What do you feed a hatchling sulcata tortoise?
Feed a mixture of dark leafy greens and offer grasses and grass hay. Commercial pelleted grass diets (Zoomed Grassland Tortoise diet) can be soaked in water and also fed. Keep fruits limited to occasional treats. Grasses and grass hay are the best diet for the tortoises.
How much does it cost to buy a sulcata tortoise?
Sulcata Tortoise Price. These tortoises usually cost between $100 and $200 if purchased from a pet shop. It is possible to find them for free from people looking to rehome. Because they are very popular, and have lifespans of over 100 years, there are many tortoises available for rehoming.
Why is my sulcata tortoise losing so much weight?
Dehydration is a common health issue. It is usually associated with weight loss, lethargy, flaky skin, and dry feces. Hatchlings are extremely prone to dehydration as they have very thin skin and can dry out quickly. Metabolic bone disease is also common in tortoises that are not housed or fed correctly.
How often should you soak A sulcata tortoise?
Finally, it is important to soak your tortoise in shallow warm water two times a week for at least 15 minutes to keep their skin healthy. Most Sulcatas live for 80 to 100 years in captivity – they are a lifelong commitment. This species is a very hardy reptile that thrives in the harsh conditions of a desert.
When to move A sulcata tortoise to an outdoor pen?
They should be housed indoors until they are large enough to escape predators. After they reach two years of age or eight inches in sizethey should be moved to an outdoor pen with lots of soil to carry out their natural burrowing behaviors and has enough space to graze.
What can you feed A sulcata tortoise in captivity?
Wild tortoise feces are generally well compacted, well formed, and very high in varied grass content. In captivity a variety of vegetables and some fruit can be offered. Although sulcata will eat animal protein, it should be avoided as it will cause carapace deformity.
When do Sulcata tortoises breed in Southern California?
Aggressive behavior may take place with repeated ramming by the males sometimes ending up in bloody limbs and heads. In southern California breeding usually occurs during hot days and months of the year with egg-laying occurring during the following late winter or spring.
Why does my sulcata tortoise have watery eyes?
A nasal discharge and watery eyes may be a sign of a respiratory infection. Gaping and forced exhalation are common symptoms of pneumonia. Such cases require antibiotic therapy, warmer temperatures and possible hand feeding in the case of lethargic or anorexic animals.
How big does A sulcata tortoise burrow in the ground?
Towards this end, they will excavate pallets or burrows in the ground to get to areas with higher moisture levels; in the wild, they may spend the hottest part of the day in these microhabitats. Burrows may average 30 inches in depth; some dig tunnel systems extending 10 feet or more underground.
