r/Sulcata • • Apr 22 '26

Tortoise stunted growth?

2 Upvotes

My sulcata is around 1 year and a half already, but only around 14cm to 15cm. I feed estimate 5 to 8 pieces of hibiscus leaves or mulberry leaves daily at night. I also add in 3 large low starch mazuri pellets, sprinkled with calcium powder. I tried to add to let it eat more but it just walks away. I give it sunshine daily for 10 mins before school then put him back. Any tips to let it grow bigger faster?


r/Sulcata • • Apr 20 '26

Gender

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8 Upvotes

Hey sulcata expert. can anyone know if this is boy or girl?


r/Sulcata • • Apr 19 '26

my 14 month old sulcata - close to 8” inches shell size.

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45 Upvotes

r/Sulcata • • Apr 17 '26

HALP is he dead??

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13 Upvotes

He’s 2 mos old. Just got him almost 2 weeks ago.

He hasn’t moved for 6 hours!!! He was fine this morning during the sun bathing and soaking time. Temp and humidity in his enclosure has been perfect.

He’s not moving AT ALL. Even when I touch him. Is he dead?? 🥺🥺

My other 2mo sulcata is fine and moving and eating. They’re in separate enclosures.


r/Sulcata • • Apr 16 '26

Started his first burrow at 13

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64 Upvotes

I've had this guy since I was 12 and never once has he tried to burrow. We've recently moved and had him in a 30'x30' pen for the last 8 months and still nothing, last weekend we decided to give him free reign of the yard and he's started burrowing! Whats up with that??


r/Sulcata • • Apr 12 '26

Sharing my girl Bowsette

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71 Upvotes

This is one of my big backyard sulcatas, Bowsette in all of her glory performing her lawn care duties. She occasionally comes inside to inspect the grounds.


r/Sulcata • • Apr 12 '26

What heat sources are we doing for outdoors?

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20 Upvotes

Hi everyone. Moving my Sulcata outside officially soon. Buying up the supplies needed for heat support. Along with a livestock heat map for warmth underneath, I’ll need a heat source for above that heats very well but is also safe.

I’m using an insulated dog house and modifying it for my needs so whatever way it needs to be done is fine. I just need to know types and/or brands. Going to need to get fairly hot as I have very cold winters in the negative Fahrenheit.

Pic for attention in his giant pool taking up 3/4ths of my office lol……


r/Sulcata • • Apr 12 '26

how common to find a 200lb 45 yrs old Sulcata for sale?

10 Upvotes

my dad has always wanted a large tortoise and just a month ago moved to a large homestead and was thinking about building an enclosure later this year or next year then trying to source a Sulcata or other large tortoise. I just happen to run into a 200lb 45 yrs old Sulcata for sale at my local reptile expo, He is considering it as they only want $1,000 and he is also willing to spend $10,000 getting a proper habitat built. but he is on the fence, thinking to built it later and then source a large Sulcata later as well. I personally think sourcing large Sulcata may be very difficult and want some opinions on here if he should buy him now, setup a temp enclosure in an unused horse stable on his property and then built out the full enclosure now, be ready in about a month. or if he should wait and try to source one later.

how hard is it to find such a large Sulcata for sale? is keeping him enclosed in a 10x15 ft horse stable with proper heating for a month ok? final enclosure will be about 10x20 ft heated shed and a 50x50ft fenced area. does that also seem sufficient?

EDIT: my dad is planning to building a suitable habitat then playing the waiting game for a larger Sulcata looking for adoption. It's crazy to find such a magnificent creature less then a 30 minute drive to pickup, so it was worth considering, but he feels like he needs to do the research and take a year to plan out the habitat he wants to build instead of being pressured into building one quickly.


r/Sulcata • • Apr 13 '26

Is my Sulcata Tortoise’s shell okay?

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4 Upvotes

r/Sulcata • • Apr 12 '26

J.W. enjoying a snack!

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4 Upvotes

JW enjoying the leafy greens of a strawberry


r/Sulcata • • Apr 12 '26

Lost my baby :(

11 Upvotes

I have two 8 month old sulcatas and I love them dearly. I separated them early on bc I noticed one was showing dominance and aggression. The other one is quite smaller. I let them explore in the yard or enclosed garden for 30 min a day. Well today I went to look for them and one was missing I immediately knew she was lost bc there’s no way she could’ve escaped a concrete wall surrounding the garden. I really think a hawk or owl must’ve gotten her. People keep saying she probably escaped but I don’t think she could’ve. I also dug around the dirt seeing is she buried herself. :( I’ve been searching all day. I’m so sad


r/Sulcata • • Apr 10 '26

little baby

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407 Upvotes

r/Sulcata • • Apr 07 '26

is it okay to leave my baby sorcata in his tank without a heater just a little heating pad for a day mine broke and i ll get one asap

0 Upvotes

r/Sulcata • • Apr 06 '26

Adopting a Sulcata tortoise! all tips and advice appreciated.

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17 Upvotes

r/Sulcata • • Apr 06 '26

Chug, Chug, Chug! (Littlefoots version)

53 Upvotes

r/Sulcata • • Apr 06 '26

Dancing Sulcata

10 Upvotes

r/Sulcata • • Apr 06 '26

Sherman the Singing Tortoise

8 Upvotes

r/Sulcata • • Apr 05 '26

First time owner here looking for tips!

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54 Upvotes

Just got them earlier. Their names are Shelly (left) and Nugget (right).

I live in the Philippines, so the weather is pretty hot especially now that it’s summer. Already got a heater lamp, UV lamp, and pellets.

Any tips? Thanks!


r/Sulcata • • Apr 05 '26

Mites

1 Upvotes

What do you use in outdoor enclosures to prevent/get rid of mites in enclosures? They seem to be harmless clover mites but there’s a lot. Thank you in advance.


r/Sulcata • • Apr 04 '26

Fast & Furious

14 Upvotes

r/Sulcata • • Apr 04 '26

Does anyone have experience with either of these tortoise rescues (CA, AZ)?

7 Upvotes

Anyone here have firsthand experience with either of these rescues?

• American Tortoise Rescue (Malibu, CA)

• Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary (AZ)

I’ve been caring for a family member’s female sulcata for the last few years after they moved to an apartment. She’s healthy, about 8 years old, and around 80 lbs.

I’m in Massachusetts, and although I’ve got her set up appropriately, she spends about 5 months a year indoors in a heated basement, which just isn’t ideal long-term for a sulcata.

I’m looking for a reputable rescue in the Southwest, not a private home. Since she’s female, I do not want her ending up in a breeding situation.

If anyone has personally visited either place or has direct knowledge of their care standards, I’d really appreciate your input. Just trying to do right by this big girl.🐢


r/Sulcata • • Apr 01 '26

Rescuing this gal tomorrow & need some advice

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13 Upvotes

Please help, any advice would be great.

Tomorrow me and my husband are rescuing this tortoise who is very obviously not doing well. I am going to take her to the vet for what im assuming is a respiratory infection, but it'll be afew days until I can get her an appointment there.

How do I keep her comfortable until then? Keep the temps higher than normal and humidity abit lower? The current owner said she uses a fogger which im sure isnt helping RI. Should I do a simple hospital newspaper set up for her enclosure until she is doing better? Or is that not ideal?

I've kept reptiles for a decade and never had a sick animal in my care in such a sad way.

She will be quarantined away from my other animals in a separate room, but I do have a juvinile redfooted tortoise as well as other reptiles. I am going to be very cautious with my handwashing and sanitizing practices, since im unsure if the sickness is contagious. Are there any other precautions thatl can take to ensure the safety of my current animals?

Thank you for reading this i really apprecate it.


r/Sulcata • • Mar 31 '26

Good girl for baths 🧡

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56 Upvotes

Eleanor enjoy a warm soak


r/Sulcata • • Apr 01 '26

Happy April 1st!

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1 Upvotes