Sulcata Question

There is a very good chance that this question will fall on deaf ears because the intended audience is not here.
Anyway, I want an honest answer on the majority of Sulcata owners who were made aware as to the care, space, size, destructive behavior seen with this species. Did you buy the tortoise on impulse because they were 50 bucks and cute? Did you understand that males get up to 250 pounds, Did you know that they dig deep burrows and knock down fences? Let's see how many thought this through with my well wishes for a job well done. For the rest, I feel bad for the poor animal that has to be rehomed due to subsatisfactory care. I also believe that it is the breeder's responsibility to inform the potential buyer of what the long term care is for this species. Just making a quick buck is not ok in my book. There are probably more posts with health issues related to Sulcatas than any other.

I bought mine eyes wide open. I researched mine before buying.

I never did buy one, but after rescuing any number of them and hearing the horror stories, decided to keep one of the rescues. My eyes were wide open. I knew how destructive they were. I've been lucky, mine doesn't dig, but if I ever take in a female, he can smell her and he breaks down fences to get to her, even 6' redwood privacy fence.

I wanted one BECAUSE I saw first hand what they would turn into. I love big reptiles.

I didn't buy one for the destructive reasons you mention. However it was the first on my list to get, until I did the research.

That's what I was hoping to hear. Cudos.

I knew what I was getting back then as a Sulcata purchase was 26 years after my first tortoise! I had also done a lot of research and wanted a big tortoise and more active

I bought one because I saw how amazing they were as adults! It's like owning a dinosaur! But I admit it was somewhat of an impulse buy because I didn't do all the research prior to buying but within the week my eyes were open and I put money down for the best care.

deadheadvet said:

There is a very good chance that this question will fall on deaf ears because the intended audience is not here.
Anyway, I want an honest answer on the majority of Sulcata owners who were made aware as to the care, space, size, destructive behavior seen with this species. Did you buy the tortoise on impulse because they were 50 bucks and cute? Did you understand that males get up to 250 pounds, Did you know that they dig deep burrows and knock down fences? Let's see how many thought this through with my well wishes for a job well done. For the rest, I feel bad for the poor animal that has to be rehomed due to subsatisfactory care. I also believe that it is the breeder's responsibility to inform the potential buyer of what the long term care is for this species. Just making a quick buck is not ok in my book. There are probably more posts with health issues related to Sulcatas than any other.

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As a vet you must see a lot of these cases. I have heard of unscrupulous breeders at swap meets and reptile shows outright lying, but I've yet to actually witness this or hear it first hand from anyone. Seems like it should be such an easy thing for any person to type a word into a search engine website.

In this day and age, I can't easily forgive a person who buys any animal and doesn't take 5 minute to look it up first. Yes, I agree the breeder should educate every buyer and at the very least be honest, but I would weight the fault more toward the buyer in most cases. I spend months reading everything I can and talking to whatever experienced person I can find before undertaking the responsibility of a new species.

I think there are more posts for sulcatas because they are the most commonly kept tortoise here in the US.

My aunt gave shrimp to us as a hatchling. We were not actively seeking out a new pet before she offered. I don't think I knew much about sulcattas before we had him, but I found this website as soon as he was in my care.

Fortunately I found this forum last year before we adopted Sherman from a neighbor. We would have taken him immediately but we read up on the proper care for a sulcata and it took a few months to get his corral and house ready. It was worth the effort to keep him happy.








Sherman seems to like it.

Being a newbie I think I fall into the demographic this question was aimed at. I bought my tortoise at a reptile expo. However, a quick google search on the spot ruled out sulcatas for me. I love how big they get but my yard is not quite secure enough and would eventually be too small. I saw so many baby sulcatas sold at that expo. I can't help but think that the majority of people were un aware of how big their quarter size babies are going to be. I myself ended up with a baby leopard who is being kept using Toms guidelines. Someday when I get a few acres I'll get a sulcata and hopefully be allowed to adopt a desert tortoise. I'm lucky that I had presence of mind to do a quick google and found this forum.

Razan said:

Fortunately I found this forum last year before we adopted Sherman from a neighbor. We would have taken him immediately but we read up on the proper care for a sulcata and it took a few months to get his corral and house ready. It was worth the effort to keep him happy.


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Sherman seems to like it.

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Keep in mind that big tortoise will burrow right under that really nice fence you created.

Mine was an impulse buy by my son and his girlfriend. I fell instantly in love but also immediately did all the research I could.
I will admit, I was not pleased and I still have moments of doubt and panic about his care when he is a behemoth, but I am also willing to do whatever it takes to keep him happy and healthy.

It does help that I don't mind huge, destructive and messy, my husband and kids all were / are and I kept them.

I bought 2 sullies from a reptile shop about 17yrs ago, it was an impulse buy on cuteness, the shop owner told me nothing about these animals or any other torts he had.
Within a year after as much research as I could do and seeing how big these guys were growing and can grow I swapped them for 2 hermanns back at the same shop. Young and foolish, not proud. But it happened.

deadheadvet said:

Keep in mind that big tortoise will burrow right under that really nice fence you created.

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After a few months the first rain came. The impulse to dig was too irresistible and Sherman started to dig. We were fortunate, he immediately ran into a pole and stopped. Now it is raining and he has not been digging more. We expect and are prepared for him to dig again. We have a perimeter fence to our property if he escapes his corral. We also have a back up plan to insert vertical posts between the currently existing posts, if necessary. Nothing seems to get done until it HAS to get done. Vertical posts will wait until they have proved their need. Try not to be too hard on me for postponing the inevitable. At least there is another plan and we have the materials to do it.

Meanwhile Sherman is plotting for the perfect time to escape...

Have waited and researched 12 years before getting my lil one. Realized the size and destructive potential long ago and what would be needed. Had to wait to be in the situation to provide the proper housing as an adult before i knew i could get one.

Plans have also been made to provide after my lil one outlives me. The only recent change in my thoughts has been the better enviroment i will now be able to raise my tort in thanks to this forum.

We adopted our 2 boys from a lady that could no longer care for them.. She did not know what she had and originally told us they were desert tortoises from Arizona. I knew she was mistaken when we saw them for the first time. I did my research and figured out that they were sulcatas. I researched their care and feeding and housing before we brought them home. We were aware of their future size and longevity. We already have the next generation signed up to continue care when we are gone. We have been lucky so far. Our boys are 7 years old and about 75 pounds each. They do not seem to have any interest in burrowing (so far). I knew they could be destructive but I honestly did not realize how very very strong they are. I also did not realize how much personality they have. We have never regretted adopting them, even when they accidentally step on our toes or try to "help" when we are working in their enclosures.

My fist sully was adopted in Alaska about15 yrs ago. A girl gave it to me after it outgrew her 30 gal tank. She bought it on vacation in Cally. She had no idea they got big. I knew they got large since seeing one before in a zoo at 150lbs+. He had never had a water dish till I got him. But still I raised him in low humidity. Didn't know any better.

I kept him 2 yrs in a wooden table with a UVB & fed him what're I could find. Mostly spring mix , celery, kale & Grass in summer. Wandered my yard on summer days. He was about 12 lbs when I shipped him to a friend in AZ. Pyramided but fairly healthy.

When I think of all I didn't know it's amazing he was okay at all.

I found my sulcata in a snowy road. I may have witnessed the person ditching her OR someone simply moving the tortoise to the side of the road. We attempted to find the owner on the off-chance our tortoise was stolen, but no one claimed her. The only other sulcata that I'm aware of in my city belongs to a biology teacher who also got their sulcata, because someone bought it as a baby and decided they couldn't handle the responsibility.

We also spoke with a rescue in a neighboring state who first made us aware that they are seeing large numbers of sulcatas surrendered.

We had to learn very quickly what we actually had on our hands, fell in love, and wanted to take on the challenge. Which I consider a double challenge due to my cold climate. We were able to quickly harden the soft spots she had on her carapace, and "she" tripled in size within the first six months we had her. I take this as a good sign that we're doing alright so far.

We already had her several months and she was growing quickly in this photo:


About a year from the above photo:

I this tortoise! I'll keep posting how we're doing when she hits 200lbs