- Joined
- Jun 25, 2011
- Messages
- 2
Hi all! I'm not a new sulcata owner: I've had Caesar for almost 17 years. But, I got him in college and brought him back to my parents' house to live when I came home from college. We both lived there for years, then I got married and he had such a nice home and my parents adored him so much that we all agreed he would stay until my husband and I had room for him. Well, today is the day. He's here, he's happy, he's healthy, and he's HUGE.
He's grown a lot since the old days of cuddling him on my lap. He weighs 123 pounds! (Although, as my son and I sat out on the lawn watching him, he walked right over to us and laid down contentedly next to us, so I think that still counts as cuddling
He has been so lovingly cared for (my dad adores him and took excellent care of him!) That I want this transition to be as easy for him as possible. So, I have a few questions about bringing home a tortoise that is his size that I can't find answers to:
1-He had a nice burrow dug in my parents' yard. Will he dig another? Can I "encourage" him to dig it where it would be best placed, or will he dig it wherever he wants regardless? If I can encourage it, how?
2-Is grazing on our large lawn and giving him Romaine every few days enough food? How do I know if he's hungry?
3-Is there a quick guide to nutrition for this size of tortoise? What, and how much of it SHOULD he be eating at this weight?
4-He is a bull. If he wants to go somewhere, he does. Right now, he's contained by the same fencing that my parents were using, and he doesn't seem to "test" it too much. I'd like for him to have the whole backyard, but I don't have that much of the fencing, and our main fence is chain-link, which I am SURE he will walk right through. So, what are the general guidelines for containing someone of his size? I read once, years ago, that torts need fencing they cannot see through. Is that true?
5-We have little kids. I know that they need to be supervised when playing near him because he could probably walk right over them, but are there other concerns? He has never seemed aggressive, but I'd like some input from other Sulcata owners with young children about how to safely raise them together.
He is a beloved part of the family, and I want his life with us to be as happy as the years he has spent with my parents. Any suggestions on how to make that happen?
I am SO excited to find this forum. When I got him all those years ago, I had to look up his species in a library book, and there were only 2 pages dedicated to Sulcatas. Times have changed. I look so forward to accessing your collective experience and knowledge to make his life great! Thanks in advance!
He's grown a lot since the old days of cuddling him on my lap. He weighs 123 pounds! (Although, as my son and I sat out on the lawn watching him, he walked right over to us and laid down contentedly next to us, so I think that still counts as cuddling
He has been so lovingly cared for (my dad adores him and took excellent care of him!) That I want this transition to be as easy for him as possible. So, I have a few questions about bringing home a tortoise that is his size that I can't find answers to:
1-He had a nice burrow dug in my parents' yard. Will he dig another? Can I "encourage" him to dig it where it would be best placed, or will he dig it wherever he wants regardless? If I can encourage it, how?
2-Is grazing on our large lawn and giving him Romaine every few days enough food? How do I know if he's hungry?
3-Is there a quick guide to nutrition for this size of tortoise? What, and how much of it SHOULD he be eating at this weight?
4-He is a bull. If he wants to go somewhere, he does. Right now, he's contained by the same fencing that my parents were using, and he doesn't seem to "test" it too much. I'd like for him to have the whole backyard, but I don't have that much of the fencing, and our main fence is chain-link, which I am SURE he will walk right through. So, what are the general guidelines for containing someone of his size? I read once, years ago, that torts need fencing they cannot see through. Is that true?
5-We have little kids. I know that they need to be supervised when playing near him because he could probably walk right over them, but are there other concerns? He has never seemed aggressive, but I'd like some input from other Sulcata owners with young children about how to safely raise them together.
He is a beloved part of the family, and I want his life with us to be as happy as the years he has spent with my parents. Any suggestions on how to make that happen?
I am SO excited to find this forum. When I got him all those years ago, I had to look up his species in a library book, and there were only 2 pages dedicated to Sulcatas. Times have changed. I look so forward to accessing your collective experience and knowledge to make his life great! Thanks in advance!