Amusing Facts About The Sulcata Tortoise

Have you just bought yourself a cute baby sulcata tortoise and wondering what should be an ideal sulcata tortoise diet? Well, sulcata tortoise dwells in a hot arid regions and so has unique dietary requirements. Hence, scroll down to know which foods you can incorporate in your sulcata tortoise diet to satiate your adorable pet's dietary requirements.

African spurred tortoise, also called the sulcata tortoises, is from hot, dry scrubland regions of Sub-Sahara in the large swath across North-Central Africa. It inhabits in semi-arid environment and can not survive in damp, wet or cold conditions. In wild, African sulcata tortoise survive the intolerable heat and drought by making deep burrows and going underground for months. The burrows are cooler and provide sufficient humidity to prevent the tortoise from dehydrating during this extended heat period. More on desert tortoise.


Sulcata Tortoise Physical Characteristics

Sulcata tortoise grow fast and very large, up to two and a half feet long and 80 - 110 pounds or more. In fact, only the giant tortoises of the Galapagos Islands and Seychelles have surpassed sulcata tortoise in size. Its carapace (top shell) is sandy-ivory or golden yellow-brown in color and each scute (the external plate or scale of the shell) is outlined by brown growth rings. The plastron (bottom shell) of sulcata tortoise is light tan to yellow in color with no markings and has thick skin with dull, spine-like projections on the legs. As young, sulcata totorise can be handled gently but as it is juvenile and adult, this tortoise gets too huge and is difficult to handle. Hence, it is best suited for the outdoors but can also be kept in vivarium or dry aquarium.

Sulcata Tortoise Diet
Sulcata tortoise has a voracious appetite and so providing it a proper diet is essential for its health. It mainly requires a diet which is high in fiber and calcium and low in fat and protein. Sulcata tortoise is a strict vegetarian and in wild just like cows and sheep, it gazes dry, fibrous grasses and hays, as well as occasional fruits and blossoms. However in captivity, a baby sulcata tortoise diet may include dark, leafy greens such as collards, mustard, romaine, and red leaf lettuce.

Carrot tops, beet greens, spinach, beet greens, carrot tops, kale, broccoli, and especially rhubarb, contain high amounts of oxalates which bind calcium and so should be given in limited quantities. Also too much of calcium, phosphorus or even proteins can cause malformations of the shell, extremely fast growth rate, diarrhea, and other problems. Besides the above mentioned diet items, timothy hay, alfalfa, and other feed store grasses can also be given to an adult sulcata tortoise. Fruits like strawberries, bananas, melon, berries, and apples can be given but as treats in moderation. Sulcata tortoise is not used to a sugary diet, but the occasional banana, fig, or apple will do no harm. The key to sulcata tortoise nutrition is variety, hence keep in mind that in moderation, no single food will be detrimental to its health.