Reptile & Amphibian Forums

When people give there sulcattas hay to eat is it mixed up in there food, or just thrown in the pen. We have three horses and live on 10 acres in South Carolina and would love to adopt a bigger unwanted tort. I have been doing research, but still not ready to take the plunge. What is the best hay to feed as the main staple, also what else do other keepers use to feed your babies in the off season. Thanks Jay and Jodi

I have had two of my sulcatas for two years (from hatchlings) and three of them for about one year, and I now have two more hatchlings. I Live in Charleston SC and they are all currently inside. In their inside enclosure I use Bermuda hay as substrate and they are always munching on it. I also feed them clovers from a near by field (as seen in picture below) Cudzu seems to be their favorite and that grows everywhere in the South! they also like cactus pad, turnip greens, squash, and whatever grass is growing in the yard. they love to graze outside on warmer days. They will be moving to a permanent outdoor enclosure as soon as spring gets here. They are amazing pets, my wife took to them very quickly, they are so much fun to watch and have around. Good luck with your decision,

Thanks for the pics, they are beautiful. What is cudzu? also are you getting your cactus pads online? Thanks again for the reply. Jason

Cudzu is a leafy vine type plant that grows all over here in the south. If you have seen ahill side, barn or old house, or even a power pole that is grown over with a large leafy vine, then that is probably Cudzu. Some farmers feed it to their cattle, and it supposed to have all of the nutrients that Sulcatas need.
As for the cactus pads, I get them at the Ladson flee market, they are about $1.50 a pound. But I'm sure you can find them at any hispanic grocery store or rode side stand. I will send a pic of Cudzu If I can find any that hasnt died off yet. Good Luck with your decision, I love all of my sulcatas, They are amazing pets!

0.1.0 Beautiful Wife
2.3.2 Sulcatas
0.1.0 Box Turtle
0.2.0 Pom/wawas (dogs)
1.0.0 wild tom cat (outside)
1.1.30 African Ciclids (fish)
0.0.2 fire belly toads

Thank you so much for the info. I am sure I will be getting one, I would rather rescue( I have 10 burms, all over 12 feet and all rescues) three dogs and three horses(two rescues) I figure why not a big sulcatta. We have the land and the love, just need a lucky tort. Jason

Great photos thanks for sharing them.

Jason,
Our sulcata is 55 lbs now, she's a rescue. We don't feed hay to her but we live on one acre, half of it is hers to roam as she pleases. It's covered in Bermuda grass, in winter we have a rye grass & weeds galore so I can't get her to even try hay. She will eat the dormant dried Bermuda grass so I figure, why bother buying a bale when she won't eat it and isn't Bermuda grass in my lawn the same thing anyway? LOL
We're in the desert where there are plenty of warm days even in winter for her to graze so I just don't worry about the hay.

Since we took her in I've been contacted about 4 other sulcatas found roaming around like ours was, if we have this many around here needing rescue I'd bet you can find one. My vet has 2 of those we were contacted about, a friend of a friend has another & one we were unable to locate.

I know (through email) a rescuer in my state, I've never met him in person but he has an official tax exempt reptile rescue. He said that when he first started this operation he advertised locally saying he would be willing to adopt unwanted sulcata & then the next thing he knew he was just almost overwhelmed with them.
Good luck on your search for one, I'll bet it won't be hard to find the unwanted.
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PHRatz

Thank you for sharing that story about your sulcatta, I have not really tried to look yet, but my interest is in one that really needs a second chance. My wife and I have rescued a great deal of animals(horses, reptiles, dogs, cats, a parrot and even a pig) we both get so much joy out of caring for these animals. I know I can't rescue everything, but the one sulcatta I do rescue will have it all, grasses, room to roam, but most important a family. Thanks Jason

I know of four people that are currently looking for homes for their sulcattas. One person in Cleveland has two of them that live indoors most of the time...they really are in need of some acreage to roam. If you are interested, contact me and I'll give you the emails of the people that have contacted me lately. Good luck!

Shawnon
krim5@tampabay.rr.com

Thank you, I am interested in learning more about the sulcattas you mentioned. My e-mail is jojay327@aol.com. Thanks jason

>>Thank you for sharing that story about your sulcatta, I have not really tried to look yet, but my interest is in one that really needs a second chance. My wife and I have rescued a great deal of animals(horses, reptiles, dogs, cats, a parrot and even a pig) we both get so much joy out of caring for these animals. I know I can't rescue everything, but the one sulcatta I do rescue will have it all, grasses, room to roam, but most important a family. Thanks Jason

I know exactly what you're talking about.
We have 5 rescued box turtles, a parrot, a gecko, hermit crabs, we've rescued dogs, cats, rats, too. The sulcata we weren't looking for & we didn't just take in an unwanted sulcata. We took in one who was horribly pyramided, dumped out in the country then shot with a gun.
Her story is a real "needs a second chance" story.
When you save one like that & then they not only get better but begin to thrive you feel such a feeling of satisfaction. I do understand what you're getting at here.
I hope you are able to give one a second chance soon.
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PHRatz