Free tortoise to good home

Bansh88

Bansh88

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We are anticipating moving out of state, sooner or later.  Most likely to a much colder climate.  I have an African Spur Thighed/Sulcata tortoise I need to find a new home for.

My wife and I rescued this gal about 14 years ago.  Someone bought her as a baby and kept her in a terrarium (death sentence for tortoises).  Her shell was in bad shape due to lack of sunlight and poor diet.  Since then she has grown big and strong and shell has shaped up nicely.  

Female Sulcata's are more uncommon due to the breeding process.  If I find out you bred her, I will track you down and shank you with a toothbrush. 

She needs an outdoor pen with plenty of sunlight.  During winter, needs a mild heat light when it gets under 50*.  I will give you lights, a Dogloo and any lumber from her current pen.

These are great pets.  Kids love them.  They are very low maintenance.  She slows way down in winter but in summer gets very active and hungry.  Needs a constant helping of fresh veggies and occasional fruit as treats.  If you have a lawn, she will spend hours eating/trimming it down.

I'll get some pictures up as soon as I can.  Currently about 40lbs +/-.  Could get about 25% bigger and will live a LONG time.  Females stay a bit smaller than males.

I'm up in Julian.  If you have any questions, just ask.

Here's an older pic.

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From today

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We brought ours to our new state and I made an enclosure insulated with a uv lamp, heat lamp, and space heater.  So far, it's been as cold as 6* and he's still fine.  

 
Would she be ok in a securely fenced in back yard or does she have to have a pen?

 
DustyBLLs said:
Would she be ok in a securely fenced in back yard or does she have to have a pen?
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She's very strong.  As long as the fence isn't an unreinforced chain link or rickety old cedar planks, it should hold her.  They do like to dig on occasion.  Sometimes making a fairly deep den.  Actually makes for a perfect temperature controlled home but you'll just have a big hole in your yard.  Just make sure she doesn't dig underneath the fence.

Like all tortoises, they are persistent.  If they want to get out of something, they will continue to try until they do.  It's best if they cant see through the fence, ie chain link.  I had a Desert tortoise climb 3' up a chain link gate once.

Dogs usually wont bother her.  Just make sure they don't start chewing on her.

I grew up with a desert tortoise roaming the backyard for years.  As of now, she's about 1/3 bigger than a full size Desert tortoise.

 
DustyBLLs said:
Would she be ok in a securely fenced in back yard or does she have to have a pen?
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They are pretty good at digging under fences, I would recommend a pen or something.  

 
About 10 years ago I re-homed an African Sulcata from @Bansh88.  We have a 1/4 acre fairly flat land so the yard size was perfect.  We named him Turbo and he's been a great pet, very low maintenance and basically cool to have around.  He's outgrown his Dogloo and burrowed a cave under the kids old playhouse.  He also dug a 20' hole we had to cave in recently.  Do the research and don't feed them the BS supplements at the pet stores.  He grazes and eats the grass and weeds, we give him Bird-of-Paradise leaves, grape leaves, left over/outdated veggies, watermelon rinds and strawberry tops (not whole strawberries).  When he sees or hears someone he'll walk over to investigate. They are very strong and will shove their way through stuff.  Also funny to hear him when it's mating season.  He's good for 4-5 times a day on a log I put out for him.  Haven't weighed him in years but he's probably close to 75-80lbs.

It's like owning a dinosaur.

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10 years ago when we got him.  My son is 19 years old now.

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^^^I recall that was one my brother and I had raised from baby.  Shortly after you got him, I found a large adult someone dumped at work.

 
I'm interested, my kids and I are always feeding veggies to our neighbors tortoise over the fence. We have lots of reptiles and animal experience. Live in Escondido and have always wanted one of these. Pm me your cell and we can talk. Thanks.

 
i am interested also, we have a pair of mating tortoises and have got two clutches from last spring.  I dont understand why you wouldn't want her to mate??

we have a 30x40 enclosure for the current two we have and would gladly add her to our clan.  we invite people over all the time to enjoy them with their kids

 
John@Outfront said:
 we have a pair of mating tortoises and have got two clutches from last spring.  I dont understand why you wouldn't want her to mate??
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People buy them because they're tiny cute things.  They get big and sh!t the size of cucumbers.  People then dump them on the side of the road.  That's just the ones that live past the first 12 months which I assume is a small percentage.  A friends wife has 2 juveniles and I'll likely have to rescue them soon since she can't care for them worth a crap.

There's enough of these around, people can adopt.  I want her to go to a good home, not become factory for profit.  *no offense meant.

 
We have 3 males roaming the 1 acre of fenced in land.  Had to buy an electric lawnmower since these guys were so efficient at mowing it down.  Mow the lawn maaaybe 2x a year these days.

I'd take her, but don't want 57,000 of them. :biggrin:



 
@Bansh88 A toothbrush?  Why not an axe...?



Some people.... What's to care? When they're small, build a decent size box and add a UV lamp, a water dish, soak them once a week, and toss in fruit/vegetable scraps (gives you a reason to eat more) daily and watch live action Hungry Hungry Hippos.  When they get larger, put them in the back yard and watch them mow your lawn for you...  Easiest "pet" ever.

 
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Bansh88 said:
People buy them because they're tiny cute things.  They get big and sh!t the size of cucumbers.  People then dump them on the side of the road.  That's just the ones that live past the first 12 months which I assume is a small percentage.  A friends wife has 2 juveniles and I'll likely have to rescue them soon since she can't care for them worth a crap.

There's enough of these around, people can adopt.  I want her to go to a good home, not become factory for profit.  *no offense meant.
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ours were not bought with the intent to breed them but that's what they do.  i would have to guess they like it LOL.  sometimes the male needs to give her a rest though. we have loved caring for them, my wife caught every one of he eggs as they were delivered (as a mid wife)  all of the hatchlings went to friends homes and they know what their poop looks like when big and they know they will live 150 years.  we love them and their habitat is perfect also with a concrete footing all around the perimeter.

i guess you have had a different experience with them then we have

so your concern is not for the mother but for the babies? being poorly cared for?

 
John@Outfront said:
so your concern is not for the mother but for the babies? being poorly cared for?
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Over the years, especially having reptiles, I've felt bad about the whole pet trade.  I wild caught a baby Rosy Boa years ago and I regretted it for the longest time.  She died about 2 years ago and I swore off ever having a caged animal again.

I suppose they're going to be bred regardless and anyone ensuring a good home is OK by me.

Message me if you're interested.

I still have my Desert Tortoise I adopted 20 years ago. He hibernates so winters aren't an issue.

 
If you still have your tortoise and are looking for a home, we have space here in Tennessee nd would love to have him.  We are a rescue with many year of experience, and we will pay to have him shipped here from California,

 
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