Housing a Sulcata Tortoise

There are several things to keep in mind when you are setting up a terrarium for a juvenile Sulcata Tortoise . Placement of each area is key to keeping the Sulcata Tortoise happy and healthy. Having warm and cool spot in the tank are also necessary. Furthermore, there is a need for a basking light as well as warmth, which are obtained from to different sources. Basically what I do is separate the tank into two sides. A warm side and a cool side. On the warm side, I place the basking light in one corner and the heating pad in the other corner on the same side. I place the "home" or "cave" in between the two areas. As the Sulcata Tortoise grows, it will often move "furniture" around in the cage to where it wants. Sometimes they are just playing, but other times I wonder if they are actually doing some rearranging.

On the other side of the tank I try to keep the water dish and food bowl, along with any other accessories that I might have for the Sulcata Tortoise. A small branch with a bell on it is always fun. This encourages the Sulcata Tortoise to play, and keeps the feeding and play areas separate from the basking and sleeping areas. It also helps keep the water and food from getting gross. Frequent washing of these two items is important though, because they are likely to grow salmonella and tortoises can transfer this to humans.

Now lets get to building!

Obviously your Sulcata Tortoise cannot live in a tank forever. It will grow to the size of the habitat you give it actually. One thing I always keep in mind, is that it is only temporary to house Sulcata Tortoise inside. My Sulcata Tortoise was only inside for two years from the time I got him. Tortoise care is actually much easier once you are able to move the Sulcata Tortoise outside. It is absolutely vital to their health to move them outside as early as possible. There is nothing better for a Sulcata Tortoise than natural sunlight. So how do you know when your Sulcata Tortoise is ready to be moved outside?

You will know your Sulcata Tortoise is ready to live outside when several things happen.

✔Your Sulcata Tortoise outgrows his 100+ gallon tank.
✔Your Sulcata Tortoise's shell is about a foot long, about 6-8 inches wide, and stands 4-6 inches tall.
✔Your Sulcata Tortoise is able to burrow.
✔Your Sulcata Tortoise is healthy.
✔Your Sulcata Tortoise eats and excretes regularly.
✔Your Sulcata Tortoise's habitat is built and free from hazards.

Housing an adult Sulcata is definitely easier than a baby one. However there are a number of things to consider. Your tortoise is going to grow into its habitat. A backyard is significantly larger than a tank, so the first couple of months are going to be crucial. You can expect your tortoise to grow double the size within the first month outside. You also need to consider that the tortoise is going to burrow. You want to make sure that your yard is secure and that your tortoise does not dig out of your yard.