Spur Thighed Tortoise
A Complete Guide to Spur Thighed Tortoise Care
The African spur-thighed Tortoise, most often referred to as the Sulcata Tortoise is originally from the desert region around the Southern Sahara. These creatures grow to a length of 3or 4 feet and can weigh as much as 240 pounds. A well cared for spur-thighed tortoise has a life expectancy of 70 years.
The species gets its name from the clearly defined spurs on the tortoise’s rear legs. The spur-thighed tortoise is golden-yellow or brownish-yellow in color and it acquires a growth ring on each of the shell sections as it grows older. The tortoise is able to retain fluid during the dry months thanks to its thick skin.
If you are planning to get the spur-thighed tortoise as a pet remember these two details. It lives for a long time and it grows to be really big. Do not make a light-hearted decision but understand the implications of both these facts and make a responsible choice.
You have to provide a house that is large enough for the size the spur-thighed tortoise will grow into and still allow room for some walking around and physical movement. Experts recommend an enclosure that is a 12 inches square allowing for half of it to be a grazing area and another 6 inches to be a basking area. Depending on the climatic conditions of your region you can make this an outdoor or indoor construction. Since this species cannot handle extreme cold weather conditions, you can have an outdoor enclosure only if the temperature does not drop below 70 degrees. And, if you are building outside, make it a point to sink the fencing into the ground for a depth of about two feet as the spur-thighed tortoise loves to dig into the ground. You may also have to plan for additional barriers a little farther away from the fencing to make sure that your pet stays safe even if it manages to dig out of the enclosure.
If you have to provide the tortoise with an indoor home, it is recommended that you use a substrate of playground sand and organic soil so that it can still have the pleasure of burrowing and digging. Alfalfa pellets and aspen particles are also considered okay while pine, oyster shell substrates and cedar are to be avoided as they can be toxic to these tortoises. It is important for the skeletal development and shell progression of the tortoise to get adequate UVA and UVB lighting and so you have to provide your indoor pet with unfiltered sunlight or appropriate incandescent lighting. You may also have to make arrangements for under-tank heaters or ceramic emitters to create the necessary amount of warmth. Remember that the spur-thighed tortoise is endemic to the Saharan desert when creating a home for it.
Maintain high standards of hygiene in the enclosures as this is the best way to keep a healthy and happy pet. It is important to clean the space every day.
In terms of diet the spur-thighed tortoise needs high-fiber and low-protein food. These grazers can be fed things such as mixed grasses, hibiscus leaves and flowers, different types of hay, dandelion, clover and prickly pear pads. It is considered best to avoid animal-based protein and to use fresh fruits in very limited quantity. While you can substitute grasses with mustard or collard leaves it is best to not use lettuce.
The spur-thighed tortoise is capable of being trained and it is known to learn its name and respond to instructions. These intelligent creatures make for wonderful long-term companions and you can also have the added pleasure of taking care of an unusual and exotic pet!