Ian_Yabo
New Member
Hello All,
Sorry for the life story to follow but I'd like to hear from more experienced owners on my situation and I feel details are important so here we go...
About a two months ago I was walking out my front door to head to work on a hot summer day and found a 6ish inch, what I am assuming (with very limited experience but a lot of research) to be a 1-1.5 year old, female Sulcata. Im very close with my neighbors and wasn't aware of anyone owning a tortoise but I asked around my block and no one was missing. I posted on the discussion board at the front of my neighborhood where pictures of lost animals frequently are posted and no call or reply. So after about a month I'm assuming I'll end up being its caretaker for quite some time, which I am completely content with.
It is cute as can be and has hilarious mannerisms, head bobbing like a rock star and such, but in other ways is very abnormal from a lot of the posts I have read here and on other forums in ways of diet and preferred habitation for a Sulcata.
First off, I would like confirmation about its breed because everything else is subsequent to that, so here's a few pictures of the lil fella...
Then I would like to talk about its diet as I'm trying to ween it off store bought food supplemented with reptile calcium and towards a grass/ weed diet (I have a large yard full of healthy, organic bermuda grass and have a large section of wild dandelions that just started sprouting). Also it treats water like the witch from Oz and I get a little worried about it because it is frequently in the high 90s here in southern California high desert. During soaks it looks at me like "why are you doing this to me," and refuses to drink out of any container I have tried thus far.
Lastly, habitation and how much free space I should give it and what the healthiest bedding would be and such.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Love,
Yabo and Ian
Sorry for the life story to follow but I'd like to hear from more experienced owners on my situation and I feel details are important so here we go...
About a two months ago I was walking out my front door to head to work on a hot summer day and found a 6ish inch, what I am assuming (with very limited experience but a lot of research) to be a 1-1.5 year old, female Sulcata. Im very close with my neighbors and wasn't aware of anyone owning a tortoise but I asked around my block and no one was missing. I posted on the discussion board at the front of my neighborhood where pictures of lost animals frequently are posted and no call or reply. So after about a month I'm assuming I'll end up being its caretaker for quite some time, which I am completely content with.
It is cute as can be and has hilarious mannerisms, head bobbing like a rock star and such, but in other ways is very abnormal from a lot of the posts I have read here and on other forums in ways of diet and preferred habitation for a Sulcata.
First off, I would like confirmation about its breed because everything else is subsequent to that, so here's a few pictures of the lil fella...
Then I would like to talk about its diet as I'm trying to ween it off store bought food supplemented with reptile calcium and towards a grass/ weed diet (I have a large yard full of healthy, organic bermuda grass and have a large section of wild dandelions that just started sprouting). Also it treats water like the witch from Oz and I get a little worried about it because it is frequently in the high 90s here in southern California high desert. During soaks it looks at me like "why are you doing this to me," and refuses to drink out of any container I have tried thus far.
Lastly, habitation and how much free space I should give it and what the healthiest bedding would be and such.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Love,
Yabo and Ian