Complete newbie!

[ferJenna]

Hello! My name is Jennifer, and I live in Arizona. I just acquired a large Sulcata yesterday, that was abandoned at a house for sale. He seems to be male, though, I'm not 100% sure. He's about 70-80lbs, and I've named him Earl. How old do you think he is?

Now, I am a complete newbie, and haven't had a chance to research every possible aspect. I'm hoping I can gather info from tortoise experts like you!

1st, I live on the face of the sun. So far, I've built a temporary lean-to out of pallets with a tarp on top to give him shade. I'm moving in a few weeks, into a house that has a large yard that is fully enclosed by block wall. What else should I do, to give him shelter? What if it rains?

2nd, I have absolutely no idea how much he is supposed to eat. I've read they should eat primarily grass. Grass is really hard to come by in these parts. I did find some grass that I've fed him today along with a mixture of kale, green chard, and spinach. I've also read they aren't supposed to have a lot of those greens. What should I feed him that is easily obtained, and won't hurt him?

Any information will be greatly appreciated. Especially for this part of the country. I know he's a desert dwelling creature, but is he going to be ok in this heat, even in the shade?

HELP!

 

[JoesMum]

Hello and welcome. There are plenty of Sulcata experts here and I will direct you to the Sulcata forum which has two threads pinned to the top of it: one offers excellent advice on diet and the other on care
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/forums/sulcata-tortoises.88/

Age is something we cannot help with as torts all grow at different rates depending on diet and how they are kept.

If you post a picture of your tort's plastron (undershell), including his tail, we will be able to confirm gender for you.

Living with a Sulcata is a bit like sharing your yard with a bulldozer. They go where they please and don't take no for an answer. You will need to have very strong walls to your enclosure that he cannot see through otherwise he will escape.

 

[Blakem]

Read everything you can in the sulcata area! You can find this by clicking on "species specific", then "African" and then sulcata. Read, read, and read more. I'm my signature you'll find great websites with weed, flower, and plants you can feed! Keep the guy/girl warm, and give it a good and luke warm soak for 30 minutes or so. I'm sure it's REALLY thirsty. We hve many Arizona members, they'll be able to help you more. Good job saving the guy


Here's some great plant identification websites I use.

http://www.tlady.clara.net/TortGuide/diet.htm#plantlist

http://africantortoise.com/edible_landscaping.htm

http://m.thetortoisetable.org.uk/m/plants_19.asp

 

[pam]

Welcome

 

[Jacqui]

You have a horse judging by the picture, what kind of hay are you feeding it? That should work for your sulcata too. (along with other weeds). Another thought is to get some Mazuri tortoise food and use that also to help make up part of his diet. With your heat especially, besides having a water source big enough he can get in and submerge to the point where his two shells meet, make him a mud wallow. They love to wallow in the mud and it helps them to beat the heat too.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Jennifer, and welcome to the Forum!

Next time you're at the feed store see if you can buy some grass hay. Any type will do - orchard grass, timothy grass even sudan grass. The tortoise will probably eat that. Don't feed too much alfalfa hay, but a little bit would be ok. Even oat hay.

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome. Here are some threads for you:
Diet: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/
All the above advice is great too. My hay preference after all these years is orchard grass, with bermuda coming in a close second. Your tortoise might not be used to eating dry hay, so what I do is make a bed of hay and feed them their other stuff on top of the hay bed. Eventually they will start eating the hay too. Make sure you have a good shallow water source in the shade and that your tortoise is drinking. Sometimes making puddles in the yard with a garden hose will encourage drinking. This is vital. Soaks in a large horse trough will help too.

Housing:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/my-best-night-box-design-yet.66867/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-effective-night-box.86632/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-night-box-thread.88966/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/daisys-new-enclosure.28662/

These all work, but in your area, the BEST strategy might be to get him to dig his own burrow. Start a hole at a 45 degree angle where you want him to dig, before he decides to dig where you DON'T want him to dig. This will last at least until late fall and by then you can make a heated night box for him and close off the burrow when he comes up one day.

Good luck and come back with LOTS more questions for us.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hello Jennifer welcome to the TFO from Phx , AZ . Good luck with your new family member .


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[ALDABRAMAN]

Welcome to TFO!