New owner of a Sulcata Tortoise

[ilovebugs]

hi all,

my computer has been out of commision for a while, and I haven't had time to get on.

anyway,

I'm engaged now!
and for chirstmas, my fiance got me a sulcata tortoise.
she is our baby (our best guess is around 1 year +/-)
I got her a week before christmas. We named her after my grandmother Eleanor haha. I wanted to give her an old person name, because she acts like one.

I don't really know a whole lot, so as always I'm open to suggestions.

the food thing seems to be alot harder than I thought. "feed this, don't feed this" I would have guessed any veggi would do.

here's what I've got:
ReptoMin SoftGel (it's a moist fruit/veg diet.) not for ever meal, just added in small portion on occasion.
Mazuri Tortoise Diet this one specifically designed for sulcata's (so it says) I don't like them as much because they are like crunchy dog food, so I soak then and mush them up for her (maybe I pamper her too much, but she's our baby!)
now, what I don't understand is that even this includes things that I have read are not the best for Sulcatas.
I also have a mini bale Alfalfa hay that I only feed the leafy parts (picking around the sticks...) and sometimes I even soak that a bit, to make it juicy and "lively" (again pampering)

what are your takes on that? recomendations?

Currently we have her in a large aquarium with (prolly isn't the best) reptile sand. It's designed to be passed esealy through reptile digestive systems. My fiance had everything a few days before "letting the tortoise out of the closet" so if I'm right in thinking the substrate is not right, it's not my fault, and I will correct it soon.

I soak her in warm water occasionally, (shes has red dirt on her since we got her, I'd like to see her real color eventually)
eats very well, loves to eat out of my hand.

the only "problems" so far:
seems to have dry skin on her head, is that normal?
sometimes one eye will remain closed for a while (soaking fixes that quick)
and I just noticed a few mins ago, if I apply pressure to her shell, it seems alittle soft. I know that in turtles that is a bad thing. but I don't know if it's because of her age or if she isn't getting everything she needs. don't they sell something for that?

thanks for reading.

looking forward to your replies.

ps
yes, I know that these things get rediculously huge and require a large space.
we have a while to prepare for that. my parents have 8 acres, she can play around here till I have my own place. which shouldn't be too much longer.

 

[David_F]

Try these sites:

Tortoise Trust
Tortoise Trust Sulcata Care Sheet

World Chelonian Trust
WCT Sulcata Care Sheet

I don't know much about keeping turtles/tortoises but a friend's children had a pet red-eared slider with a soft shell. Turns out they weren't providing enough calcium in it's diet. Might be something worth checking out for your sulcata.

 

[Alissa]

I'm not a tortoise expert but that caresheet looks good to me.

And from what I recall, a soft or malformed shell is usually the result of inadequate exposure to the proper spectrums of UVA/UVB light, not just calcium.

 

[Kiffie]

I assume you've got an all-spectrum light above one spot of her tank, to allow for basking and vitamin D production. She should also be going for walks every few days if she's kept in a tank, both to sunbathe and to exercise.

If you give her a shallow (to her midline) bowl of water, large enough to bathe in, she should handle soaking on her own. This must be changed daily, or there is a chance of ingesting fouled water.

As for the "dry doggie kibble" -- you may want to wean her onto progressively harder kibble. Less and less soaking. If you only feed her soft food, he beak may not develop properly to handle hard foods, and will never wear down as a result. But consult your vet before this -- the shell softness makes me think she might need a checkup soon.

Tortoises are awesome animals with wonderful personalities. Congrats on getting one.

 

[ilovebugs]

I preffer to just bathe her a couple times a week as I have been doing, for now at least.

the light I have is a uvb uva I think, or something, I thought that was full spec, but maybe it's not, it's an old one my fiance had. I'll check into getting a better one.

she eats some of her food hard (when it drys and hardens) but I will work on weaning her.

I'll also check out calcium suplements.

thanks for the links.

 

[Immortal_sin]

I use the Mazuri for our box turtle. She seems to really like it. I also moisten it a bit, but every so often, she'll eat it while it's dry.

 

[crow]

Hello,
Here is whati feed mine,
Kale,
fuji apple,
carrots,
sqush,
banana,
aloe,
dandy lions,
strawberrys,
And when summer is here i let him eat all the grass outsid he wants.
stayway from any foods that will cause gass. like cucumbers cabbageand do not give her iceberge lettuce u ill starve her. Mine main food is kale he will eat this wet or dry if u think yours is lacking in vite C here is what i use tetra fauna reptocal. it is a very fine powder that can be sprinkel on wet food i only use this if he has no kale. if used it is done 2 week. and mine big boy is 90 pounds hesgreat,, well i do hope this helps,
Crow

 

[P-Rice]

Diet

I have a sulcata and have done lots of research on them. Here is my take on their diet.
Commercial diets are bad because they either have too much protein or are not made of the right ingredients. For example, sulcatas need a low protein diet. This helps with pyramiding and with them outgrowing internal organs.

Fruit is bad because it upsets their stomach. The grass I believe has a balanced ph where the fruit has a low acidic ph. Just because sulcatas will eat anything in captivity does not mean it is good for them.

Most of the items I use in my sulcatas diet are collard greens, turnip greens, kale, hibiscus flowers and the plant, and only rose petals (the rest of the plant is toxic). The hibiscus plants are the way to go because you can grow them for free... this includes any plant from the genus hibiscus like the rose of sharon (which I use as well). I also use grass such as bermuda and whatever the other grass we have growing in the yard. We do not use pesticides or fertilizer so it is fine for them. A great fruit to use is cactus fruit, but I have not been able to find any.

You should have a heat lamp with a 95-110 basking spot. A full spectrum lamp within 12 inches of them. I use the 10.0 desert repti-sun from ZooMed and mount it along with the basking bulb. So when they bask for heat they can also soak up UVA and UVB rays. The substrate I have used and works best is timothy hay mixed with an organic potting soil. They will also eat the timothy hay, which is great for them and dig and bed in the soil. These guys love to dig.
I think that is all I can think of for now. If you need anything else just email me.
Price

 

[PrettyHate]

I have a sulcata and have done lots of research on them. Here is my take on their diet.
Commercial diets are bad because they either have too much protein or are not made of the right ingredients. For example, sulcatas need a low protein diet. This helps with pyramiding and with them outgrowing internal organs.

Fruit is bad because it upsets their stomach. The grass I believe has a balanced ph where the fruit has a low acidic ph. Just because sulcatas will eat anything in captivity does not mean it is good for them.

Most of the items I use in my sulcatas diet are collard greens, turnip greens, kale, hibiscus flowers and the plant, and only rose petals (the rest of the plant is toxic). The hibiscus plants are the way to go because you can grow them for free... this includes any plant from the genus hibiscus like the rose of sharon (which I use as well). I also use grass such as bermuda and whatever the other grass we have growing in the yard. We do not use pesticides or fertilizer so it is fine for them. A great fruit to use is cactus fruit, but I have not been able to find any.

You should have a heat lamp with a 95-110 basking spot. A full spectrum lamp within 12 inches of them. I use the 10.0 desert repti-sun from ZooMed and mount it along with the basking bulb. So when they bask for heat they can also soak up UVA and UVB rays. The substrate I have used and works best is timothy hay mixed with an organic potting soil. They will also eat the timothy hay, which is great for them and dig and bed in the soil. These guys love to dig.
I think that is all I can think of for now. If you need anything else just email me.
Price

Along with everything said above, http://www.sulcata-station.org/ is a good site that gives lots of CORRECT info.

 

[Galapoheros]

I had one for nine years. I live in central tx. I always kept it outside unless it got too cold in the winter. I bought four 2" by 12" boards and nailed them together in a square a few days after I bought it. Then I stapled chicken wire to the base of the boards on the inside so the chicken wire was flat on the ground. I buried the chicken wire under an inch of dirt. This kept him from digging out. So it was a 12"x12" pen on the ground that was 12" high. I had the pen around some small bushes for shade. A big plant pot turned upside down was where he slept. I knocked out a chip on the edge so he could walk in. I buried a water bowl in the pen too. I would spray it down with water when it got real hot. I had a dog at the time so I had to get an electric fence to put around it to keep him out. Raccoons could be a problem too. I fed him the wrong stuff at first. I have a fenced in backyard that is one acre. As soon as he was too big to get out of the fence, I just let him take the yard over. I mow about 1/4 of the backyard. The rest is natural grasses. Bluestem, centipede grass, buffalo, bermuda. I read that their natural food in Africa is Bermuda. Not sure about that. Found some spineless cactus pads to grow too. That seemed to be his favorite. Stay away from feeding it processed protein like dog food. There are allot of places to hide so I would only see him about every other day. Seemed like he would eat straight for about two days and then not eat anything for a day. Eat, eat, eat. Man!, he ate allot. I didn't have to feed him though. He ate the natural grasses there. Oh I would go get some Romaine about once a week. And I might have given him some strawberries every other week but he was maintenance free except for bringing him in for winter. He would follow me around allot too. He got real big. Finally, one day I got home and there was a big dome shaped hole at the base of my wooden gate. He busted the boards and took a hike. I know who found him but I don't know what they did with him. I should have gotten the police involved. I regret that and learned a lesson. That was the best rep I've had. Relaxing to watch and fun to see how big they get. They grow pretty fast. My advice, natural whole foods, especially grasses. No processed stuff. His favorite was young cactus pads. I've seen those at grocery stores. Most likely, health food stores. Eventually you will have to keep it outside with at least a metal fence. They can get over 100 pounds! I'm thinking about getting another one myself but trying to wait until I move. Good luck and hope you have a yard! Sounds like you don't yet. Let it inspire you to get one after you get married (if that's not enough..Ha!).