African Spurred Tortoise housing assistance

[Parker Dreamin]

Hello all....

I am in Southern California and we are getting two hatchlings in the next week. I am looking for ideas for building an open top enclosure that will most likely be kept in our garage. Is there somewhere on this forum with ideas, things I will need, do's and don't, etc.....

Our family is looking forward to this new adventure in our life. Thank you for the feedback.

 

[tortadise]

Welcome. Lots of great info in the Sulcata section. I will say open tops are very hard to regulate temperature, humidity, and overall microclimate needs. Also getting a couple of them can lead to bullying, and territorial issues. Lots of great info here and people to help you out.

 

[Tom]

Only get ONE!!! They should not be kept in pairs. Check this out: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/pairs.34837/

Then read this one so you don't buy from the wrong breeder or source. This matters TREMENDOUSLY: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/hatchling-failure-syndrome.23493/

Once you figure out how many to get, and where to get a good one from, here is how to set them up and care for them:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

The enclosure: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/closed-chambers.32333/

How to feed your new baby: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

And finally: What NOT to do:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Sulcatas are a great species and our climate here is good for them, but do you really know what you are getting into? How will you house and feed it when its 150 pounds? What will you do when it destroys your whole yard, turning it into a dirt wasteland, and then dig a 20' deep hole to China? Just making sure you know what you are getting into.

 

[Teodora'sDAD]

"What will you do when it destroys your whole yard, turning it into a dirt wasteland, and then dig a 20' deep hole to China? Just making sure you know what you are getting into."

LOL- I couldnt help but to laugh. Its the truth though! Dont forget challenging its boundries in attempt to escape!

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Have fun reading those links it's full of great answers to your questions.

Congrats on joining the wonderful world of tortoises! ..and TFO

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi, and welcome to the forum!

I'm another advocate of the single sulcata theory. We see it all the time here on the forum. A new person writes in and says he has two baby sulcatas. One is growing real well, while the other one isn't. They started out the same size, but now one is twice as big as the other.

This is due to the more aggressive tortoise bullying the less aggressive tortoise. You may not see it, as its usually covert, or what I call mental bullying.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hello and welcome to the TFO from AZ


Sent from my iPhone using TortForum

 

[pam]

Welcome

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

Welcome!