Surprise tortoise

[Scubaf250]

My friend's neighbor dumped a pretty big tortoise off on him and now I have it sense I'm the reptile guy.

So I'm pretty sure this is a sulcata. The shell looks pyramided but I'm not sure of age. Any idea if it will be ok? It seems to be pretty mobile but I've never had a tortoise before and after seeing some MBD pics online I'm kind of freaked out...

[wilomn]

He looks like he's in great shape. They're really easy to keep. And yes, it is a sulcatta.

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He looks like he's in great shape. They're really easy to keep. And yes, it is a sulcatta.

[Argentra]

Yep, Sulcata. Just keep him in the sun/under UVA/UVB to reduce the pyramiding and he should be good to go.
And, as these guys are the 3rd largest tortoise species in the world, he gonna get much bigger than that. Can't really tell size without something to compare with, but looking at the dirt he's on he doesn't look too big yet. Have fun!

[ironpython]

Theres one in a reptile shop by me that is big as a trashcan lid and he just walks around the shop.

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[gopherhockey03]

He's in excellent shape! As long as you keep him outside and give him a good diet he should be good. If possible give him as much space as possible! Also they love to wallow so get a little mud hole going for him! Any more info tortoiseforum.org is awesome and your more than welcome to join, I love it over there!!!

[Scubaf250]

Thanks guys, he's about 25 pounds or so i believe. We just moved to a new house and there's plenty of land here to give him a huge yard. At the moment he's in a pretty small brick planter that i dug out, it's about 3' x 8' I covered one end and stuck a heat lamp through a hole in the wood sense it's been getting pretty cold out there.

In the next couple days he will have a sweet yard and a nice house to warm up in =P

Any ideas on the best way to secure under the dirt so he doesn't disappear? I hear they are excellent burrowers =P

[Ridinandreptiles]

Plant some grass and tortoise friendly plants in the final enclosure that way you won't have to worry about feeding him if you leave for a weekend(: and I feel your pain/joy I've had plenty of misc. reptiles show up at me house because in the reptile guy. Good luck tortoises are beyond cute it makes me miss mine

[Scubaf250]

I just put some grass seeds down where I'm going to make his yard today =P I figure it will be easier for the grass to start growing before he's walking around on it ;-)

[gopherhockey03]

I wouldn't waste time planting tiny stuff, they are literally mini bull dozers and will destroy it or eat it fast! Got any pics of the new enclosure I could analyze it for you and help you out!

[lolerlaura]

He is adorable! Good luck on keeping a big guy like that. My boyfriend would love a big tortoise but it is way to cold where I live to even consider having him outside.

I just have to ask since I have no clue about tortoises but what is pyramiding?