Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA A friend of a friend is moving out of town. He has a 2-year old Sulcata tortoise that he wants to adopt out to a good home. I'm debating adopting this awesome beast. He's about a foot long and eight inches wide. He weighs about 40 pounds right now. Things is, they can live to be 80 years old and can weigh 150 when full grown. I have the ability to build him an enclosure and he'll be safe -- but have I gone mad? Anybody on LP.com have Sulcata tortoises?
Originally Posted By iamsally Mine is 8 years old and well over 85 pounds. I bought him as a hatchling. It was crazy and these beautiful animals should not be sold as pets. You have stated the reasons: >>>Things is, they can live to be 80 years old and can weigh 150 when full grown.<<< Reptile rescues are full of them. Very few people can handle the responsibility. I worry all the time about what will happen to ours when we are gone. We are in our 60's so he will outlive us by a great many years. He was stolen a few years back. Everyone was all upset and I kept saying, "Don't worry, when they realize what they have gotten themselves into they will bring him back." He was home before the end of the day. Their excuse was that they found him in the road. That does not explain why they kept him for 9 hours. Their little boy said, "He farts a lot." I guess they were trying to make a house pet out of him. That being said, we love Tynee. (Yep, my granddaughter named him.) He has a great enclosure and a house (his third as he outgrows them) that is heated. We have an acre and let him browse the grounds during the day now that he is too big to escape through the fence. They eat a lot!!!!! And what goes in; comes out and smells like the elephant house at the zoo. They are generally very hardy. Ours has never been sick or seen a vet. They can be left when you go on vacation with minimal care. If you have always wanted a giant tortoise, as I have, I say go for it. The worst thing is you may find you just cannot handle it. He is already in the world and needs a loving home. Might as well be yours. Good luck!!!!!!
Originally Posted By MissCandice I'd say read up about care and tending and go for it! You have a daughter, don't you? Maybe after the tortoise has outlived you (hopefully you'll be around for many a year though) she can inherit the beast.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Thank you iamsally. I appreciate your taking time to tell me about your experience. They are amazing animals. The one up for adoption is incredibly cool. That said, I have pets, and understand the responsibility.
Originally Posted By iamsally Yes, I should have said, "Be sure to get a book!!!!!" We have *The African Spurred Tortoise in Captivity* by Russ Gurley. It has been very helpful. It was the only book written specifically for Sulcatas at the time but since they have gotten more popular, there may be some more out there. They have great personalities so be sure to interact with him. They will eat from your hand (watch your fingertips!) and enjoy a shell rub and mine likes to be petted on his head and legs. The biggest expendeture is housing. They do have to have a warm shelter in the winter. Ours has an old waterbed heater under the floor and an ultraviotet light above. They also have no qualms about pushing whatever is in their way; out of their way. This includes fencing. We have a barbeque that is often found on its side. The kids just love him and I am sure someone will take him in when the time comes. I have told them that whoever is willing to keep Tynee inherits the house.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan How do they do with other pets? Do dogs and cats generally leave them alone (and vice-versa?)
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA The conventional wisdom is to NOT leave tortoises alone with dogs. Apparently, no matter how much a dog is trained, nature will take over and turn the tortoise into a chew toy.
Originally Posted By tashajilek I am a animal lover myself and if i had a nice sized property i would probably have 100 kinds of animals roaming around. I say if you are really interested you should go for it.
Originally Posted By iamsally Ours roams with cats, dogs, chickens and sometimes a goat or two. We have never had any problems. The dog is a house pet and is never left with the turtle unattended.
