100 pound 26" guy with a new owner...

[brokerheather]

I'm not exactly a "new owner", but it's been a few years and I've never owned one larger than 60 pounds. I'm wondering a few things... a- is a 27'x20' enclosure large enough? How big should his sleeping den be? How big and what type of heater should I be using? I need to plant immediately, I live in Phoenix. I just bought a Northern tortoise seed mix, hoping it will grow in this cold we currently have. I want to build for his full size, which I am estimating at 36" 150-200 pounds. He is 15.

 

[wellington]

I am assuming your talking about a sulcata? Take a look at member Toms thread about his night boxes for his cold CA nights

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hello

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome.

In your area, I recommend these for winter:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-night-box-thread.88966/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/my-best-night-box-design-yet.66867/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/double-door-night-box.129054/

And these for summer:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/sulcata-burrows.50846/

I use 30x30' pens for my juveniles. 27x20' is not the end of the world, but much bigger would be better. My adults are in a 7000 sq. ft. pen.

Here's another that might help:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Heather:

If your sulcata is 100lbs, then the size yard you've described isn't big enough. My Dudley (110lbs) lives in a yard appx. 40' x 65', and he keeps the grass mowed down quite well. Any smaller and he would be eating it down to the roots. He uses the whole yard in his wanderings.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hello, Heather,and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum.
Photos of your new Sulcata would be appreciated.
I love looking at sulcatas.

 

[Speedy-1]

Hi and welcome Heather !

 

[Razan]

Welcome to the world of great sulcata information.

 

[brokerheather]

Hi Heather:

If your sulcata is 100lbs, then the size yard you've described isn't big enough. My Dudley (110lbs) lives in a yard appx. 40' x 65', and he keeps the grass mowed down quite well. Any smaller and he would be eating it down to the roots. He uses the whole yard in his wanderings.

I plan to allow him to graze the whole yard, although I do have dogs and I want to have a dedicated enclosure space for him that is smaller. This will allow me to keep him safe and dogs from eating his poop and vice versa. My backyard is about 4 times the size of the enclosure size I'm talking about. He has been living in about 1/3 of the space, so this will be a BIG upgrade for him. I used to have a 60 lb'er so I'm guessing his weight atm at 100 pounds.