Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone know how fast sulcata tortoises grow? A guy at the petstore told me that in 5 years a sulcata would only be 8 inches. Can that be right? I didn't think tortoises grew quite that slow. A sulcatas carapace will eventually get about 2 feet long right?

(god, this is getting old...)
(NO INSULT INTENDED)
(expressed warranties and conditions implied...)
Anyway, Sulcatas can grow as fast or as slow as you dictate. I have a guy that is about 6 inches long scl and he (or she) is about 4 or 5 years old and is no worse for the wear. Now, I know people who have raised Sulcatas to breeding size in 2 years (about 14 inches scl) with, again, no worse for the wear. Most people who get Sulcatas as a first tortoise tend to give them the best... so, they grow fast. Unless you know what you are getting into, a Sulcata is not a good first tortoise. They are very easy to keep but they get... BIIIIIIIGGGGGGGG and they get big fast as a rule.
Ed

I know that isn't always the case, but geez, how many people have come on here asking questions about sulcata size because they were misled by pet store employees?

I went to visit my cousin once, and their daughter had a pet sulcata that I believe was about 2 years old. That poor thing was about 8" long and wedged into a 10 gallon tank. I didn't know much about tortoises at the time, but any idiot could see that the housing was inadequate, to say the least--and these were extremely well-educated people (though still ignorant, I guess). Anyway, they tried to get me to take it, and I had the sense to do a little research and realize there was just no way I could handle a sulcata, and they did manage to get it rehomed to a small local zoo. It just makes you wonder how many sulcatas there are around the country, wedged into 10 gallon tanks and dying by inches.

Sorry, I'm getting long-winded here. Just trying to say, do your research, and don't believe everything you hear or read.
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Jeannie

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa (Bella)
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake (Bess)
1.1 Rubber Boas (Isaiah & Esther)
0.0.1 Hermann's Tortoise (Moxie)
1.0 Leopard Gecko (George)
2.0 adopted DSH Cats (Amos & Silas)
1.0 rescued English Springer Spaniel (Jimmy)
and...
2.0 Kids w/ 0.0.1 California King Snake (Rex), 0.1 Leopard Gecko (Geico), 1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa (Lucas)
1.0 Husband (no pets, just us, lol)

I am so glad that other people have noticed the incompetant choice by management regarding the employees of pet stores!! (this is especially regarding the reptile dept employees) I recently called a pet store regarding info on my black and white tegu (lizard) and the girl very cofidently said "I'm sorry I work in the reptile dept, you must be looking to talk to our TROPICAL BIRD dept" I burst into fits of laughter and corrected her, she was very embarassed and I havent been in the store since. Just goes to show that they hire anyone. Just my 2c

Leyla x

It must be wonderful knowing Everything.
When I was 16 I started working in a petshop that specialized in reptiles. The information that went through that shop was mindboggling and I'll bet it is worse now.
Ed

when i i got sullivan there was another sulcata there too probably about 1 1/2 years old, the lady told me that was the biggest sullivan was going to get. and the other tort was probably only 5 inches.
so when i got her i was thinking she was gonna be 5 inches at the most
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1 sulcata ( sullivan )
1 russian ( foxy )
3 cockerspaniels (wilbur, charlotte and torre )
1 betta ( frederica )