Sulcata Tortoise Part 2 - Environment, Housing & Enclosures, Fencing

#Sulcata, #SulcataTortoise, #Tortoise, #Turtle, #reptiles
Sulcate Tortoise Care, Sulcata Care, Tortoise Care, Spurred Tortoise, African Tortoise, Huge tortoise, large tortoise, big tortoise, giant tortoise, Tortoise Enclosure, Tortoise Housing,
SULCATA: Background, Keeping & Caring Requirements
Caring for, raising and keeping your tortoise heathy is not for everyone. You see these cute little guys in pet stores, swap meets, online and think this would be a nice addition to the family. Do you research, know what you are getting into.
In this video series I will be talking about Large Tortoise, NOT talking about Hatchlings, Small Tortoise, Breeding, Cold Climates. I have been rescuing large Tortoises for over 30 years now and have had these guys in all types of enclosures and housing. This is what I have now.
SULCATA: Environment, Housing & Enclosure
ENVIRONMENT:
- Temp Day 85 - 100+
Night 60 - 70
Winter Highs 60 - Lows 40
- Low Temp - Supplemental Heat
- Humidity: 40% - 60%
o Very Dry Climate - Water Down the Tortoise / Sprinklers
- Need Housing / Winter and Summer
Housing:
- Dog House / Igloo / Small Shed / Plastic Doll House / Custom Built
- Flooring/Substrate - Hard Surface, Hay/Wood Chips, DIRT
- Black Pipe / Culvert
- DIRT provides an increased level of Humidity.
- Supplemental Heat Source in the Winter.
Enclosure:
- How High? 2X the hiegth of the Tortoise
- Not see through or see over, they will try to go thru the barrier.
- Must be sturdy for the size.
- No wire Fencing
- Native: Grass, Sand, Rocks Etc. Try to reproduce the native environment.
- They can be very destructive. Can easily move lawn/patio furniture
- Can dig up the property / “Mine Field”
- Provide Micro Climates

[@BenjamintheTortoise]

I just watched part 1 and I love that you go into detail about their habitat and housing in this part 2! You have a beautiful property!! It's clear that you've taken every effort to assure their comfort throughout.... You have a couple of happy torts, my friend! 👍💕

[@gavilanhillsvineyard]

Thank you for your comments

[@SamsGiantTortoiseFarm]

Beautiful place, lots of space for a very Active tortoise species. Keep up the good work, Sam

[@gavilanhillsvineyard]

Thanxs They are amazing creatures

[@Texas240]

I suspect recommendations sent me here because of Tiptoe.

[@gavilanhillsvineyard]

Probably

[@olemackronald]

That rebar idea is brilliant! Thanks for sharing!

[@gavilanhillsvineyard]

Was not my idea... stole it but thanxs itr has work out very well...

[@HagsRideOrDie]

The boards are a great idea, thanks!

[@gavilanhillsvineyard]

They have worked out great. Just now getting around to painting them to look nicer

[@imdbtruth]

Looks like the American dream in action. ❤️🤍💙 🐢

[@gavilanhillsvineyard]

In the works anyway...

[@robynberkowitz4504]

I subscribed to your channel. I love 💓 your tortoises

[@gavilanhillsvineyard]

Thanks for subbing!

[@OrhallaZander]

So cute

[@gavilanhillsvineyard]

👍👍😎

[@tiffany457]

Thank you sir for the informative video. I have two in my back yard. They are wonderful animals and I’ve enjoyed taking care of the two I have.

[@gavilanhillsvineyard]

They are amazing animals

[@energeticsoulhealer888]

Our sulcata comes in every night to sleep. In the day, he goes out the dog door, then around 5pm he peeks in the back door, and comes right in, once I open it. He has a snack, sometimes a warm bath (every 5 days, or so), then goes into his cage, and spends the night on his warmer. We don't lock him in it, and he has the run of the house, but this is his preference. We have a fully fenced half acre for him to roam and graze on grass, sunbathe, etc. In the summer, we put him in his baby pool, although this year we'll probably build him a little fresh-water pond. I have 2 raised garden beds I'm growing some goodies in for him. He's 5 now, and I can no longer pick him up, but my son still can, so that's helpful. We'll get one of those square wheel barrels to pick him up with once he gets too big. Great video. Thank you.

[@gavilanhillsvineyard]

Thanxs Enjoy these beautiful animals

[@mairzeedotes2067]

Doesn’t he poop in the house at night? My tortoises all go in their hides at night for some reason.

[@Lisa-qy3bp]

Great advice but where the gravel is I would of put turf on there cause sulcatas are grazers ❤

[@Bullies-115]

I have two they are so smart 🤓 i didn't believe it until i seen it for myself

[@gavilanhillsvineyard]

Agreed these boys are smart...

[@Bullies-115]

@@gavilanhillsvineyard mine got so smart they watch me put they food so it can get cold in the refrigerator and they go open the door I'm telling the truth I just couldn't believe what I was seeing and it happened every time I did it

[@JEJAKAKI-AKI]

Kura- kura punya rumah yang sangat mewah. Beruntung sekali teman kura kura ini ❤️👍🌷🌷

[@gavilanhillsvineyard]

Thanxs they are amazing creatures

[@V3NX0_]

I love it so much I have tortoise

[@gavilanhillsvineyard]

They work out great. At my sisters house the Totoise tried to dig under. We added a few 24" rebar stacks and it stopped him from getting under. Thanxs

[@SuperBotanica]

I always have to convert everything to the metric system - time consuming 😒😒. you have a wonderful area for the 2 sulcatas

[@gavilanhillsvineyard]

Thanks 👍

[@wurstvermutung9916]

Wow, if i had so much space i would buy a sulcata too. But i have a Hermans Tortoise.

[@gavilanhillsvineyard]

That's cool!

[@fi5ht4nk]

Looking to build bigger enclosure im in ireland bad weather most times ive been using hay

[@gavilanhillsvineyard]

Good Luck

[@aussiegardener1773]

Thanks again. I thought I would watch part 2. Just a thought, perhaps the tortoises that dig a lot are the females, digging to lay eggs, and as you have 2 boys it may not be as prominent. Just a thought. Thanks for the lessons

[@gavilanhillsvineyard]

Thanxs for the comments: Typically females lay eggs in the winter/spring and do dig holes for the eggs. But they are small and they cover them when they are done. The holes are not as large as the burrows they dig. I had a female years ago but she passed. It was always a hide and seek game finding the eggs.

[@ambergreen6714]

My male has dug out. I'm screwed right now cause the hurricane Ian knocked all my fence down

[@briannaquick9953]

I have a 30 pound female Sulcata that was walking down the middle of my street. I looked for her owners for weeks and no one came forward so I adopted her. Winter was coming so I bought her a plastic dog house that would fit her and added a dog house heater with a thermostat and rubber flaps to keep the heat in and cold wind out. Filled it with hay on the floor and since it got cold (65 degrees) outdoors she put herself to bed and doesn’t come out to eat or drink. I keep the inside between 75-80 degrees. I’ve read that they don’t hibernate, but she’s basically sleeping like a bear in a warm cave. Should I wake her up, pull her out and try to feed and water her or let her sleep?

[@gavilanhillsvineyard]

1 - I would lower the temp in her house it might be too warm. 2 - Yes they do not hibernate, however they can sleep for weeks / they slow down and sort of hibernates. 3 - Mine sometimes do disappears for a long time and I do pull them out on warm days to get them heated up and moving. 4 - If you do pull her out, she may not eat. Put her in the sun and let her warm up. They are very hardy and can sleep for weeks, not to worry... Good Luck

[@fi5ht4nk]

Do you use sand just for the bedding

[@gavilanhillsvineyard]

Yes, Inside the enclosures I have send allowing them to dig all they want. Since we have such a dry climate here I can do that. They never get wet inside the enclosure. As an added option in the summer when it is really hot I do spray some water inside to create a higher humidity enviropnment.

[@laneahclark6567]

Can someone please tell me what kind of 3ft metal stakes he is using to hold the bottom boards? I must be searching under the wrong descriptions or something.

[@gavilanhillsvineyard]

I used 3 foot metal stakes... Some ones used for concrete forms. You can get them at Lowes/Home Depot

[@vivabarleypadron1492]

I have a hard time getting my Izzie to drink water. I have been soaking the veggies in water so she get water when eating. I've try several ways of keeping water. Just can't get her to drink.

[@gavilanhillsvineyard]

I have one (Simon) that hardly ever drinks water, while the other (Garfunckel) drinks almost everyday.

[@BajatheChickenMan]

Can Sulcatas thrive on a hill side?

[@gavilanhillsvineyard]

I have a hillside for my big boy. He does walk around and hangout on the hill.Pretty sure they will do fine.

[@katiejo1095]

Why do you keep them separated?

[@gavilanhillsvineyard]

My boys do not get along... When they are together they fight and the little one gets turned over. Males do not do well together.