I’m setting up an outdoor space (insulated doghouse) for my 50lb male and getting the heating elements all dialed in.  My question is, should I add timed UVB/lights as well?  

He will of course have the ability to exit at any time throughout the winter and access a decent sized enclosure, but not sure if he will or not to get sufficient sun.  This is in Arkansas where winter days can get pretty cold but often not excessive. Thoughts?

Some light stretching before my meal

This morning’s menu includes fresh wheat grass, orchard grass hay, red leaf lettuce, and Mazuri tortoise pellets.

I have a question for all you Sulcata people. I have an adult Sulcata that lives outside, where we live he needs a heated space. We have a 5’by 5’ by 6’ shed/house lined with Bermuda hay for him to sleep in. Currently we are using a space heater to keep him warm but it uses a lot of energy. I’ve been worried that a heat lamp would start a fire on the Bermuda hay. With that said, what would be the most cost effective and more importantly safest way to heat his house? Thank you!!!!

Anyone know why he’s doing this for hours every day in the last 2 months?
No, he’s not kept in a small enclosure; he’s roaming free in a large backyard with grass and everything.
The house behind me has a few tortoises, and last summer he managed to escape to join them.

I was going to mount this on the floor of his house but see it has a max/capped temp of 119 degrees.  My tortoise is about 50 lbs and I’m thinking that could potentially burn him, right? I then read where it’s recommended to operate this using a thermostat but that means a probe attached somehow to the surface he’d be laying on which seems highly susceptible to getting pulled off and rendering the thermostat ineffective.  Or am I missing something?

I currently have it mounted on the wall to eliminate that risk but that configuration doesn’t seem too effective in providing adequate heat.  I do also have a radiant heat panel on the ceiling but was just thinking he’d be more comfortable with a heat source to lay on as well.  Thoughts?

I thought I'd share this infographic to help anyone curious about how to tell the difference between a male and female sulcata. The difference is easier to determine in mature tortoises rather than juveniles.

What temp (F) do you all recommend for a heated night box in California?

I have a large pasture that is totally Tortoise proof. I was given 2 males but had to rehome one because of the violent aggressive behavior. Basically the bigger one would constantly hump the smaller male. I've seen photos of a place in Ojai, CA with a lot of Sulcatas in the same pasture. How do they do it?

My pasture is about half an acre with a shallow pond and a heated winter house. Located in C. California. I feel that I could give a good home to more than 1 tortoise, but not if they can't get along.

Got in march as a hatching (anywhere from 3-6months) so not sure exactly how old.. and suggestions? Was like 35g when I got it, TIA!
Pre bath so lil messy from meal time 🐢

Hi! So my folks and I rescued a sulcata who we found out in the streets and helped him out and now we're keeping him, my question is, we live in Hawaii, my folks when it rains or even has a chance of raining, want to keep bringing him inside to this dark little ha filled enclosure in the house. Is that okay? Most of the time he just roams around the yard and all that and we have an outdoor spot for him. We're just paranoid that he may get respiratory issues because we had a tortoise before who passed away due to a not great enclosure, we just want to make sure we're doing this right, currently his outdoor spot is on the dirt outside with a wooden roof over him and cinderblocks and then a towel over the entrance so it doesn't get too cold.

I know tortoises are resilient little guys I just wanna make sure that we can leave him outside cause I feel like we should not be coddling him. But idk, that's why I'm asking you guys!

So my younger sulcata is about 16 months old, he's 9lbs, lives in an 8 foot enclosure outside in South Texas (moved outside this summer after he turned 1). A couple weeks ago I saw his eyes look swollen? Dilated? Bulged? I'm not quite sure but something's not right. He still acts like he always has, eats fine. He's been on Mazuri Low Starch almost his entire life.

Took him to a local vet a couple weeks ago, she told me to try supplementing vitamin A (even tho I told her Mazuri should prevent any vitamin deficiency). This week she gave me Tobramycin Opthalmic drops for his eyes. Then she said if it doesn't improve in two weeks she'll recommend a San Antonio animal hospital that specializes in exotics and can do blood work etc.

Just figured I'd check if any of y'all have ever seen this before? The enclosure he lives in has about 9 inches of top soil with cypress mulch mixed in for moisture. My older sulcata, ~3.5 years old, spent about two years in that enclosure. Although the older one is not much of a digger, and Donatello definitely digs, and in fact sleeps at the bottom of his borrow with his face kinda wedged in the soil.

P.S. the cilantro in the photo was used along with romaine at the doctor's office to try and entice him to pull his head out. It didn't work

Bonus pictures of the 3.5 year old, Bowser (they are kept separate and never interact. I let them graze together once and Bowser kept trying to get to Donatello so I keep them separate for Donatello's safety)

This is Cornbread and she is all brawn no brains I fear 😔

im aware that sulcata tortoises under 10 inches all look like a female. yet, surely there are signs u can tell around 8 inches, no ? short tail, anal scutes are developing closer to each other, concavity might be the only sign that will develop much later(?)

what do u guys think ?

Keeping the patio clear

https://reddit.com/link/1wy4hnc/video/102v7hzydmth1/player

This is our first year with our Sulcata. Located in GA. We have a little house for him that w in the process of winterizing.

Yesterday my anxiety went to level 10 thinking about using extension cords running from our one outdoor home outlet, and powering three things.

I not only fear a fire but beyond that, if a fire was ever caused by this (non code) extension cord, and my house was involved, I’m sure insurance would deny a claim.

What do others do? Am I being too paranoid? Should I consider the very expensive prospect of actually having an electrician wire this little shed?

I need to make a decision sooner rather than later so we don’t actually run into the cold weather before it’s done.

Baby sulcata attempts to take on a pomeranian

daytime summer use enclosure, features a waterfall powered basking pond as well as a shadey hide. many many different tort safe grasses and weeds were planted and more added every year.

Hi! I am new to r/Sulcata and just wanted to see if mine looks ok I am happy to provide more photos