The BEST Sulcata Tortoise Enclosure Tutorial

Sulcata Tortoises also known as the African Spur Thighed Tortoise gets absolutely massive! If you can't properly house an adult I strongly advise you to find another tortoise species to care for.

[@donny0742]

Don't know if your still around but you are one of the first videos I started watching about sakata tortoise. Thank you. I now own and run my own reptile store and channel called Lawson Reptiles. Thank you for sharing your videos.

[@know_Name]

thanks boss! I am trying to keep my tortoise as happy as possible.

[@ratmannlibertyhound6755]

Really good set up. Much better than a glass box.

[@shaneweaver9764]

Great job!!!!! Really nice setup

[@theomack486]

Your enclosure looks great! I would just change two things or so. First off, never use a cfl bulb (compact fluorescent light) with tortoises. Instead, invest in a good, 10.0 repti sun bulb (the long tubes) with a high output reflector hood. This is for two reasons. One, CFL's are known to hurt tortoises eyes and cause permanent eye damage including blindness in many cases. Secondly, a CFL provides UVB in only one place, not the entire enclosure. You want the long uvb to cover the majority of the enclosure. Also, I would put a tent over your entire enclosure to raise humidity. Sulcatas need 80% humidity as babies and juveniles throughout the entire cage, and no matter how hard your try, you won't be able to keep that humidity level up with an open air enclosure like that. Instead, cover the entire top with a tent and not only will you keep up the humidity, but you will also use much less energy for your heat bulbs and what not. For your humid hides, use sphagnum moss inside to achieve 90-100% humidity. Check out tortoise forum for the best and most up to date information on all of this. It looks good!

[@desireesechrengost9591]

What would you recommend using as a tent? I am going to be getting mine a larger enclosure and haven’t figured out how to keep the humidity i.

[@meredithrae7938]

Awe look at him he loves it!

[@MarlanaA]

Love setting up enclosures too

[@h0neymourn207]

Great channeI just found your videos, you deserve way more subscribers.

[@johngarca5982]

watcha mines please, i talk about turtles.

[@colummcnally7733]

awesomr enclosure!

[@camarox8597]

Great thinks for the video I might get sulcata tortoise soon so I have been watching videos about them

[@Fluminox-]

Noice

[@RazzyKidz]

Great info thanks sharing 👍👍👍😀😀😀

[@lynnrushton7458]

Good informative video.... thank you👍 our Sulcata is approximately 2ft long so gonna need to kit him out a new bigger enclosure. He's currently on a soil / sand substrate, but I like the look of the stuff you have shown. THANKS! From Scotland UK 🐢🐢

[@ShelledReptiles]

Lynn Rushton Glad I could help!

[@LeoCCCC]

This video was posted on my birthday.

[@FastDuDeJiunn]

learning all i can about these tortoises. i realy want one. sadly where i live now no way i could have one, but working on buying a place with nice yard, and this is what i want to set my yard up for.

[@Fluminox-]

Get a Mediterranean tortoise, they stay small and are pretty dang cute, they're also great indoors and outdoors

[@dawnadriana1764]

Hi sweetie, just sent you some turtle food from your wish list on Amazon. Totally off topic... but, some of the items didn't have the greatest reviews so not sure if I should get. Anyway, you're just awesome. Love your dedication and love for these beautiful creatures. xo PS Maybe add to the list if possible.

[@medmaile3688]

what if my sulcata tries to eat the chips -_- she tries to eat EVERYTHING

[@TeguBuzz]

Great video bud, seen a few of your vids already and I'm glad I checked them out. Awesome setup - hope more people see this. My only question is, while you did touch on humidity and it's importance, wouldn't you worry about relative humidity escaping seeing as it is not an enclosed top? I mean you could mist frequently to solve it. I actually had a setup similar to this and used greenhouse tarp/plastic over it. Might be something to consider, but it's up to you! Great stuff. Quality content, keep it up.

[@ShelledReptiles]

TeguBuzz Thanks! I do mist it down every day to every other day.

[@squalley]

1:59 that stuff is amazing 😎

[@azbrown_knight8240]

Good setup, just subscribed. Yearlings need humidity. I hope you covered up the enclosure.

[@ShelledReptiles]

AZ brown_knight you don’t need an Enclosed enclosure if you mist it every day. I know this because he has stopped pyramiding.

[@aleighakyle3053]

We got I tortoise unexpectedly last year and we didn’t have the correct enclosure but we finally got him a bigger enclosure. I would like to know how do you make a humid hide and the dry hide I’d really like to know?

[@jontayyee3]

Do you feed the hay directly on top of the substrate? I ask because is it ok if it mixes together, because that could be a problem if they are ingesting the substrate while trying to eat the hay, no?

[@Jb-RAZ]

Hi! I just found my little guy in the road on my way to work I plan on getting everything you showed tomorrow morning how much do they eat and how often I hope to hear from you soon and maybe we can exchange emails or something I definitely want to make sure I have and get everything I need for the little guy he looks about the same size as your so I'm guess about a year old. But yeah thanks so much for your video it helped so much!!!

[@elliotmesser6290]

How long do you keep your tortoise in that environment? I have a sulcata about that age and size and was going to build something similar I’m just curious how long it will take it to out grow something like that I might even go a little bigger and do like 3’ by 3’

[@allenlewis522]

If set up like this would using a humidifier be too much?

[@dabizzness1840]

What's the black thing you put under the mulch so it doesn't fall out called ?

[@TheAlyssaWhitaker]

I have a sulcata that is around 5 years old. Would you suggest I do anything different to this setup for her? Aside from her needing larger hiding spots.

[@happymochinee]

Thanks! How is your sulcata tortoise doing now?

[@PotatoNinjaMaster]

Amazing video with so much information. I've just got a sulcata tortoise today and I want to give it the best I can. I was wondering if I could just use coconut fiber substrate instead of cypress mulch and forest moss to humidify it for my non-enclosed tank? I live near the equator and the temperature is about 30-35degrees everyday and it's very humid. Secondly, what's the temperature should the basking light be? I have heard that it should be in the range of 70-80 but some at 105-110. Lastly, right now it's still about 4 months old, I have gotten him some pellet food with calcium(one pellet per day) but should I start giving him other forms of food? I hope you can help me as it's a life and I want to give it the best I could!

[@PotatoNinjaMaster]

I am giving mazuri 5m21 diet right now.

[@The_Gr8Pre10der]

yea but where did you get that Captain America Shield tho?

[@riyannicholas]

How often do u need to replace the cypress?

[@yusufning8402]

hey, how often do you change the substrate? thanks

[@DanielMartinez-or6ck]

do u spray water over the substrait? and how many times do you have to change the substrate.

[@hallowx5550]

Hey, I have a slate rock inside my enclosure for my Hermann’s tortoise and his nails are still quite long, I don’t want to cut them cuz the canes inside and I don’t know what to do, any advice?

[@buttialbadi2402]

instead of using uvb can i only use the mercury bulb that has heating and uvb and uva ?

[@gemertje]

looks really good! does he goes outsidr in the summer?

[@ShelledReptiles]

gemertjeps3 He will I just need to make him an enclosure.

[@ryann9197]

Can you use this same set up for a red foot tortoise?

[@Tysonmommy]

Hello! I was given this tortoise and he needs a bigger enclosure but I can't seem to actually find any, I was wondering did you all build this one? If so, how or what should I look for to building one? Thank you

[@johngarca5982]

i always have wanted a sulfate

[@death1gaming573]

Is it just my area or is Cyprus mulch impossible to find?

[@rey2974]

Great video! Would this setup work for smaller tortoises like Greek and Russian tortoises?

[@ShelledReptiles]

The set up would work for a Greek Tortoise but not a Russian. Russian Tortoises do not do well with humidity.

[@azbrown_knight8240]

MagicRabbit yes it would.

[@chyname]

Is use this set up for my russian but i mix 50/50 of topsoil and play sand

[@jessicawilkins7139]

So 3 years later where is your sulcata tort at? Likes like a small enclosure for a tort

[@wehants3658]

What is the wattage rating of your uvb? Thanks

[@Scoppster]

how to make a cool house for the tortoises

[@juicyarmadillo2054]

Could this mulch be purchased in the US?

[@DeadlyChinchilla]

I'm looking for a large tub such as the one you fill up here in order to make a larger indoor enclosure for my Sulcata. But I can't find a large tub that isn't hundreds of dollars, which for a plastic tub without even needing a drain is kind of absurd. Do you have any suggestions? It doesn't have to be pretty, but I want a very large footprint so he has room to grow and I don't have to just replace it again in a year. I've even looked at plastic childrens pools, but they're too flimsy despite not being bad price-wise. Please and thank you!

[@ShelledReptiles]

DeadlyChinchilla Sorry it took so long for a response, the tub I used I got at Walmart but it isn't really a thick plastic, I would suggest checking Cregslist.

[@donnanelson9181]

Do not use mulch. My two year old sulcata swallowed a large piece of the bark and almost died. There’s a reason to stick to products specifically made for reptiles.

[@1AnimeFinder]

What bedding do i use?

[@donnanelson9181]

1AnimeFinder Reptibark. It is wood, but small pieces. Babies aren’t interested in it and larger torts can pass it if they eat it.

[@weebo411]

Man, I wish I could get one so badly!

[@ralphmarges2965]

and by badly its Bad horrible terrible a huge disapointment a disgrace to the forest theme enclosures

[@Anthony-nz3bt]

Egyptian tortoises would be the best choice for indoors. They’re tiny but expensive

[@cherrylynn7173]

My sulcata may be just as big as yours and it’s only four months old. Hope he’s not growing too fast. I’m so worried about pyramiding 😢

[@jasonc584]

I live in Texas and have three of the little guys, do you think it is humid enough there for them???

[@The_Gr8Pre10der]

me too. how are your sulcatas doing?

[@sydneymarie2821]

Would it be okay just to use one of the plastic tubs (like the one you mixed the substrate in) as an enclosure instead of making a wooden one?

[@ShelledReptiles]

Sydney Marie Yes you can, I just find it hard to get a tub big enough to house it for more than it’s hatchling size.

[@sydneymarie2821]

Yes just for hatchlings. Thank you!

[@saracammack9354]

Hey will you post links to where you got everything. My Sulcata is a baby. Sleeps all day doesn’t eat much I’m getting worried. I will make an enclosure like this soon tho. Thank you!!!! So I need a baskin area. A cool area and a heated area ??

[@r2dlee953]

your basking area is your heated area

[@marionsanders8733]

My tortoise nods it’s head when I pick him up like your was just doing why😭😭😭

[@Olokun3692]

Hello been doing my research on these magnificent creatures I was wondering to be the first time I did this should I do a male and a female don't get lonely please reply give me some feedback please

[@wes7609]

Ellis Colston Males get smaller so it is easier with space but really I don’t think it matters

[@dakotahaley6404]

I want to get a tortoise and make a table but I am having trouble finding out what is a good size table for the tortoise to live in it’s whole life? And what are some good species of tortoise. I’m probably am going to get a rescue so he could be an adult so I want to know what kind would be best and table size that he/she could thrive in

[@jessicaschoonmaker1726]

Dakota Haley make it yourself won’t be to hard

[@ronv.6461]

Where did you get that big bag of cypress mulch at I cant find it anywhere where I live? I live in Arizona maybe I'm not looking right?? Thanks

[@bahls16]

Home Depot has them here in AZ

[@ronv.6461]

@@bahls16 humm I live close by 3 of them but they dont carry I will have to call all of them I guess lol thanks :)

[@ronv.6461]

What home depot has them here in AZ if you can help out thanks:)

[@fishpersonvblogs1241]

where can I get the cheaper sulcatas online. I want a baby but I never kept tortoises before

[@technocheese1102]

FishPerson Vblogs never get one until you have done extensive research. Go to tortoise forum. Com (or get the app I find it more useful) and go to the breeders section, or you can make a post asking about it. Good luck!

[@roxannerodriguez7075]

2:05 "pure cypress mulch." I'm in AZ. I'm looking around and I can't seem to find it in my town. 😕 So it looks like I'm gonna be stuck paying for Repti-bark one more time. I'm hoping one of our local gardeners will respond to my inquiry. Otherwise maybe on-line. This seems so cost effective, I really want to try it!

[@roxannerodriguez7075]

I found Cypress mulch at the pet store for $29.99. Boo... It's $5 cheaper than the Repti Bark. But then I can buy one brick of compressed coconut fiber bedding. So it comes out to the same price. What would you guys do?

[@DS_Renzo]

Hey where can I buy pure cypress mulch

[@veronicaowl3126]

Wouldn't the mulch hurt the tortoise??

[@ShelledReptiles]

Veronica Owl Not if you use pure cypress mulch and coco fiber mix. I use cypress mulch for my Russian tortoises as well and have never had a problem.

[@heytherestranger5235]

Instead of the coconut fiber bricks can I use loose coconut fiber substrate?

[@Fluminox-]

I think so. It's the same thing but one is compacted

[@jessicabruv6197]

Where did you get that mulch? I spent $40 and 10 lbs 🙄

[@ShelledReptiles]

Home Depot

[@lost_illusion5245]

How are ur tortoises

[@reptileboy1212]

I was wondering if I could keep a baby Russian tortoise with a adult male Russian tortoise and sorry about the questions

[@ivanmoreno2161]

No

[@Jakethesnake7321]

How do I get my tortoises to eat the Mazori pellets? They won’t touch them.

[@jonbishop9062]

Jake the Snake mix them with water. How big is your Sulcata? Most will take them with 3/4 water in any bowl. Sulcatas love Bermuda grass sprouts as well as dandelions. You can with moisture added mix these also gradually usually using less greens and more mazuri mix. Check your heat and make sure the temp Is warm enough for him. Sulcatas are voracious eaters.

[@shawntunstall7105]

what did you use to make the humid hide humid? moss?

[@ShelledReptiles]

Shawn Tunstall Eco Earth coco fiber

[@katiewilson7345]

Hi!! I recently just got a Sulcata tortoise ( will be a year old next month) and while I was out of town a friend of mine decided to put together my tortoise enclosure and used rocks and “ child play sand” is sand okay for him to be in ? Some people tell me yes because he’s a “ Desert tortoise and that’s what they live in “ Please let me know! Thank you

[@ShelledReptiles]

Katie Wilson No, sand is one of the many misconceptions of sulcata tortoises. The first thing you need to know is that Sulcatas are not Desert tortoises they are grassland tortoises, they also should have no less than 60% humidity and should be soaked jut about every day. The best substrate is a 50/50 mix of eco earth and organic potting soil.

[@katiewilson7345]

Thank you so much !!

[@burbingberries6917]

Do you have any issues with fungus gnats?

[@ShelledReptiles]

Burbing Berries I do not.

[@lindahayes9495]

Do they live healthy or do they get sick all the time. And can he.get out of his enclosure

[@ShelledReptiles]

Linda Hayes He has lived healthy so far and has not escaped.

[@amyaisweird9061]

About how muccch money was this?

[@mariposalove5550]

So I just did a crazy thing and bought a tortoise and I have no clue what to do. Any help KZbinrs?!

[@big_boy_amundsen9355]

I’m a bit late but you should name him Sheldon

[@LeuBlue]

I don't if he'll change the name it's been 3 year bro

[@sayegblanquet3048]

How come you can't use dirt or sand instead of the repti bark ?

[@chyname]

Sayeg Blanquet i use 50/50 mix of play sand and top soil but i have a russian tortoise which i have to keep dryer

[@sayegblanquet3048]

Chyna Me i have a sulcata what can i use?

[@aizatariq1542]

Which is the best pet bunny or tortoise please help me because I am confused 🐢🐇

[@ShelledReptiles]

Aiza Tariq Tortoise

[@aizatariq1542]

Thanks for helping me 😀😀

[@hudsonwilliams8473]

Mine is named sumo

[@nelleduarte6709]

Not enough lighting at all he’s barely getting any uvb , should add a long uvb bulb as well

[@GarynLouis]

Hey do you still buy that mazuri on amazon?

[@GoNHomeMotorcycleHearseService]

Love it you have a update video

[@mememachine2408]

The rock should be under the heat lamp the rock will hold more heat than mulch

[@kimberlybonilla710]

how often do u change the mulch?

[@ShelledReptiles]

Kimberly Bonilla I don't really change it, I just take out any poo I find and mix up the mulch

[@quavothetortoise8338]

Shelled Reptiles but what if he pees? Won't it grow mold

[@ShelledReptiles]

Couch No, I haven't had any problems with mold and I use Cypress mulch for my Sulcata and Russian Tortoises.

[@quavothetortoise8338]

Shelled Reptiles ok thank you!

[@jackiez9510]

Sporty Me it doesn’t

[@christinekoehle1909]

Why did you add the second UVB Bulb?

[@bakenman6371]

Christine Koehle so there could be more than just a basking spot where the tortoise can get its UVB

[@stefanostokatlidis4861]

Why don't you use just soil? It is better than organic substrate.

[@jackiez9510]

soil is harder to clean up

[@stefanostokatlidis4861]

But its advantage is that it isn't a risk for impaction in a healthy animal, and also provides minerals when the animal ingests it. Animals don't know that the substrate is just indigestible organic material, and they will continue to ingest it like it would be soil, coming down with impaction.

[@ShelledReptiles]

stefanos tokatlidis The risk of impaction greatly reduces when you feed them on a dish or bowl

[@ShelledReptiles]

True, but this is a captive bread and raised animal and it gets its nutrients through the food it is given.

[@natka8181]

I had tortoise soil qnd when she would dig the dust particles would settle on everything in that room. Big pain to keep up with dusting absolutely everything! Even if the soil is dampened, it still happens

[@rickyjordan3516]

Did I just see a Kendall Gray pocket knife

[@Pisspamper]

Hey does anyone know how much lighting does a baby sulcata need ....it’s a indoor baby sulcata ... comment down below..... i have uvb lamp and a heater but I’m worried it to hot for my little guy☹️☹️

[@Mamba4Lifee]

Mia Yasss lots and lots of UVB rays, and temperature between 84-86 should be good

[@juicytendercheerios4005]

Soo can i use sand?

[@ShelledReptiles]

JuicyTenderCheerios 400 No, sand is a never use with tortoises.

[@Lhuw]

Shelled Reptiles what do you use then ?

[@PYROTOAD]

Mulch and eco earth

[@stefanostokatlidis4861]

Please feed it mostly hay.

[@jackiez9510]

thats stupids mostly hay really

[@savagebudies4164]

stefanos tokatlidis the