Sulcata Tortoise Size and Lifespan. If your tortoise already shows signs of pyramiding you shouldn’t worry too much about it’s health, because it shouldn’t be affected in any way at this point. These enclosures should be heated enough to keep the tortoises comfortable during the indoor months. You’ll find one year old sulcatas that are the size of baseballs and others footballs. In shallow water, the tortoises usually begin drinking immediately and flush their systems at the same time. Hello, My name is Cameron and I am one of the founding members of Turtle Owner. The galapagos tortoises are some of the biggest tortoises in the world. But you should definitely reconsider its diet. How Much Do Turtles Cost? It is absolutely required that these tortoises are checked on each evening to make sure they get into a heated area and do not fall asleep out in the open and become exposed to these temperatures at night. Even tortoises kept as pets can live for about 30 – 40 years and decades longer with proper care. Outdoor enclosures don’t need fancy substrates, provided the soils that are there are mostly natural and not tainted with chemicals or fertilizers. So after a certain size they are able to grow even bigger without any effort, because there is basically nothing that can hurt them. Many adult sulcata tortoises break the 100-pound mark. Within the first few years of hatching, these tortoises can grow to 10 in. Sulcata tortoises can also be adopted from rescues or families that are unable to care for them any longer. "10 year old tortoise" - Reptiles, Rehome Buy and Sell in the UK and Ireland We found 31 '10 year old tortoise' adverts for you in 'reptiles', in the UK and Ireland Navigate to the first search result item Follow this Search ... Sulcata tortoise. This is my little baby turtle but not for long he grows fast! Pamela Mace 3,028 views. Are you wondering how big do sulcata tortoises get? So they can easily search for food without having to worry that something will attack them. Concrete masonry blocks work well when cemented in place, as well as a well-built wood wall as a barrier. To prevent them from eating soil or rocks, never feed tortoises directly from a gravel or dirt surface. In captivity the Sulcata is an opportunistic feeder where it readily takes almost any vegetable matter but grasses and dark leafy greens are the most common staple. Baby and smaller sulcatas have a harder time eating the tougher grass and hay because of their less powerful jaws. Allow them to carry on in their intended way, especially when they’re young. Sulcata tortoises are sometimes referred to as African spurred, African spur thigh, and just spurred tortoises. If you want a small turtle than you should get a turtle species that stays small, here you can find a list of turtles that stay small and don’t grow: Best Pet Turtles That Stay Small and Don’t Grow. With size, most sulcata tortoises will eat grass hays (we like orchard grass hay). Cute Baby Animals. Sulcata tortoises, also known as African spurred tortoise or Geochelone Centrochelys sulcata, are the third largest tortoise species. The world's oldest tortoise is 184 and you can measure a tortoise's length using a pen and piece of paper. So no matter how you look at it, pet tortoise have a bigger chance of growing bigger than most wild tortoises. He have a 10 year old sulcata tortoise that we got from a reptile rescue this summer. How can I make my tortoise grow faster? This rapid growth will last for 5 or 8 years and then it will considerably start to slow down. When nighttime temperatures drop below 50 degrees, a heated hide box should be provided that maintains at least 55 to 60 degrees at night (70s is better), or the tortoises should be brought in during those times. Compared to other tortoises, sulcata tortoises have a very disorganized growth rate, they can grow 10 inches in 2 or 3 years, or they could grow 10 inches in 10 years. C. sulcata is the third-largest species of tortoise in the world after the Galapagos tortoise, and Aldabra giant tortoise, and the largest of the mainland tortoises. Growth rates of sulcatas are probably more variable than any other tortoise. The sulcata can attain a very large size in a relatively short time so care for this tortoise must be thought out carefully with accommodations being the primary concern. Many different substrates can be used in indoor enclosures. Sulcata Tortoise Update 9 Years Old - Duration: 1:29. In general, most UVB bulbs will get the job done, but if you want to know more details about, and the different types that are available, them you should read my article:  Guide for Lighting and Heating a Turtle Tank and Basking Area, there you will find a lot more information on this subject. It should be shallow. Cute Turtles. A turtle can cost anywhere between $10 and $100... Do Turtles Smell? Your email address will not be published. It is also called the sulcata tortoise, spurred tortoise, and African spur thigh tortoise. I know it sounds strange, but let me give you an example to clarify things. I know that each Sulcata have it's own growth rate but what is the average size and weight of Sulcatas at 1,3,5,and 10 years of age? Their massive carapace can measure a whopping 36 inches. Sulcata tortoise hatchlings measure approximately 1½ to 2 inches in carapace length. Sulcata tortoises are bred on a large scale in the Africa, Asia, U.S., generally in the Southern states, from coast to coast, where it is easier to keep them outdoors year-round. You can support our site and thousands of other turtle owners by contributing with a small donation. If you are properly taking care of a sulcata tortoise, then it should definitely get bigger than a wild one. When a tortoise gets bigger, there will be fewer animals that can hurt it. They will graze on any of the lawn grasses, mulberry leaves, grape leaves, hibiscus leaves and flowers. Sulcatas enjoy a temperature range of 80 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Tortoises living in areas with regular rainfall drink from puddles and leaves. Therefore, to make your sulcata tortoise enjoy a healthy long life, you must ensure to provide proper habitation and a good diet. When they hibernate they are basically just sleeping until the bad weather passes. Turtles don’t have a strong natural smell. 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