IMPORTANT:
All advice given in this care sheet comes from 20+ years of keeping, breeding and altogether working with
these animals. It is especially important to practice proper husbandry in order to ensure the health and
wellbeing of the animal. All advice given is solely that of HSR&E.
While we recommend the following advice, we also understand that there are different ways to successfully
raise these animals. This care sheet is simply based off the successful practices that we ourselves have
used over the years.
COMMON NAMES:
Sulcata Tortoise, African Spurred Tortoise, African Spur Thighed Tortoise
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Centrochelys sulcata
AVERAGE SIZE:
Babies: 1.5” – 2”
Adults: 75lbs – 200lbs+
DIET:
Grasses 75%, Plants/Vegetables 15%, Fruits 10%
TEMPS:
Babies: 68-80 degrees Basking: 100 degrees
Adults: Various
HUMIDITY:
40%-60%
LIFESPAN:
75-100 + years in captivity
Due to the high number of predators in any given area, we recommend that your Sulcata Tortoise be kept indoors for the first 2 to 3 years of its life. It is always best to allow the animal to gain some size before placing it in an outdoor pen.
We start moving our sulcatas outdoors when they hit 2 years of age. For their first outdoor year, we bring them back inside on cold nights that drop below 55 degrees.
At 3 years of age, they stay outside permanently and are provided a hot house in their pen.
It is important to provide the hot house early in the year so that they become accustomed to going inside of it at night before the cold weather hits. You may have to move them in their physically the first few times until the catch on.
When constructing an outdoor pen for your sulcata it is extremely important to make sure the perimeter is buried down into the ground at least 8-10 inches.
For larger sulcata we recommend 12-18 inches. Sides should be 20-24 inches above ground level and all corners should be a minimum of 6 inches higher by 24 inches down each side to prevent climbing.
While they are not the most agile of creatures, YES, these animals can and will climb if given the opportunity. Be sure to create your pen out of SOLID materials that they cannot see out of or over.
This applies to sulcata of all ages. More on this below.
Premium Coconut Substrate or other Coconut Fiber Substrate
Another good choice for maintaining heat and humidity levels. Some effort required to maintain levels.
Our recommendation. Not only do alfalfa pellets make for a good substrate to dig around in, but the pellets are also safe for your sulcata to eat. This avoids the option to have to add a feeding bowl as their food can be placed directly on the pellets.
Harder to maintain
Carpet can be a petri dish for bacteria and while eating, jaw or claws may get snagged on it. For these reasons we do not recommend it.
Wood shavings
Aspen is very dry and dusty and has been known to cause breathing issues. It requires a lot of work to maintain heat and humidity levels when using aspen. In our professional opinion, this substrate is much better suited for use with mammals.
Maintaining proper temperatures is essential to keeping your Sulcata Tortoise healthy – failure to do so can lead to a host of issues from poor feeding to lethargy to potentially lethal respiratory infections. For this reason, you want to make sure you can measure the temperatures accurately for babies and adults alike. It is best to invest in a digital thermometer. These can be found at stores like Walmart or Home Depot and can also be found online for less than $10 - $15.
You should NEVER use a heat rock or heat tape with your tortoises or put any sort of heat source inside the enclosure with your tortoise that it can come into contact with! Tortoises will “nip” at just about anything, so wires inside of an enclosure need to be avoided at all costs. These animals can easily burn and injure themselves. Heat should come from above the animal and radiate downward for them to absorb through their skin and shell.
Our #1 recommendation for a reliable heat source for your indoor baby tortoise is a Powersun bulb. We have used these heat/UVB combo bulbs for years with great success. RHP’s (Radiant Heat Panels) are also another excellent choice for your indoor baby tortoise. These can be purchased online and typically come with a lifetime warranty. Be sure to read manufacturer specs/directions when using ANY heat source.
There is no better heat source for an outdoor Sulcata than the sun. Adult Sulcatas that are kept outdoors will thermoregulate themselves when set up properly. You must be sure to provide them with plenty of shade to escape to during the hotter months.
We feed our hatchling Sulcata tortoises Spring mixed veggies along with Mazuri Tortoise Diet twice every day for the first 3 months. Once in the morning and once in the evening.
As they get older, we reduce feedings to 3-4 times a week and once per feeding day with larger potions.
Only offer as much as they will eat within an hour. Remove or add until you have a feel for what they can comfortably consume.
These animals are fantastic eaters and will rarely turn away food. Therefore, it is important to gauge intake.
Here is a safe foods list for adults:
bearded dragons eat?
GRASSES: 75% of Diet
• Bermuda Grass • Lawn Fescue
LAND PLANTS:
Safe Plant List: • Hostas • Dandelion • Bermuda Grass • Clover
PLANTS/VEGETABLES: 15% of Diet
• Prickly Pear Cactus (Pads & Fruit. NO SPINES) • Clover (various) • Dandelions
• Hibiscus Flowers • Roses • Romaine Lettuce • Squash • Endive • Watercress
• Kale • Chicory • Escarole • Radicchio • Collard Greens (Not a Staple)
• Mustard Greens (Not a Staple) • Turnip Greens (Not a Staple)
• Carrot Tops (Not a Staple) • Radish Tops (Not a Staple) • Parsley (Not a Staple)
FRUITS: 10% of Diet
• Strawberries • Cantaloupe • Honey Dew • Tomatoes • Apple
***NO CITRUS***
MEATS/PROTEIN: NEVER
Grazing alone provides much of the protein and fiber these Tortoises need. Mazuri Tortoise Diet will help provide as well.
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