Baby Sulcatas in Texas?

I'm in Houston Texas, researching the sulcata and I'm just wondering at what size can they be kept outdoors? And until they reach that size what should their indoor enclosure size be?

People generally recommend keeping them inside for a year or two. You can always take them out for some short supervised outside time before then. I would think by like 10-12 inches they could live outside mostly. You could still bring them in at night or you might need to make a heated night box if it gets cooler than like 78 at night outside where you live.
As for what size the inside enclosure should be if you starting with a hatchling i wouldnt go any smaller than a 40 gallon tank or something 36" by 18" roughly. But that might last you only a few months. Something 2 ft by 5ft would probably last a hatching till it could go outside.
Your lucky to live in Houston I would imagine that's a great climate to keep sulcata outside.

Houston should be a great place to raise a sulcata. I use a 3 x 6 enclosure for a few young sulcatas their first year. Weather permitting I put them outside, protected from predators, about 1 hour most days. In your area, he could go outside full time by 6-8" just protect from predators and provide a night box. Should easily reach that size in 1st year.

Here in Houston I moved my youngest outside at 8 inches . Build them a heated house with a door you can lock up at night . Here's a picture of the setup.

Living.loving.livie said:

I'm in Houston Texas, researching the sulcata and I'm just wondering at what size can they be kept outdoors? And until they reach that size what should their indoor enclosure size be?

Click to expand...

I give them about one hour of sun per inch of tortoise in and outdoor enclosure, and keep them indoors the rest of the time. Once they are about 8-10", I move them outside full time with a heated night box. I let mine burrow and live underground in the hot summer months.

I start new hatchlings in a 4x4' closed chamber or a 100 gallon tank, and then move them to a 4x8' indoor closed chamber until they outgrow it and have to live outside.