Re: Need Vitamin and temperature info on Sulcata

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Posted by Kathy on September 27, 2000 at 12:30:52:

In Reply to: Need Vitamin and temperature info on Sulcata posted by Belinda on September 27, 2000 at 08:23:59:

Belinda,

Congratulations on your new sulcata. Although in the wild Africans will sometimes eat animal protein, in captivity they don't require any animal protein whatsoever. I would eliminate any slugs or worms, cat food, dog food, pelleted foods. I'll list some sites that will give you great info on sulcatas and feeding sulcatas, as well as invite you to join the African Tortoise group at egroups. It's free and easy to join and you'll meet all kinds of other keepers from all over. Lots of good questions are asked and experiences shared. The link is http://www.egroups.com/group/African-Tortoise

A sulcata's diet should be at least 85% high fiber natural foods, like grasses , greens, weeds, flowers, etc. Fruit should be limited. Here's a great link, both for information on housing, feeding, temps, etc., as well as a place to order seed mixes, opuntia cactus (a sulcata favorite), and other plants:
http://www.turtlecafe.net/

Because sulcatas' calcium needs are great due to their fast growth, you should supplement your tort's diet with calcium at least 2-3 times a week. If your tort doesn't get much sunlight, use calcium with D3. Herptivite makes a great vitamin supplement, as well as a calcium supplements (one is just calcium, while the other has vitamin D3 added). Leaving a broken up cuttlebone in your tort's area is also a good way to add extra calcium. Most will nip a bite off every now and then. If yours isn't interested, try soaking the pieces for a while before offering; it softens it up and sometimes makes it more appetizing.

Here are some great books to read. These two are small and inexpensive, but great resources: The Care and Breeding of the African Spurred Tortoise by Richard and Robyn Wilson, and The Tortoise & Turtle Feeding Manual published by the Tortoise Trust. Two other books that are a little more expensive, but are so helpful, are: The Practical Encyclopedia of Keeping & Breeding Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles by A.C. Highfield, and Turtles of the World by Carl H. Ernst and Roger W. Barbour. You can order all of these (I think) from the Tortoise Trust website (Carapace Press) at:
http://www.tortoisetrust.org
This site is one of the best (if not the best) for all kinds of turtle and tortoise info.
Here's the site I found very helpful when I first got my sulcatas:
http://home.earthlink.net/~rednine/sulcatacare.html

Other great sulcata sites are:
http://www.tortoise.org/archives/sulcata1.html
http://sulcatastation.homestead.com/reading.html
http://sulcatastation.homestead.com/index.html
http://www.sonic.net/~melissk/sulcata.html
http://web.qx.net/raptors.sulcata.html

Whew! Hope this is helpful, and please remember that these are my opinions only. Others will share their experiences and opinions with you that may be different; differing opinions make the world go 'round. Good luck with your new little guy.

Kathy
Arizona

: We acquired a hatchling sulcata early this summer: she spent her days grazing in the yard, lots of flowers, plantain, dandelions, slugs and worms) and will winter in our home with the other land turtles. We are seasoned hard shell herp owners but it has been ten years since we had any African species: most of our text is very out of date. What vitamin supplements, optimum temperature, % of protein,( no pyramiding, natural look please) , current reading material and any other good sights to check out.
: Thanks in advance.
: Belinda

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: Belinda, : Congratulations on your new sulcata. Although in the wild Africans will sometimes eat animal protein, in captivity they don't require any animal protein whatsoever. I would eliminate any slugs or worms, cat food, dog food, pelleted foods. I'll list some sites that will give you great info on sulcatas and feeding sulcatas, as well as invite you to join the African Tortoise group at egroups. It's free and easy to join and you'll meet all kinds of other keepers from all over. Lots of good questions are asked and experiences shared. The link is http://www.egroups.com/group/African-Tortoise : A sulcata's diet should be at least 85% high fiber natural foods, like grasses , greens, weeds, flowers, etc. Fruit should be limited. Here's a great link, both for information on housing, feeding, temps, etc., as well as a place to order seed mixes, opuntia cactus (a sulcata favorite), and other plants: : http://www.turtlecafe.net/ : Because sulcatas' calcium needs are great due to their fast growth, you should supplement your tort's diet with calcium at least 2-3 times a week. If your tort doesn't get much sunlight, use calcium with D3. Herptivite makes a great vitamin supplement, as well as a calcium supplements (one is just calcium, while the other has vitamin D3 added). Leaving a broken up cuttlebone in your tort's area is also a good way to add extra calcium. Most will nip a bite off every now and then. If yours isn't interested, try soaking the pieces for a while before offering; it softens it up and sometimes makes it more appetizing. : Here are some great books to read. These two are small and inexpensive, but great resources: The Care and Breeding of the African Spurred Tortoise by Richard and Robyn Wilson, and The Tortoise & Turtle Feeding Manual published by the Tortoise Trust. Two other books that are a little more expensive, but are so helpful, are: The Practical Encyclopedia of Keeping & Breeding Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles by A.C. Highfield, and Turtles of the World by Carl H. Ernst and Roger W. Barbour. You can order all of these (I think) from the Tortoise Trust website (Carapace Press) at: : http://www.tortoisetrust.org : This site is one of the best (if not the best) for all kinds of turtle and tortoise info. : Here's the site I found very helpful when I first got my sulcatas: : http://home.earthlink.net/~rednine/sulcatacare.html : Other great sulcata sites are: : http://www.tortoise.org/archives/sulcata1.html : http://sulcatastation.homestead.com/reading.html : http://sulcatastation.homestead.com/index.html : http://www.sonic.net/~melissk/sulcata.html : http://web.qx.net/raptors.sulcata.html : Whew! Hope this is helpful, and please remember that these are my opinions only. Others will share their experiences and opinions with you that may be different; differing opinions make the world go 'round. Good luck with your new little guy. : Kathy : Arizona : : : We acquired a hatchling sulcata early this summer: she spent her days grazing in the yard, lots of flowers, plantain, dandelions, slugs and worms) and will winter in our home with the other land turtles. We are seasoned hard shell herp owners but it has been ten years since we had any African species: most of our text is very out of date. What vitamin supplements, optimum temperature, % of protein,( no pyramiding, natural look please) , current reading material and any other good sights to check out. : : Thanks in advance. : : Belinda

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