~Silcada Tourtous~?

Question

I have a Silcada tourdous, and we also own a trampoline. I came home to see him pushing the trampolina-all aroung my 2 acres! He is also VERY water aggressive. He has escaped twice.This has all hapened in the summertime. Is it possibly the same time as Mating Season?

Ansers are very important at this point of time as he has been charging people. We are thinking of donating him to the zoo because of his actions. Please help us ASAP!

Answer 1

The Sulcata Tortoise is the third largest species of tortoise in the world. it always bothers me when people are sold these giants without being told how huge and strong they are, how desructive they can be, how much it will cost to house and feed them, and so on. The babies are cute (and cheap) but the adults are bulldozers!

Your tortoise is acting relatively normally for a large, bored tortoise. The increase in sunshine and UVB rays in the summer also tend to trigger aggressive behaviors. You need to review the basic cares and diet to ensure he has what he needs (try http://www.sulcatastation.org or http://www.tortoisetrust.org for ideas.)

Besides UVB, it is also possible that he is getting the wrong diet and/or wrong amount of food, contributing to the problems.

If the basic cares and diet are ROCK SOLID, then make sure he has toys and things to keep him entertained. A decent size tortoise can walk right through a chain-link fence by just pushing the gap on the bottom up. They can plow through drywall if they bash against it or try to go through a small opening, and they are very curious.

Make sure he has access to a decent sized pool he can get into and out from on his own. Try hiding food or suspending food so he has to hunt it and reach for it. Give him some big heavy boxes and stuff to move (but know he will move whatever he can find).

Know also that many zoos no longer accept pets, especially those that need big spaces or will cost a lot to care for. You might try an ad at the local pet stores.

Answer 2

Sulcattas are known for this behaviour. They will ram anything that they see fit. They will go through fences. They are really difficult to confine unless you put up a cement wall. It really doesn't have much to do with mating, just he is coming into his "manhood" and using his strength to do as he pleases.