Sulcata Tortoise — Fact Sheet

Centrochelys sulcata · Sulcata Tortoise

📋 At a glance

🏠 Enclosure

• Large outdoor space essential in warm weather; adults need many m²
• Indoor adults need a heated room or very large pen, not a standard terrarium
• Juvenile starting enclosure: open table around 120 x 60 cm, upgraded quickly
• Substrate: dry soil, sand, and clay mix with digging areas
• Avoid: weak barriers, damp floors, slippery surfaces, cedar/pine, cat litter

🪨 Enclosure furniture

• Large shelter + basking zone + shaded areas + dry walking space
• Heavy water dish, flat basking stones, edible grasses, digging soil
• Strong dig-proof and push-resistant fencing outdoors

💡 Lighting

• UVB essential indoors
• Best: T5 HO UVB plus separate basking heat or a measured mercury vapor system
• Outdoor direct sun is excellent; glass/plastic blocks UVB
• Photoperiod: 10-12 h with seasonal adjustment; no night light

🌡️ Temperature

• Basking spot: 40-45 °C

• Warm zone: 28-32 °C

• Cool zone: 22-26 °C

• Night: 20-24 °C

• Do not allow prolonged drops below 18 °C

• Large adults may need multiple heat sources

• Avoid hibernation, heat rocks, and cold damp housing

💧 Humidity & water

• Adults: mostly dry, well ventilated, always hydrated
• Juveniles: slightly humid hide and regular short lukewarm soaks
• Heavy clean water dish always available
• Avoid dehydrating hatchlings or keeping adults in stagnant dampness

🥬 Diet

Feed freely:

• Grass hay: timothy, meadow, orchard grass
• Pasture grasses and safe wild grasses
• Dandelion (Taraxacum spp.)
• Plantain (Plantago spp.)
• Mallow (Malva spp.)
• Mulberry, hibiscus, unsprayed grapevine leaves

In moderation:

• Clover (Trifolium spp.)
• Chicory, endive, arugula
• Pumpkin, carrot, sweet potato, spineless Opuntia

Avoid:

• Fruit
• Animal products, dog/cat food, dairy, bread
• Legumes and high-protein foods

Supplements:

• Cuttlefish bone available at all times
• Calcium dusting for growing animals and females; UVB still required

🩺 Health — warning signs

• Shell pyramiding → diet, humidity, hydration, or UVB problem
• Soft shell → UVB/calcium deficit
• Nasal discharge or open-mouth breathing → respiratory disease
• Refusal to eat → temperature, stress, disease
• Unnaturally fast growth → excess energy/protein
• Fence injuries → enclosure too weak or too small

Consult a reptile-experienced vet for respiratory signs, severe weakness, injury, or prolonged anorexia.