Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i am hoping to get a spur thigh, and know how big they get but need to know: what to feed, how fast they grow(inches per year), what kind of cage setup (bedding, cage size, hide box, humidity), and life spand.

thank you

Are we talking american spurred or English Spurred...?
G. sulcata or T. graeca?
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

an african spur thigh tortoise

I guess, once again, I failed.
To fully understand my question, read the Tommy Tortoise a little bit below.
I get the feeling you are talking about the African Spurred tortoise which is different than the Aftican Spur thigh tortoise... or so I'm told.
G. sulcata... the big one, is a really neat pet if you are willing to deal with the eventual size. Both have very similar personalities and care requirements.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

They basically need to be housed outside, and that facility needs
to be heated during the winter in most of the USA. I'm wondering
why you ask how fast they grow? That's unpredicatable, some
grow very slowly almost stunted, some grow very quickly and
other in between. There's no way to tell. Mine is 4 years old
in this picture, yes four. If you are a child, teen or small
woman you wouldn't be lifting him even now (I'm 6'0".
Bedding is aspen. Heat is 70-110. Cage size - bigger than you
think and that will be too small in 6 months. Do you have plenty
of extra cash for food, lights, new caging, vet checks, fencing
and anything else you need to keep basically a small pony?
Having 20 acres of land is fine, however it's usually not something
you can realistically fence $$$. You could start off with about
a 4 ft. by 2 ft. cage and make sure you get mercury balast lighting.
Actually since it's April you should be able to keep it outside
most of the day (if you can't do this in April, you are way in
the wrong part of the US for a sulcata). Babies are best kept
indoors at night. Lifespan is at least 60 years, however if
you don't keep them correctly it's less than one year. Not to
be a party pooper, but this is a big live animal, and not
for everyone. If you think you can manage this concept still,
look into adopting a discarded sulcata (they tend to get too big
when they're just a few pounds already).

Teddy my Sulcata