[mrs1885]

After mentioning in the Maine section that our move to Maine is complicated by our tortoises, which are a species from Africa that do not hibernate and can't tolerate the cold, I kind of stole the thead without meaning to.

So, since several people seemed interested, I figured I'd start a thread for them in the proper place!!

We have three sulcatas, also called African Spur Thighs. All three came from a rescue. Sulcatas are very over bred in the US. People adopt them as hatchlings when they are the size of a quarter. They grow very quickly and many wind up homeless at only a year old. They can exceed 200 pounds at full grown size and are incredibly powerful.

They feed on grasses and weeds, with occasionally a very small amount of fruits or vegetables. The fruits and vegetables to them are similar to McDonald's for humans. It'll fill their tummy but it's very bad for their health, so it's just a once or twice a month small snack.

Because they can't handle temps under 60* and don't hibernate, they live indoors with us in the winter months. It makes for some interesting situations, as they re-arrange the furniture. It's kind of like living with a mini military tank in your living room. They've got pens they live in while we can't supervise, but if we're home just relaxing they are usually out and about with us.

The baby is Bradley who is 2 years old. He weighs about 7 pounds. We adopted him about a year ago and he was less than 1 pound at the time. He's grown 6 times his size in a year. They grow quick!!

The day we adopted him:



Currently:

(For size reference)



(For photogenic reasons)

[BlueWillowPlate]

I love your pics, Mrs!
Bradley is adorable.
I sure hope everything works out with your sulcatas and the move to Maine.
Would love to see a photo of a living room scenario, with you lounging around amidst your tortoises.

[mrs1885]

Our female is Sherman. She weighed 18 pounds when we adopted her. She's now (a year later) probably 35 or 40 pounds. Of the three we own, she's my favorite (don't tell the others I said that). She's by far the most social. She follows us every place we go. I even take her for 'walks' in the front yard. One time I was walking her and she found a pear on the ground. Because fruit isn't good for them I tried to get it away from her, but she'd have none of that. She shoved as much of it in her mouth as she could, pulled her head in as far as possible, and wrapped those big legs in front of her face. After a couple minutes I gave up and let her have her treat. I figured she'd earned it. And besides, thanks to her now I know we have a pear tree in the front yard!!

She loves to have her head and neck rubbed and once she knows you, will walk to you and stick her head as far out of her shell as possible. When she gets something in her eye she even goes to my husband and lets him get it out. Her favorite thing in the world is empty water bottles. That's her toy. She'll spend an hour just pushing it around the house or the yard.

In an attempt to get me to pay attention to her, she once tried to ram over the lounge chair I was laying in while sunbathing in the back yard. The foot rest portion of the lounge was pretty low but she still couldn't climb up on it. Out of frustration for me ignoring her, she finally started ramming the chair, trying to knock me out. Once I gave in and rubbed her head and neck she was happy again.

She's very much like having a dog in a shell. She's very smart and very affectionate, for lack of a better word.

Her shell is 'pyramided'. It should be pretty smooth all over. Pyramiding comes from inadequate lighting and improper diet. I don't know her background as she came from a rescue. But it's pretty fair to say that she didn't get the care she needed where she was. Over time it will smooth out some, but most likely it will never be perfectly smooth as it should.

So, here is Sherm!

[mrs1885]

And last, but certainly not least is Panzer. (Yes, they are all named after military tanks)

Panzer is about 10 years old. He weighs about 75 pounds. He also came from rescue and we don't know his background. He's slightly pyramided, like Sherm. He's not social at this point; we've not had him but a few months. He is however extremely bonded to Sherman and follows her every place she goes. He's gotten better with us recently and will eat fruit and veggies out of our hand on the rare occasion he gets them. He will not however eat grasses or weeds from us and does not want any rubbing or petting.

If you move fast or are loud around him he gets scared and 'huffs'. Not sure what else to call it!! LOL!! He'll shove his body forward as fast and quick as he can and make a huffing sound. In the wild I"m sure it's frightening to have a 75 pound tortoise charging at you.

So, Panzer:



In that photo ^, the dog he's next to weighs about 15 pounds, for a size reference. They don't 'look' big like the tortoises you see in the zoo. They are incredibly heavy; very solid!!

[mrs1885]

Originally Posted by BlueWillowPlate

I love your pics, Mrs!
Bradley is adorable.
I sure hope everything works out with your sulcatas and the move to Maine.
Would love to see a photo of a living room scenario, with you lounging around amidst your tortoises.

Thank you!! We'll be in Maine one way or another, I'm sure. Even if it means we just have to go for vacations and hire someone to stay with the 'kids' at home.

[lheard]

great pics of your "tanks" lucky you

[Bluw]

I love torts! I'm surprised that I missed this one! Our largest is a 12lb yellow foot pictured in my album. I always wanted sulcattas but must settle for smaller now. Loved the pics!

[ferretkona]

Thanks for sharing. I have always loved tortoises. I have a friend who breeds desert torts and I have always wanted to adopt one.

[Nick Dumich]

My daughter has a tortoise that looks just like the one in the photos, but it is only about the size of a common box turtle and she has had it for 6 years. Any idea what kind of tortoise it is? I would like to find another in Atlanta area. Any ideas.

[Huckleberry3911948]

my friend has got one here is a painting i did of him. he is over the top male aggressive.
very funny.