Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Now THIS is a 'perfect growth' sulcata! Okay, so I'm gloating a little... How was this achieved? Outside almost year round in Florida. NO supplements of any sort. Just all the weed variety and bahia grass this lil' bugger could eat. It's now about two and a half years old and the size is just shy of a softball. Might be something to doing a whole lot of nothing here in the Sunshine state...

Matt
p.s. - I have offered cuttle bone, but so far there is little interest in it. I think this tort is content.

-----
"Change what you cannot accept... do not accept what you can't change!"

Tod Ashley C.$.C.

Beautiful tortoise! Keep up the good work.

>>Beautiful tortoise! Keep up the good work.

Many thanks, David!

Matt
p.s. - Here is another shot.

-----
"Change what you cannot accept... do not accept what you can't change!"

Tod Ashley C.$.C.

florida is the best state for tortoise in the USA

>>florida is the best state for tortoise in the USA

Hey, Albinoman,

I agree! (to an extent)... Ever try keeping T. kleinmanni outside in Florida? Early on I found out it was a disaster. Leopards 'can' also be a little problematic at times with the excessive humidity. Also, I would not be surprised to hear 'Golden Greeks' also have major issues with the high ambient humidity. I do agree that it's a near perfect state for a lot if not most torts.

Matt
p.s. - Now if I could ONLY get ALL my CBB Pancakes to grow this smooth! They are another can of worms all together...
-----
"Change what you cannot accept... do not accept what you can't change!"

Tod Ashley C.$.C.

Hi,

I am also in FL, and I have a 2 year old sulcata. (2yrs and 3 months, to be exact) I also keep him outside, and he eats weeds and grasses. I also give him some fruits and veggies too. He is around 7-8 inches long, and not quite as smooth as your sulcata, but pretty close.

FL is great for sulcatas!

Leyla x

i live in geneva, somewhere between orlando and daytona. i have a redfoot though, and a red tegu

Very nice! It bothers me when I see pyramiding in so many of the captive torts. Keep up the good work.

Linny

I am thinking of getting a sulcatta ! What size enclosure is she in ? Also, is does Louisiana have a good climate for tortises ( sulcattas in general ) ? Our tempature is around 85 degrees day time and 70 degrees at night with about 75% humidity !

Thanks,
Nick
-----


Titanic Geckos

My Geks Pics

Email Me

AIM : Lier4sho ( im always interested to talk to other herpers !)

I think your growth rate has something to do with it, too. Too many sulcata grow too large in the first few years in the US.

Katrina

Great job, do you have a picture of the little guy next to a quarter or something to give a sense of scale? I'd like to compare his size to my own little sulcata.

Thanks
-----
Adam
http://anraviary.cjb.net
0.0 African Sidenecked, 0.0 Northern Diamondback Terrapin, 0.1 Redfoot, 0.1 Sulcatta, 1.0 Western Hognose, 1.0 Crested Gecko, 0.1 Mali Uromastyx

>>Great job, do you have a picture of the little guy next to a quarter or something to give a sense of scale? I'd like to compare his size to my own little sulcata.

Sorry, I only have those two pics at this time. As before, it's just about the size of a softball. Hope that helps?!

Matt
-----
"Change what you cannot accept... do not accept what you can't change!"

Tod Ashley C.$.C.

Very nice tortoise! I have attached a picture of one of my African spurred tortoises that was started out on ZuPreem Primate Diet and after a few months switched to Mazuri Tortoise Diet. It has spent most of its life inside without any UVB or any supplements (just commercial diets). This tortoise was raised in my environmental chamber where humidity and moisture are controlled.

All my captive hatched tortoises (Hermann’s, Marginated, Elongated, Leopard, Sulcata, Red-foot, Hing-back, and others) that are raised in my environmental chamber come out with perfect shells. Diet is very important but humidity and moisture must be correct to produce a perfect tortoise.

Richard Fife

Hey, Richard,

Nice tort!

>>This tortoise was raised in my environmental chamber where humidity and moisture are controlled.

Could you explain what (and how) you use for this chamber? I simply moisten the hideboxes once a week. Interested in any pics or ideas on what you use.

Many thanks,

Matt
p.s. - I STILL cannot get the pyramiding issue eliminated yet... some of my CBB Pancakes are smooth while others in the same conditions start to develop pyramiding. I need more 'research' with them to hopefully iron it all out. Literally!
-----
"Change what you cannot accept... do not accept what you can't change!"

Tod Ashley C.$.C.

Great looking tort. Could you describe your "environment" a little bit more - and how do you regulate the amount of Mazuri you provide. I have a 9 month leopard (in minnesota) and so outside life is not realistic. I do all the UVB, calcium, vitamin, heat, theromstate, timer, etc. I give only edible plants, no kitchen food, and mostly mazuri soaked and chopped up with grass. He is already showing slight pyramiding. I thought I was simply feeding him too much, and I have not heard that humidity was as important as you suggest.

Thanks, Ben