Help! Adopting Sulcata Today

[MildredsMommy]

I have made arrangements to take a Sulcata today from a woman who found it walking down the road in front of her daughter's elementary school . I believe it to be a Sulcata, and she said her ex raises them in CA and she believes it looks like one but it does NOT have the raised bumps on its shell-it appears VERY smooth and looks to be roughly the size of a salad plate. (She texted me pics however I cannot figure out how to forward them so I can post). I have an ornate Boxie and a Redfoot-can someone fill me in on what I need for my new addition? Thanks in advance for all the help!!!!

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What is throwing me off is he has a large shell that juts out underneath his neck like a Texas Tortoise...do Sulcatas have that?? (I am working on getting pics now). Thanks!!

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[mike taylor]

That is no sulcata my friend! It's a gopher tortoise . Maybe a Texas tortoise not good a iding the gopher torts nut someone like Yvonne will let you know for sure .

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[MildredsMommy]

That is no sulcata my friend! It's a gopher tortoise . Maybe a Texas tortoise not good a iding the gopher torts nut someone like Yvonne will let you know for sure .

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ah ha! I thought it looked a little like a TX Tortoise..hopefully Yvonne will be along soon-gosh knows she has helped me in the past Thanks Mike!!

 

[nate.mann]

definitely a north American gopher..and its not a sonoran or californian..which leaves only the texas.


0.1.0 Sonoran Desert Tortoise
0.0.1 Leopard Tortoise
1.0.0 Bluenose Pitbull/American Bulldog

 

[MildredsMommy]

definitely a north American gopher..and its not a sonoran or californian..which leaves only the texas.


0.1.0 Sonoran Desert Tortoise
0.0.1 Leopard Tortoise
1.0.0 Bluenose Pitbull/American Bulldog

Thanks Nate...is it hard to care for? ( I cant imagine it being more difficult than my RedFood) but you never know!

 

[nate.mann]

nope, less. with redfoots youve gotta deal with the humidity and hope they dont get shell rot..with these guys you feed, water, and keep them awake this winter and youre good. they do the rest.


0.1.0 Sonoran Desert Tortoise
0.0.1 Leopard Tortoise
1.0.0 Bluenose Pitbull/American Bulldog

 

[MildredsMommy]

nope, less. with redfoots youve gotta deal with the humidity and hope they dont get shell rot..with these guys you feed, water, and keep them awake this winter and youre good. they do the rest.


0.1.0 Sonoran Desert Tortoise
0.0.1 Leopard Tortoise
1.0.0 Bluenose Pitbull/American Bulldog

whew! thats good to know. Since he will be inside for awhile, is the basic MVB lighting okay? Thanks so much!

 

[Yvonne G]

I really don't think it's a Texas tortoise either. They have pretty smooth front leg scales. It might be some sort of hybrid. I've never seen a mix between any of the gopherus and a sulcata.

You can look at the care sheets for sulcata tortoises and set him up like that. However, this is not a baby or a young tortoise. He looks to be pretty much grown.

 

[mike taylor]

Do you live in Texas? If so it should be easy just keep him outside and feed him as much native food you can . Winter comes he will know what to do . Just make sure he has a spot that will stay dry with are wet winters . Good find but you need to check with TPW for laws on keeping them.

Sent from my C771 using TortForum mobile app

 

[nate.mann]

I really don't think it's a Texas tortoise either. They have pretty smooth front leg scales. It might be some sort of hybrid. I've never seen a mix between any of the gopherus and a sulcata.

You can look at the care sheets for sulcata tortoises and set him up like that. However, this is not a baby or a young tortoise. He looks to be pretty much grown.

that did stick out to me too, but i dont know all that much about the species so i wouldnt really know the difference.


0.1.0 Sonoran Desert Tortoise
0.0.1 Leopard Tortoise
1.0.0 Bluenose Pitbull/American Bulldog

 

[MildredsMommy]

Do you live in Texas? If so it should be easy just keep him outside and feed him as much native food you can . Winter comes he will know what to do . Just make sure he has a spot that will stay dry with are wet winters . Good find but you need to check with TPW for laws on keeping them.

Sent from my C771 using TortForum mobile app

I do live in Texas-its getting chilly here at night-would that be an issue? And are they climbers? I have a temp enclosure I can use that is about three cinderblocks high all the way around but my Boxie scaled the walls in about 2.2 seconds and was trying to shuffle off to Buffalo when I found her-lol. If he/she isnt a climber it would be easier for me to keep it outside-