Reptile & Amphibian Forums

If you are new to the family of Tortoise lovers or are looking for your first Tort, Keep in mind how fast Sulcatas grow and how big they can get. These are three of our Pets, a Hatchling, a 1 year old, and a 2 year old. Thats a huge size difference.

sd2fast4u@aol.com
1.1.5 - Sulcatas (Torts)
0.2.0 - Pom/chawas,(dogs)
1.1.22 - African Ciclids (fish)
0.0.1 - Stray yard cat

Interesting comparison. Would you mind sharing their staple diet?

Their enclosure has Bermuda hay which I have seen them eating from time to time. But I give them a variety of things: Mostly washed turnip greens dusted with calcium supplement, prickly pear cactus pads with the spines cut off, Kudzu leafs = ( AKA mile a minute vine) occasionaly some yellow squash, and pumpkin. They are allowed to graze in my back yard during the day where there is a mixture of weeds and grass growing. Good luck with your feeding and your torts.

nice pic, and one that people definitely need to see and be educated about! reminds me of a "sulcata reality check" i saw not too long ago on some tortoise website... kind of a shame that the babies are so cheap now, because they seem to be to tortoises what green iguanas are to lizards in terms of outgrowing their welcomes to some uncaring or unprepared owners... and winding up in rescues and such.

Yep! Please take into consideration how big and how fast these Tortoises grow! Just because they are easily available as pets doesnt mean that everyone should a few in the house. Considering that they live 100 years, they are a life long obligation. I love mine and my wife and I have made plans and arrangements to see that we can care for and provide space for these Tortoises for the rest of their lives. Make sure you can do the same before you buy one of the cute little guys, because they dont stay that way for long. I dont mean to go on and on... but it breaks my heart to see pics of abandoned and disfugured torts that someone didnt take care of.