Question about a Sulcata Tortoise?

Question

I got this Sulcata Tortoise about 7 years ago and i raised him sense he was a baby, Now he is the size of a foot ball . But he eats Alot ! Why is that? His name is Neo. And he is a really big EATING POOPING MACHINE. Why is that? and why is it when i give him pickles and onion it makes him Fart?

Also sometimes when im on the computer-lol

I have been knowing all about reptiles sense i was three , i know what type of reptile is what. My reptiles i know what they are 'Sulcata' comes from the sience word for 'African-Spur-Thighed-Tortoise', Okay, Thanks.

Answer 1

I have a female Sulcatta and she is over 5 years old and Is the size of many footballs..She will reach her maturity at 15 years at approx 150 lbs. They eat alot because they do not hybernate..I have two baby Arizona Tortoises who are inside till they get as big as a football then they will be full grown and they are not eating very much because they Hybernate even while they are in a heated aquarium. My Sulcata has a Den outdoors and comes out when the Sun gets the Ground warm and wants to eat...Alot...Feed yours dark green Vegs and you can give it alittle dog food as well..The dry stuff small bites and not every day but no pickles and onions just fresh vegs and NOT Iceberg lettuce...No food value for them..Carrots potatoes peas green beans and fruit.....Lots of good Vegs...Go to Tortoises.com and look around to get a food chart...It does not sound as tho you have a Sulcata if he is only that small at 7 years....Sulcatas are the 3rd largest tortoise in the world...Look at some pics to see what you have..Have fun......

Answer 2

Does he ever go outside for real sunlight? Do you use a UVB and heat light indoors? What are you feeding him? Are you certain it's a Geochelone sulcata tortoise? Some times pet stores don't know enough to ID thier animals correctly, and if it was in an enclosure with a sulcata, they could have sold you the wrong tortoise.

Visit http://www.sulcata-station.org to learn more about sulcatas. There is also an African tortoise group at www.groups.yahoo.com with lots of experienced keepers.

Sulcatas are desert animals, so they're programed to eat all the time, because, in the wild, if they don't eat it now, there might not be food tomorrow. I would avoid the pickles and onions.

FYI, sulcatas don't hibernate.

Katrina

Answer 3

1. If it was properly cared for, it should be bigger than it is now.

2. For a good article on tortoise diet, try http://www.petdoc.ws/TortDiet.html. I suspect you will discover that you need to adjust your diet. Pickles and onions? Dear god, I HOPE you are joking!

3. Sulcatas are pigs, but their diet needs to be controlled and the right stuff so they don't get fat or start to develop pyramiding or metabolic diseases.

4. This is the 3rd largest tortoise species on Earth. At the size it is now, it should have a roaming space of about 4' x 8', ideally outdoors. It needs UV-B lighting, good temp controls, etc.

5. It is my personal but strongly held belief that NO ONE should keep Sulcatas unless they live in a place they can keep them outdoors 24/7/365 in a place where the humidity is usually rather low- in other words, places like the Southwest US.

6. Another reason I dislike seeing people keep Sulcatas is that they live for a long time if well cared for, and no one ever thinks about that. You are what, 17-20? Your Sulcata will live for 50 years with good care. You will date, marry, have children, see them graduate college, see them get married, have grandchildren, move 3 or 4 times, change careers several times, and very likely die of old age... and have to take care of this tortoise every one of those days. It is hard for a ZOO to do this- how on Earth can the average keeper do it?

Try http://www.sulcata-station.org or http://www.tortoise.org for more info on these giants.

Answer 4

Sulcatas are voracious eaters and it's healthy for them to eat a lot. Don't worry about that. I would suggest not feeding him pickles and onions. They really don't provide any vitamins he couldn't get from other foods and in the tortoises natural habitat, they don't have acces to these foods.

Answer 5

they are able to devour apples with no subject. simply by quantity of sugar maximum end result could in simple terms be feed to them as quickly as a week or so. Mine stay prickly pear cactus (get rid of the thorns) particularly the fruit of the cactus and additionally Christmas Cactus. Mine go nuts over the those 2 cacti and that they are truly uncomplicated to strengthen your self. i'm hoping this enables, they are super tortoises!