sulcatas and hinge backs

[Frithrah82]

Although I do not actually plan on getting either of these in the near future (not for a few years if I get them at all), I am still interested in learning a little more of what i would be gettin myself into with either of these tortoises. Sulcatas are pretty popular in pet stores around here and although they are adorable as tiny babies I know that they get large, but just how large do they get? and what are their requirements to get that big and be happy? Same with hinge backs although I don't see as many of them around here, I'm still interested in them. Any help, even if its just links to other places to go would be cool, thanks!
~fuzzy

[Fat Cat]

The only problem I have had with my hingeback is that since most are wild caught... they have a wide range of habitats... each local has a slightly different habitat ... mine prefers a daytime high of only 82 ..and a humidity of 50% .. while some might like it warmer, or colder, and the numidity can avry also


GOOD LUCK

[Linds]

I don't have any experience with hingebacks so I can't comment on them, but I have a little bit with sulcatas. I absolutely hate seeing these animals offered in pet stores, and am sure most of them don't even come close to living the long, healthy existence they should be. They should be housed outdoors as much as possible, and being large, grazing animals that can exceed 200 lbs need a large area, a whole yard. They are also strong and determined as well and will dig up any plumbing and can go through drywall. They should be provided with a low protein diet mainly consisting of a variety of grasses.

[Bartman]

ive seen a pic of a full grown sulcata and maaaan there huge..basically you need to live up in the country to keep them..and not in canada thats forsure, unless you have a house to keep a 200 lb tort(during winter that is)...its tough

[gfisher2002]

Sulcattas should NOT be in pet stores. I dought any of these buys are informed of the commitment involved. An outdoor enclosure is a must. Unless you want to turn your whole basement into a tort pen and have 48" UVB reptisuns all over the place along the floor and plant bushes and fill the bottom foot with soil, I'd have an outdoor pen. A winter retreat indoors is possible but I wouldn't recommend permanent. A person could survive with all the eminities in a room the size of your bathroom, but would you really want to?

[Frithrah82]

I totally agree 100% that sulcatas should not be sold in pet stores, there are a lot of things that shouldn't, it was just that for a while I was looking for a med-large tort and they're very eye catching. At this point I'm not really interested in torts anymore, but figured I would ask just to finish satisfying my curiosity... Thanks for the info to all!

[Turtle Matt]

Sulcata tortoises are a very interesting species if you can privide the space for it..Hingebacks are very cool as well, but as fat cat mentioned, it can be tricky to simulate an environment for them unless you were to know what locality they were and what the weather was in that area. They seem to do well from what I've seen,once established, but many die as they cannot handle the stress of being imported. If you are new to tortoises, I would perhaps start with something a little smaller and hardier,like a russian tortoise or a red foot tortoise... This way, you will not have to worry about the size and strength of the sulcata and won't be discouraged if the hingebacks do not do well for you.
Matt