What do african sulcata turtles eat

The burrows are cooler and supply enough humidity to prevent the tortoise from dehydrating during this extended period. Aestivating is not hibernating, which is winter dormancy characterized by lowered blood pressure and respiration rate. The carapace top shell is tan to yellow in color in the center of each scute the external plate or scale of the shell. Each scute is outlined by brown growth rings. The plastron bottom shell is light tan to yellow in color with no markings.

The skin of African Sulcata Tortoises is very thick and the legs are covered in dull, spine-like projections. The prominent spurs on the rear legs serve no observable function. Both male and female Sulcatas can be aggressive. When males reach maturity roughly 14 inches in carapace length they will ram into other males and attempt to flip them over. Therefore housing more than one male together should be avoided.

Sulcatas are active and like to burrow, climb and roam about, often in search of food. They are extremely strong animals and have been known to break down fences and even walls.

They are very attracted to items with bright colors and will attempt to move through anything between the attraction and themselves. African Sulcatas can be handled gently when they are young. They often get too large and heavy to be handled when they are juveniles and adults. A brightly colored edible flower or piece of fruit can be used as a lure if you need to move them.

As hatchlings, African Sulcatas can be kept in vivariums or dry aquariums. Because of their size, juveniles and adults are best suited for the outdoors. A "house" large enough for the Sulcata to move around in, such as a lean-to or dog house, must be provided to protect them from cool or inclement weather. A heat source may need to be provided in the house depending on the environmental temperature.

It is extremely important that the outdoor house remains dry inside; it is best kept raised slightly off the ground with a wide ramp that is not too steep to prevent the toppling over of the tortoise. Outdoors, Sulcatas must have areas of direct sunlight and areas of shade for cooling. If kept indoors, provide 14 hours of daylight using full spectrum UVB light and a white incandescent basking lamp.

UVB is necessary for the tortoises to produce vitamin D3 which aids in the body's utilization of calcium for healthy shell growth. Daytime temperatures during most of the year should range from F. During the night, the temperature inside the house should not fall below 70 F. Heat must be provided if the tortoise is kept outdoors during periods of cooler weather.

If cooler weather is more frequent, the opening to the house should be covered with a curtain. If housed indoors, the temperatures should fall within the same range and a basking area of 90 F should be provided during the day. Although African Sulcata Tortoises live in the desert, their actual environment may be more humid since they spend much of their time in caves or burrows. Research has shown that tortoises raised in dry conditions are more likely to develop a shell abnormality called "pyramiding," which is an abnormal hump-shape of the scutes.

African Sulcata Tortoises like to climb. They should not be given the opportunity to climb onto things that are too steep, as they may topple over. If they fall over onto their backs, they may not be able to turn themselves over. Toxic plants or vegetation not suitable for the Sulcata's diet should not be accessible to them. Because they are so strong, the yard in which they are kept should be fenced in with very strong materials.

Sulcatas have been known to move walls and even posts supported in concrete to get to something that interests them. The fence should also be built in a way to prevent the tortoise from digging under it. Anything that is brightly colored will attract their attention and they will attempt to eat it.

For this reason, anything that is small enough to be ingested, such as toys, cans, glass, and plastic should not be kept within the Sulcata's range.

To give the tortoise security and some interest, provide clusters of low-growing plants, smooth rocks, large pieces of wood, and other edible plants around the yard. Natural History of Sulcata Tortoises Sulcata tortoises are native to more northern parts of Africa, ranging from the southern edge of the Sahara down through the arid countries, including Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, the Sudan, and Ethiopia, up through the dry, hot Massaua coast bordering the Red Sea.

Behavior of Sulcata Tortoises Sulcatas like to move around and are very strong — they must have a large area in which to freely and widely roam. Avoid feeding predominately alfalfa hay, as this is high in oxalates and can cause stone formation within the bladder, kidney failure and decrease life-span. Grass hays to offer include: Timothy, meadow grass, oat hay, orchard grass.

Greens and vegetables: Greens to offer include: collard greens, kale, mustard, turnip and dandelion greens. Limit greens that are high in oxalates, such as: parsley, spinach, rhubarb, beet greens and collard greens. These can include: grated raw carrots, winter squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, broccoli, corn on the cob; greens such as collards, dandelions, escarole, romaine, kale.

Fruits: Fruits should be fed sparingly, as a treat. These tend to be high in sugar and water content, both of which sulcatas are not accustomed to receiving in the wild.

Housing Sulcata Tortoises Due to the tremendous amount of room these tortoises need to roam and graze, keeping them indoors year round is not advised. Outdoor housing: Must be provided a dry, heating housing unit to which they will return to at night and during inclement weather. If they will not go in and out of this housing on their own, they need to be physically moved. Daytime temperatures during much of the year should range from 85F F C during the day.

At night, temperatures can drop into the 70s F C in their enclosure. Sulcatas enjoy burrowing and are very good at doing so. They should be provided material in which to dig and burrow. Ideas for burrowing material include hay, leaves, grasses or straw. Be sure fencing is not only tall enough, but deep enough to keep your sulcata from escaping either by charging through or digging underneath any fencing.

Sulcatas need to be kept dry. Provisions need to be taken to keep their enclosure free of damp materials and excess moisture. A shallow water bowl, with sides low enough for the tortoise to reach into, should be available at all times if there is no wallow available. Tortoises do not swim, and can drown easily.

This should be changed daily. Indoors, sulcata tortoises can be maintained at normal room temperatures: 68 to 80 degrees. They should also have a basking area heated by an overhead light. This spot should be in the degree range. Like most diurnal, herbivorous reptiles, they need a UVB light in their indoor enclosures to help them properly process the calcium in their diets.

Keep lights on 12 to 14 hours a day, and turn off all light and heat sources at night. Sulcata tortoises are eager eaters, rarely turning down a meal. With adult tortoises, the best staple diets are various grasses and leaves, the same as their natural diet.

They will graze on any of the lawn grasses, mulberry leaves, grape leaves, hibiscus leaves and flowers. With size, most sulcata tortoises will eat grass hays we like orchard grass hay.

Baby and smaller sulcatas have a harder time eating the tougher grass and hay because of their less powerful jaws. We also use spring mixes particularly with baby sulcata tortoises , which have several leafy ingredients in them, and we supplement with kale, collard greens, turnip greens and any of the darker lettuce types. Cactus pads have become a major part of the diet of many of our tortoises as well. Mazuri Tortoise Diet is offered occasionally to cover any of the nutritional bases that the other diet may have missed.

Variety is the key. Feed tortoises from a grass surface, flat rock or concrete, or from a tray. To prevent them from eating soil or rocks, never feed tortoises directly from a gravel or dirt surface. Sulcata tortoises can have small water dishes in their outdoor enclosures. We use shallow, low-sided dishes that are glazed to make cleaning easy. Cleaning must be done on a regular basis, as most tortoises tend to soak in their dishes and defecate in them.

Tortoises living in areas with regular rainfall drink from puddles and leaves. If you live in areas with prolonged dry periods, such as Las Vegas, offering them water helps to keep them hydrated. When sulcata tortoises are housed indoors, I prefer not to have standing water in the bowls, because they tend to defecate in them while soaking.

In shallow water, the tortoises usually begin drinking immediately and flush their systems at the same time. 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. For best results, purchase an alert, active sulcata tortoise with bright, clean eyes, or buy one from a reputable source that will guarantee at least a live arrival.

These tortoises can suffer from most common reptile health problems, but respiratory infections are the most prevalent. Sulcata tortoises can also be prone to respiratory infections if they are kept in cool or wet enclosures. They need to be able to dry out, particularly if temperatures are low. Contrary to what many sellers tell customers, tortoises generally should not be handled with any regularity.

They are easily stressed when overhandled, and children tend to drop them when spooked.