Can I Take Care Of A Sulcata Tortoise?

Do you mind having a pet with whom you won't be able to interact much?

Can you provide a large, outdoor enclosure for Sulcata tortoise?

Do you live in a colder region?

Can you provide a high-fiber, low-protein diet for a Sulcata tortoise?

Do you have an exotic animal veterinarian who specializes in reptiles?

Sulcata tortoises are generally pleasant and docile. They're rarely aggressive or territorial. But they still should not be handled regularly, especially when they're younger and more fragile. Excessive handling can stress a tortoise and lead to health issues or even premature death.

Access to a spacious outdoor enclosure is ideal for these large tortoises. They need a sturdy fence that's around 2 feet tall. And because they burrow quite well, the fence should be extended underground at least a foot in an outdoor enclosure. Housing adult Sulcata tortoises indoors is impractical due to their size.

You will have to provide Sulcata tortoise with a warm space if you live in a colder climate. An outdoor heated shed or greenhouse where they can live when it is cool outside can be a suitable option. If you do choose to bring an adult Sulcata indoors, you likely will need to dedicate a room to it. Maintain daytime temperatures in a room, greenhouse, or shed where your tortoise resides at around 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit with a basking lamp at around 95 degrees Fahrenheit. At night, temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit are typically fine.

Sulcata tortoises are herbivorous, grazing tortoises that need a high-fiber, low-protein diet. This can be provided by feeding a variety of grasses and hays (comprising at least 75 percent of their diet), along with some edible weeds and flowers, such as dandelions, clover, endive, and cactus pads. Small amounts of other leafy green vegetables are also fine. Many owners supplement the veggies with calcium and vitamin D3 powder once or twice a week.

You can take care of a Sulcata tortoise!

Sulcata tortoises are prone to respiratory infections, especially if they're kept in environments that are too humid. And like other tortoises and turtles, shell rot is a common problem. This is usually caused by a fungal infection that leads to a flaky, dry shell. Metabolic bone disease is another serious ailment among tortoises and other reptiles. When the animal's phosphorous-to-calcium ratio is out of balance, it can lead to softening and weakening of its bones. All of these conditions are treatable by a veterinarian who specializes in reptiles if caught early enough.