Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, sorry this might be a bit longwinded...

I'm extremely new to tortoises. I don't yet have one, but I currently have a Dumeril's Boa and have kept geckos etc in the past.

Well, my boyfriend saw a nice little Sulcata (apprx 6 inches)that he's just crazy about. We've done research and are both willing to make the commitment needed for this. (Plus my local herp breeder that we'd be getting him from is an awesome sourse for info.)

I see all over the place that Sulcatas aren't suitable to be kept strictly indoors, but people seem to have differing opinions. I have a very large apartment right now and would have no problem devoting an entire bedroom (lots of natural sunlight) to this tort. Also I have a very long (30 ft?) balcony (cement and steel - can't see through anywhere) so I'd be able to take him outside for supervised fresh air.

The other catch is I live in southern Ontario, Canada and it gets -40°C in winter so an year-round outside enclosure isn't really an option anyway.

Well after all that my question is this; do you guys think he'd be ok in an apartment for a couple years till we get a house?

- Also, any fellow canucks keep Sulcatas -indoor vs outdoor experiences?

Please provide your thoughts and any suggestions on this.
Thanks.

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1.0 Dumeril's Boa

....my boyfriend is starting to get nervous as my "want/future" list keeps growing and growing... you can never have too many herps

I think you would be making a big mistake. You are talking about the 3rd largest tortoise there is, some well over 150 lbs. They are tough and strong and persistent, they will knock things down, defecate like a large dog, demand sophisticated heating systems etc. You will find it a hassle to provide adequate Sun and probably food. They eat a lot, and of course defecate a lot as well, not pleasant within an apartment. Sadly, sulcattas are almost too available, they are being dumped and mistreated in many cases. Think about a much smaller and easier to care for animal, that won't be constantly yearning to burrow and stretch its muscles. They are great animals, but I would like to see you wait until you can buy acres of land in a warmer climate...you and the tortoise will both be happier. A big sulcatta could literally knock down a door or wall, you don't need that! I once heard/read a comarison between tortoises, and the sulcattas were said to have the personality for a biker gang...I found it to be true. These are not good choices for indoor confines. Good luck, and think about something small and manageable. vic h.

There are sulcatta's for sale in my area also but thanks to this board our family got an Eastern Hermann's Tortoise. He arrived 3 weeks ago today and is doing fantastically. He is a little bigger then a 50 cent piece right now and is supposed to grow to less then a foot. We live in Central NY and have the same climate you do. This little guy is already full of personality and very interesting to watch. Check out the Hermann's tortoise we're definately not dissappointed.

Thanks.

I'll have to talk my boyfriend out of a Sulcata. He's really set on it, but once I lay out the facts now that the initial "I want it phase" has passed he'll see the light.

Trusted Tort breeders or sellers are a bit harder to come by up here in Canada. Mine currently has a Sulcata and a couple Greeks, but he's looking to get more brought in.

My boyfriend isn't crazy about the look of the Greeks though. I was also looking at Redfoots, and the Herman's suggested above.

Does anyone have any other suggustions for smaller/manageble torts?

Thanks!
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1.0 Dumeril's Boa

....my boyfriend is starting to get nervous as my "want/future" list keeps growing and growing... you can never have too many herps

I have a little Cherry head. I keep him in a planted vivarium (75 gal). He only goes outside in the summer for a few hours to get some sun. He needs a lot of humidity, and watering the plants in the viv keeps that up. They don't need UVB lights except for a long 10.0 tube one and a heat emitter. He has a wonderful personality too.

Oh he's such a darling

If it was entirely my choice I think I'd choose one as well, but a tort holds much more meaning to my boyfriend so I'll let him pick the type (within reason).

I find it hard to find alot of good info regarding growth rates etc about torts on the net. I know there isn't a hard and fast rule for them, but some idea would be nice. :/

How fast would you guess these guys grow?
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1.0 Dumeril's Boa

....my boyfriend is starting to get nervous as my "want/future" list keeps growing and growing... you can never have too many herps

That sulcatta has a need to dig... It is what they do. If your local reptile breeder has not explained this to you then he has not done his job. Not to mention the eventual size and if it is a male aggression. Your porch screen would probably not withstand a sulcattas pushing and clawing. At a small size any tort is easily manageable, I would advise a small species unless your future includes dry land with a BIG tortoise pen. We have a young male that is wonderful, but we also have 5 acres for him and our other giant herps. Leopards are similar in care get large and don't dig much and Star torts are small and beautiful... Consider a different species- (you could breed stars indoors) Best to you- Mike

I like the Herrmann's, European (not African) Greeks, and Russian's (A. horesefieldi). All 3 have outgoing personalities, stay manageable size, diet is easy to get, etc. There are some breeds that are prettier, but usually not as easy to care for and they are often shy and retiring. I am an outdoor keeper, and I would advise you that having them indoors will be some work with lighting, heating etc. The above 3 may be safely hibernated, which give you time off from care issues during the Holidays etc. The cherry head might work out well, I have no personal experience with them. Remember, a tortoise is very long term pet, they will probably outlive both of you if given proper care. Think about captive hatched, usually cheaper in the long run and well adapted. Don't be in a hurry, think it through and have fun planning. Often breeders will be your life long consultants on care issues. Good luck,vic h.

...I keep a trio (1.2) of adults on 1/3rd of an acre (half wooded; half grass) and I consider this just barely enough room. They roam a LOT! Plus, I'd never ever wish a 100 pound Sulcata indoors on anyone. You'd have to build something pretty much bulletproof with an insane amount of heat/light. I'd try for something smaller. A CBB Egyptian would be VERY good! They only get up to around 4" and are possibly the 'cutest' torts you'll ever keep. Highly recommended. Pancakes would also be fine indoors.

Just my thoughts...

Matt

Hey,

I'm sure many will disagree with me, however I think I'd go for it with the prerequisite of having done A LOT of research on them and the ability to have them in a yard within 3-4 years. I own 5 sulcatas of various ages. My eldest two are 10 years old. The largest is only now at 30 lbs. I believe that many people over feed their torts and essentially push their size on them. Mine have always been kept in large quarters (indoors for the first few years, outdoors later) and fed a diet composed of the typically recommended items along with orchard grass hay. Mine are slow growing and fortunately the growth has been mostly smooth. So, while I recommend getting one (sulcatas are amazing pets), I believe you should only do so once youve done the research and if you are 100% sure that you will be out of an apartment in the next few years. Also, to compensate for the lack of yard in the meantime, I would suggest finding a place to take him/her out for regular grazing in a herbicide and pesticide free area.

Hope this helps,

-Grape

I keep and breed Russian tortoises, and I also have a single male Red-foot, and I have definitely considered getting a sulcata on more than one occasion. It's very easy to convince yourself that now is the time to get one. I too have told myself that by the time the cute little thing gets too big to be in a terrarium I will have my own place with an outdoor pen and a large cement indoor pen in the basement... but realistically a lot of things have to go right in my life to make that a possibility.

I decided it is better to wait until conditions are right instead of assuming that they will be. I also went to a zoo that has a pair of adult sulcatas, and just watching them roam and dig and such has kind of turned me off. I thought my torts were destructive!

Try honing your tort-craft in on something smaller and more manageable. I was even reluctant to get the red-foot, since he only gets a little bit of supervised outdoor time for a couple months per year (upstate new york), but I do everything I can to make his indoor life nice. I feel the largest tortoise I would probably ever work with would be a leopard. The smaller torts are just so much more manageable and less of a hassle though.

Nope

"natural" sunlight that's filtered thru glass, no UVB
Concrete balconies aren't a good alternative to dirt under their toes.

if you wanna tort, go russian
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Buslady
Keeper of 6 painted wood turtles, 1 spot and 1 reeves