How old does a sulcata tortoise have to be to tell the gender?
As juveniles, there is little difference between male and female sulcatas. It is not until they reach 12-14 in (30- 36 cm) in length (typically 3-4 years of age) that they begin to show physical differences in gender.
How often do you feed baby sulcata tortoise?
The Sulcata is the largest of the African mainland tortoise, with specimens easily reaching 24-30 inches (60-75 cm) in carapace length and 80-110 pounds (36-50 kg). Food and Feeding: Adults should be fed three times per week minimum, and hatchlings fed daily. For every feeding, dust food with a calcium supplement.
What substrate is best for baby sulcata tortoise?
For all sizes of tortoise, cypress mulch has proven to be a great bedding. It’s absorbent, safe and relatively low cost. Other options are various hays (timothy, Bermuda, alfalfa, orchard grass, etc.), as well as coconut coir or peat moss.
How cold is too cold for a baby sulcata tortoise?
Sulcata tortoises that live outdoors are tolerant to various temperature ranges. High temperatures are not going to be a problem provided the tortoise has a shaded area to escape to if desired. The tortoises themselves can handle surprisingly cold temperatures, as low as 45 degrees Fahrenheit, with no problems.
Do sulcata tortoises hibernate?
Sulcatas come from some of the Sahel, the hottest, driest area in Africa. Unlike the California desert tortoises, the sulcatas do not hibernate. While they can tolerate some surprisingly low temperatures, they cannot be allowed to get both chilled and wet or kept outdoors in chill, damp weather.
How fast do baby sulcata tortoises grow?
Baby Sulcatas are born at around two inches in size. Their growth rate will vary greatly based on their diet, enclosure, and environment. Healthy tortoises will reach seven inches at one year old and gain five to ten pounds each year. They are very slow growers and won’t reach their adult size until 15 to 20 years old.
Can baby sulcata tortoises eat carrots?
Greens and vegetables: Vegetables should be about 10-15% of the diet. These can include: grated raw carrots, winter squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, broccoli, corn on the cob; greens such as collards, dandelions, escarole, romaine, kale.
Can I use hay for tortoise bedding?
You can use either straw or hay as tortoise bedding but they require more maintenance than some of the other preferred bedding materials.In particular, straw or hay as tortoise bedding must be kept dry so that it doesn’t become mouldy as that can make your tortoise sick and attract pests to the enclosure.
Can tortoises use topsoil for bedding?
Top soil is a great substrate for tortoises because it most closely resembles their natural habitat in the wild. Top soil allows a tortoise to dig and burrow, which are behaviours they commonly exhibit in the wild.
How do I keep my sulcata tortoise warm at night?
To keep the heat in, a flexible rubber material, such as pond liner, can be cut to make door-flaps. This allows the tortoise to crawl in while not allowing the heat to escape. The heater should keep the enclosure at least 70 degrees at night and maintain similar temperatures to a warm summer day if the weather cold.
How do I know if my tortoise is too cold?
If the temperature drops too low for too long, whether or not the tortoise is in hibernation, she can freeze to death. Approximately 45 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit / 7 to 12 degrees Celsius can be considered cold for tortoises. Anything below is very cold and can become dangerous.