Reptile & Amphibian Forums

There are any predators in the area where I live (heavily wooded neighborhood in the southeast). My Sulcata is about 6 inches long right now (roughly 7-9 months old?). How will he need to be to live outdoors and not become a meal?

Kevin

I just got one myself, although mine is still really small. How do you measure them, from head to tail or side to side. Anyway, i have read that they should be atleast 2 years old and 5 years old. As far as predators, maybe you can create a pen out of wood and cover the top with chicken wire to keep the ppredators out. What are you feeding your tort?

They need to be outside getting fresh air and lots of sunshine
opportunities to graze etc...from the time they're little. You
don't just keep them inside until they're a min. of 10 pounds.
It's up to you to provide a very secure enclosure that protects
him from other animals (especially dogs and cats which are worse
than racoons). Chickenwire can be flimsy and a determined racoon
can probably get through it. Other than cats and racoons what
other predators are roaming your subdivision, I hardly think
cougars and bear. My old house was right on a heavily wooded
area with a stream running behind our fence. Racoons came into
the yard because I fed them corn. The area between the fence
and Teddy's outdoor cage was completely clear of brush/trees and
they never bothered him, though I did go outside when I saw an
occasional pair of HUGE birds circling the area. You do need to
use caution - but at this point of his life he ignores Police dogs.