sulcata

Spur-Thighed Tortoise
Geochelone sulcata (Miller, 1779)
Family: Testudinidae, the tortoises. Currently all tortoises reside in this family of turtles.

Care Difficulty: Moderate. These are hardy tortoises, but their eventual size can make it difficult to provide adequate housing for adults.

Size: This is the third largest species of toroise (the Galapagos Tortoise, G. nigra, and the Aldabra Tortoise, G. gigantea, are larger), often reaching a length of over 30 inches. They can weigh over 125 pounds, with a possible extreme of 200 pounds.

Description: For the most part, Sulcatas are blonde tortoises. They are a uniform sandy brown, but there is individual variation, some being much lihter or much darker. The space between each scute in the carapace is dark gray, muh darker than the scute color. Young Sulcatas sometimes have black triangular markings on the marginals, but they normally fade as the tortoise matures. Each scute is deeply and obviously grooved. If the shell is not worn, each groove represents a year of growth. In adults, the marginals above the head and forelimbs often curl up and back, one of the distinguishing features of this tortoise. The curling is more present and more developed in males than in females. Males have gular projections on the plastron (extensions of the plastron under the neck). Sulcatas are blocky-looking tortoises. When viewed from above, the carapace is nearly rectangle. They are also rather rectangular when viewed from the side. Their eyes are large and set high on the head. The beak has no hooking to it, but it may develop errations. On the back of each thigh, there are up to three pointed, conical spurs, giving this tortoise its alternate common name. The legs a long and strong. There are several rows of greatly enlarged, sturdy scales on the forelegs. These resemble digging spades, and that is their function.

Range: This tortoise is a dweller of sub-Saharan Africa. Their range is a rather narrow band just south of the Sahara that runs almost coast to coast. This range includes parts of Ethiopia, Chad, Sudan, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and perhaps Egypt, Kenya, and Somalia.

Diet: Throughout their lives, Sulcatas should be treated as complete herbivores. Although a little animal protein probably is not harmful, they thrive on a varied and balanced vegetarian diet. It is best to allow them to graze on grasses and clover whenever they want and to provide other vegetables and fruits daily. Grasses provide tortoises with calcium and fiber. Fiber is extremely important in a Sulcata's diet. If your Sulcata cannot graze on grasses, you should include alfalfa hay in its diet. Aside from grasss, a Sulcata should be fed vegetation that is high in calcium and low in phosphorus. Calcium levels must be high to keep the shell and bones strong. Some of the best sources of calcium are dandelions, mulberry leaves, collard greens, turnip tops, mustard greens, kale, watercress, and parsley. These foods, along with grasses, should comprise the majority of the diet for Sulcatas. Other vegetables and fruits should be included for variety. Figs, mangos, and raspberries are high-calcium fruits that are good to include. Other satisfactory fruits and vegetables include: corn, squash, celery, peas, carrots (grated), grapes, kiwis, bok shoy, peaches, melons, broccoli, and bell peppers. Food should be offered every day or every other day. These tortoises eat a lot; feed them large meals. To help ensure your Sulcata gets enough vitamins and minerals (especially calcium), you should use a high quality vitamin/mineral/calcium supplement designed for reptiles. For hatchlings and juveniles, add the splements to the food once or twice a week. Supplement the diet of adults every other week. Sulcatas kept indoors should be given slightly more calcium and vitamin D than those kept outdoors. Many keepers recommend giving tortoises cuttlebones to chew on as a calcium supplement.

Habits: Like most turtles, Sulcatas are diurnal animals. They live in savannas and semi-deserts. In nature, they are territorial and mostly solitary other than during the mating season. They dig long burrows for resting during the night and cold weather. Sulcatas may become completely inactive during the worst dry season. At this time, they hole up in their burrows. Once the rainy season comes, they feed heavily and breed. Adult Sulcatas have few predators; servals, caracals, hyenas, jackals, dogs, cats, and various birds of prey probably eat the young. In most of Africa, the tortoises are not hunted, but they are collected for the pet trade. They have been known to undermine buildings with their burrowing. The Sulcatas' habitat is vanishing because of the expansion of the Sahara and the encroachment by Africa's expanding population.

Temperature/Humidity: Keep Sulcatas hot and dry. An ambient temperature in the 80's with basking spots that reach above 95 F will keep them healthy and active. At night the temperature can be allowed to drop into the 60's. Adult sulcatas, and to a lesser extent babies, are extremely temperature hardy. Extreme heat does not seem to bother them, and they can tolerate brief temperature drops into the low 50's. Although they prefer low humidity, Sulcatas are kept outdoors by many Florida residents. This reveals that these turtles have a tolerance for humid climates. Sulcatas should be given a warm water soak regularly (twice a month or so).

Housing: An animal the size of a Sulcata presents unique housing challenges to the keeper. Do not keep Sulcatas if you can not keep them outdoors for a significant part of the year. The young will do fine indoors for the first year or so, but adults are too large, too strong, and too messy to be kept indoors. Most keepers build large pens for the adults and keep the young in wood and wire cages. For an adult Sulcata, the pen should measure 10 feet by 10 feet. The walls of the pen should be sunk at least 18 inches into the ground to avoid burrowing. The height of of the walls above ground should be at least three feet. Use strudy building materials. You want to keep the Sulcatas in and dogs, cats and local predators out.. For small Sulcatas, you must cover the top of the pen with some screening, or birds could make off with your tortoises. Also be sure to include some shaded areas, so the Sulcatas can escape the sunwhen desired. Include a large water basin nin the enclosure, one the sulcata can climb in and out of easily. A low plastic tub will be easy to clean. The feces should be raked out weekly or as needed. You can plant grasses, alfalfa, and other edible plants in and around the enclosure. A shrub or small tree can provide the shade. You will need a heated shed or other enclosure for the Sulcatas to use during inclement weather. A large doghouse with a heat lamp or pic blanket will work for one Sulcata, but you will need a larger shed if you have several animals. The heat source should be on a timer and have a thermostat to prevent overheating. When keeping babies indoors, they can be kept in glass aquaria, large litter pans, or plastic storage tubs. Newspaper, playground sand, sterile potting soil, or reptile bark all make fine substrates. The calcium-enriched sands made forreptiles are an excellent choice. Along with the necessary heat lamp, use a full-spectrum flourescent light made for reptiles. This will allow indoor Sulcatas to manufacture adequate amounts of vitamin D. A hide box will be necessary to take the place of a burrow.

Temperament: Sulcatas are intelligent animals, and they will have varying personalities. Many are aloof, but some are outgoing and friendly. Purchase a young tortoise and interact with it as much as possible if you want to encourage your Sulcata to be extroverted, inquisitive, and tame.

Other Notes: Like most pets, Sulcatas can carry salmonella. To prevent a salmonella infection you should wash your hands immediately after handling your Sulcata, never eat or drink while performing cage maintenance, and never let your Sulcata or any of its cage fixtures near any food preparation areas.

Pet Suitability: Poor. Although the are hardy, intelligent and often good-tempered, Sulcatas are too big to be good pets for the average hobbyist.

The Above care sheet was copied directly and with permission from Reptile and Amphibian Hobbyist Magazine. Pet stores, herp clubs and show vendors; please feel free to copy these Herp Care pages and give them to club members and your customers.