Adopt a Sulcata Tortoise
February 20th 2010 16:57
If you're thinking about getting a big tortoise, don't go out and buy a baby Sulcata just because they're cheap. Sulcata tortoises are one of the most thrown away pets, not literally, but they're bought and tossed away like nearly none other.
In a way, green iguanas and sulcatas are about the same. People buy them when they're small and cute, but the second they start to grow and become large, they are no longer wanted. That's not the way to be a pet owner by any means. When you bring a pet home, you are under the understanding of size, diet, husbandry, and overall care and health. You aren't supposed to just drop off the pet at a shelter because you don't want to deal with it anymore.
There are so many sulcata tortoises for adoption and needing loving homes that there's no need to go and buy a baby tortoise or breed your current tortoise.
As for breeding sulcata tortoises, there are so many breeders as it is selling babies, that the market has tons of them. They're already priced super low at $50 to $75 a baby. There are some people who purchase the baby to decide later one to breed. This creates more supply, less demand, more tortoises on the market, more being put up for adoption, and more never getting a permanent home.
These tortoises are big. They're huge in comparison to Russian tortoises and other small species tortoises. I'll admit, they're cute babies when they can fit in your hand, but a 100 pound tortoise just isn't everyone's cup of tea. They need large outdoor enclosures that they can't dig out of or break down, and yes it's possible that the tortoise will try to break through the barriers.
If you have the room and you're looking at getting a sulcata or large tortoise, adopt a juvenile or adult tortoise that needs a permanent home.
Check petfinder.com for available sulcatas. You'll find many in the northern states that would love a warm Southern home.
You may see them called African Spur Tortoises as well, so don't be alarmed if you see something that looks like a sulcata but has a different name because it's probably a sulcatta.
In a way, green iguanas and sulcatas are about the same. People buy them when they're small and cute, but the second they start to grow and become large, they are no longer wanted. That's not the way to be a pet owner by any means. When you bring a pet home, you are under the understanding of size, diet, husbandry, and overall care and health. You aren't supposed to just drop off the pet at a shelter because you don't want to deal with it anymore.
There are so many sulcata tortoises for adoption and needing loving homes that there's no need to go and buy a baby tortoise or breed your current tortoise.
As for breeding sulcata tortoises, there are so many breeders as it is selling babies, that the market has tons of them. They're already priced super low at $50 to $75 a baby. There are some people who purchase the baby to decide later one to breed. This creates more supply, less demand, more tortoises on the market, more being put up for adoption, and more never getting a permanent home.
These tortoises are big. They're huge in comparison to Russian tortoises and other small species tortoises. I'll admit, they're cute babies when they can fit in your hand, but a 100 pound tortoise just isn't everyone's cup of tea. They need large outdoor enclosures that they can't dig out of or break down, and yes it's possible that the tortoise will try to break through the barriers.
If you have the room and you're looking at getting a sulcata or large tortoise, adopt a juvenile or adult tortoise that needs a permanent home.
Check petfinder.com for available sulcatas. You'll find many in the northern states that would love a warm Southern home.
You may see them called African Spur Tortoises as well, so don't be alarmed if you see something that looks like a sulcata but has a different name because it's probably a sulcatta.
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