Re: Are you sure you want a Sulcata???

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Posted by Minh on September 14, 2001 at 10:22:51:

In Reply to: Re: i was just wondering if....... posted by Greg_978 on September 08, 2001 at 06:25:03:

Sulcatas are the third largest tortoise in the world. Good pets since they are hardy, but bad pets since they require a lot of space and food.

The captive breeding success with this species in the last 15 years has been a phenomenal!! I don't think that they will ever go extinct now that breeders have figured out how to reproduce them.

My analogy with Sulcatas is similar to people wanting to buy a large breed of dog. Sometimes people bite off more than they can chew, and that cute little puppy ends up at the animal shelter when it grows into a 100 pound adult dog. Animals require a lot of care, and big animals require even more care. Make sure you want a tortoise that big. Owning one would be similar to owning livestock in terms of the amount of space and care it needs. All turtles are charming when they are little, but what happens when they mature into a behemoth?? How would you feel then??

I heard a rumor from one of the herp clubs here in S California. Supposedly, rangers in our local deserts are finding stray sulcatas after their former owners grow tired of them. An exotic, aggressive tortoise species in the Calif deserts would pose a threat to our already endangered Calif Desert Tortoise.

Just some things to think about .

MINH

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: Sulcatas are the third largest tortoise in the world. Good pets since they are hardy, but bad pets since they require a lot of space and food. : The captive breeding success with this species in the last 15 years has been a phenomenal!! I don't think that they will ever go extinct now that breeders have figured out how to reproduce them. : My analogy with Sulcatas is similar to people wanting to buy a large breed of dog. Sometimes people bite off more than they can chew, and that cute little puppy ends up at the animal shelter when it grows into a 100 pound adult dog. Animals require a lot of care, and big animals require even more care. Make sure you want a tortoise that big. Owning one would be similar to owning livestock in terms of the amount of space and care it needs. All turtles are charming when they are little, but what happens when they mature into a behemoth?? How would you feel then?? : I heard a rumor from one of the herp clubs here in S California. Supposedly, rangers in our local deserts are finding stray sulcatas after their former owners grow tired of them. An exotic, aggressive tortoise species in the Calif deserts would pose a threat to our already endangered Calif Desert Tortoise. : Just some things to think about . : MINH

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