How long does it take for a sulcata tortoise to get big? Baby Sulcatas are born at around two inches in size. Their growth rate will vary greatly based on their diet, enclosure, and environment.
How long does it take for a sulcata tortoise to get big?
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 a sulcata tortoise stay small?
According to the 9,250-person-strong Facebook group Sulcata Tortoises, the animals are “no trouble at all.” But they don’t stay small for long. Properly cared for, males can grow to over 200 pounds, females around half that.
At what age does a Sulcata tortoise stop growing?
Growing rapidly, a 2 inch baby Sulcata tortoise hatchling can reach sizes of over 10″ in a 18 months and 18″ in 24 months! Sulcata tortoises reach sexual maturity at about 6 years old and stop growing at around age 15.
How do you tell if a Sulcata tortoise is a boy or girl?
In com- parison to females, male sulcatas are larger, have a longer thicker tail that folds to the side, and a wider anal scute that is deeply divided. Additionally, males develop elongated gular scutes and a deep concavity to the plastron, which the females do not possess. Sulcata tortoises are strict herbivores.
Do sulcata tortoises get lonely?
In nature, tortoises tend to be solitary. Even a very young tortoise thrives without the company of other members of its species. Keeping two or more female tortoises together is generally fine, and keeping one male with two or more females can also work. Your tortoise’s shell is not just armor.
How smart are sulcata tortoises?
They will escape. Tortoises are not dumb. In fact, they are highly intelligent and get restless. That means your massive tortoise will try to escape its area at some point.
Do sulcata tortoises need water?
Sulcata tortoises can have small water dishes in their outdoor enclosures. They need to be soaked outside the enclosure in shallow, warm water once or twice a week for 15 to 30 minutes to get fully hydrated. Baby and juvenile sulcata tortoises tend to dry out much quicker than larger, more established tortoises.
How can you tell the age of a sulcata tortoise?
There’s no real way of determining a tortoise’s age, other than through record keeping. Contrary to some old wives tales, the growth rings around scutes are not a gauge for age.
Do sulcata tortoises bite?
So do tortoises bite? Yes, tortoises do bite. While they are typically very docile and peaceful, they are able to use the strength of their beaks to bite each other, other pets and sometimes humans for a variety of reasons.
At what age do sulcata tortoises mate?
approximately 5 years of age
Sulcata tortoises reach sexual maturity at approximately 5 years of age, when they reach 11-18 kg (25-40 lb). This species breeds very well in captivity. When breeding occurs, a female may lay up to 6 clutches a year and 15- 20 egg clutches are deposited.