he is outside at every opportunity - weather permitting - and I can't wait for my long summer holidays so he can be outside all day. He has a humid hide and a large area of coco coir and orchid bark and although humidity has been a bit of a problem I have several buckets of water in the room and he is soaked daily if I haven't seen him self soak, so I think I've managed to stop the pyramiding he had when I got him.

You may have already found the caresheet for sulcatas I also found the Beginners Mistakes and Enclosures thread useful too.
Welcome to you and Tank and if you follow all advice as best you can he should be a happy healthy tort fro many years to come.

 

[Karen Grafton]

how big is you're torts enclosure? does he have access to water? does he has a night box?

Hi there, yes he has access to shallow water, he will be living in an old school that we have renovated, free range on the playground which has a 7 foot stone wall around it. he also has a newly built house of his own which includes a ramp and heaters. His shell is approx 16 x 12 inches.

 

[JoesMum]

Hi there, yes he has access to shallow water, he will be living in an old school that we have renovated, free range on the playground which has a 7 foot stone wall around it. he also has a newly built house of his own which includes a ramp and heaters. His shell is approx 16 x 12 inches.

He needs lawn to graze. Too much time on hard surfaces will wear his claws down to the point of bleeding. (I have to fence my tort off the patio for this reason) Can you achieve this on the playground?

 

[Karen Grafton]

yes we also have lovely green areas, tarmac paths. very hard work digging up the tarmac though.

 

[JoesMum]

yes we also have lovely green areas, tarmac paths. very hard work digging up the tarmac though.

I don't envy you that job!

If you're impatient to get some weeds growing in your lawn, I recommend the Shelled Warriors shop. I got some white clover and scattered a couple of patches on our new weed-free turf a few years ago. Joe loves it . The rest of the weeds self set
http://www.shelledwarriorsshop.co.uk/seeds---grow-your-owntortoise-food-1g---1kg-49-c.asp

 

[Karen Grafton]

Welcome to the Forum, Karen!

Do a search for "Bob" and for "Bob's new shed" Bob's caretaker lives in Oregon, where people don't tan, they rust, and where the state flower is mold.

Most everyone who keeps large tortoises in places where the weather gets cold either has a heated outdoor shed, a heated basement or a room in the house devoted to the tortoise (no habitat, just the room)

Hi, had a look at Bob's shed and lots of other things to do with Bob ! its great. I was really amazed at him trekking about in the snow, I never would have believed it. I think looking at other Tort houses that we have done the right things, This Forum has been so useful. Cant wait to pick him up on Saturday.

 

[Karen Grafton]

I don't envy you that job!

If you're impatient to get some weeds growing in your lawn, I recommend the Shelled Warriors shop. I got some white clover and scattered a couple of patches on our new weed-free turf a few years ago. Joe loves it . The rest of the weeds self set
http://www.shelledwarriorsshop.co.uk/seeds---grow-your-owntortoise-food-1g---1kg-49-c.asp

Hi Joes mum, thanks for advise, I also have two allotments, do you think it would be ok to take Tank with me, there are some wonderful areas for him,

 

[JoesMum]

Torts don't like change very much and generally don't travel well. Much as you will not use pesticides etc, there's no guarantee your neighbours on the allotments will be as careful.

Leave your tort at home and just share your greens with him

 

[Karen Grafton]

Hi Karen from scorching South Wales (today) and welcome to the forum where there's usually someone to answer all your questions.
One of my nephews lives in Horncastle in Lincs (RAF).

I have a leopard tort approx. 2/3 years old and 10.5 inches long. He has lived in a disused shower room all winter with a radiator, MVB and CHE at night so he has been very cosy. He is also in when I am at work as my garden isn't secure enough to leave him outside yet, but he is outside at every opportunity - weather permitting - and I can't wait for my long summer holidays so he can be outside all day. He has a humid hide and a large area of coco coir and orchid bark and although humidity has been a bit of a problem I have several buckets of water in the room and he is soaked daily if I haven't seen him self soak, so I think I've managed to stop the pyramiding he had when I got him.

You may have already found the caresheet for sulcatas I also found the Beginners Mistakes and Enclosures thread useful too.
Welcome to you and Tank and if you follow all advice as best you can he should be a happy healthy tort fro many years to come.

Hi Lyn , thanks for the tip on beginners mistakes and enclosures thread, really useful stuff, I know Horncastle well as I was born and bred in Lincoln, amazing weather for us and the Tortoises at the moment, very excited to pick Tank up on Saturday. Will put a pic on if can figure out how to do it!

 

[Karen Grafton]

Torts don't like change very much and generally don't travel well. Much as you will not use pesticides etc, there's no guarantee your neighbours on the allotments will be as careful.

Leave your tort at home and just share your greens with him

Ah yes, I do organic gardening, but yes dont know about the neighbours, although it is a tiny village plot of six allotments. Still if they dont like travelling I dont want to upset him.

 

[Karen Grafton]

Welcome to the forum!

thanks very much, its very good, really useful to a beginner.