Baby Tortoise Care Sheets

Looking to learn proper baby tortoise care?  Tortoise town specializes in all types of baby tortoise care sheets for all of our baby tortoises for sale and has some fantastic baby tortoise care sheets.  We offer a variety of tortoise care sheets and turtle care sheets free of charge to all of our fans and customers.

Whether you are looking for specific baby tortoise care information like baby tortoise diet, general baby tortoise care,  baby tortoise care info on baby tortoise habitat construction, breeding, incubating, or just everyday questions we offer a variety of care sheets free for your use.  If you are looking to also get supplies of a setup, we HIGHLY recommend our complete deluxe tortoise habitat kit.

baby tortoise

Baby Tortoise Care

If you are looking for information on baby Red foot tortoise care, a red foot tortoise care sheet, information on baby red foot tortoise diet, baby red foot tortoise price, red foot tortoise size, red foot tortoise breeding, red foot tortoise baby, red footed tortoise, baby red foot tortoise, growth rate, red foot tortoise enclosurered foot tortoise pet, red foot tortoise size, red foot tortoise habitat and more we have the information to help you provide the best setup for your new pet tortoise for sale!

baby tortoise

If you are looking for information on baby leopard tortoise care, leopard tortoise care sheet, information on leopard tortoise diet, leopard tortoise price, leopard tortoise size, leopard tortoise breeding, leopard tortoise baby, ivory leopard tortoise, baby leopard tortoise, leopard tortoise growth rate, leopard tortoise enclosure,  leopard tortoise pet, leopard tortoise size, leopard tortoise habitat and more we have the information to help you provide the best setup for your new pet tortoise!

Baby tortoises for sale

If you are looking for information on baby russian tortoise care, a baby russian tortoise care sheet, information on:

If you are looking for information on greek tortoise care, a greek tortoise care sheet, information on greek tortoise diet, greek tortoise price, greek tortoise size, greek tortoise breeding, greek tortoise baby, ibera greek tortoise, baby greek tortoise, greek tortoise growth rate, greek tortoise enclosure,  greek tortoise pet, greek tortoise size, greek tortoise habitat and more we have the information to help you provide the best setup and baby tortoise care inforamtion for your new pet tortoise for sale!

Baby Tortoise Care – Sulcata tortoise care sheets

If you are looking for information on African Sulcata tortoise care, a baby Sulcata tortoise care sheet, information on Sulcata tortoise diet, Sulcata tortoise price, Sulcata tortoise size, Sulcata tortoise breeding, Sulcata tortoise baby, ivory Sulcata tortoise, baby Sulcata tortoise, Sulcata tortoise growth rate, Sulcata tortoise enclosure,  Sulcata tortoise pet, Sulcata tortoise size, Sulcata tortoise habitat and more we have the information to help you provide the best setup for your new pet tortoise for sale!

If you are looking for information on African Sulcata tortoise care, a sulcata tortoise care sheet, information on sulcata tortoise diet, Sulcata tortoise price, Sulcata tortoise size, Sulcata tortoise breeding, sulcata tortoise baby, ivory sulcata tortoise, baby sulcata tortoise, sulcata tortoise growth rate, sulcata tortoise enclosuresulcata tortoise pet, sulcata tortoise size, sulcata tortoise habitat and more we have the information to help you provide the best setup for your new pet tortoise for sale!

baby tortoise care guide

Remember when searching for any baby tortoises for sale, including a new baby tortoise for sale, tortoise town is your source for the best tortoise for sale , baby tortoise , baby turtles for sale, and adult turtles for sale of any turtle store anywhere.

Baby Tortoise Care Sheets

At Tortoise town, we specialize in captive bred tortoises for sale.  Whether you’re looking for a captive bred baby tortoise for sale, or well started baby tortoises for sale online, Tortoise Town is your place for overnight UPS or FedEx Early AM shipping, and top-notch care and customer service!  We offer free support with all of our purchases via phone and email, as well as have a Biologist ON STAFF to provide our animals and our customers with the best possible care and advice around.

Shop with confidence that Tortoise town is your source for your next turtle for sale, or tortoise for sale and will be here to support you and your new family member as the years pass.  All of our captive bred tortoise for sale and baby tortoises for sale will come with our full live arrival and 7 day health guarantee!  Our baby tortoises for sale are all hand raised, indoor, receiving top care from our staff of trained reptile caretakers and staff biologist.

baby tortoises for sale

The next size down would be the more common Pardalis Babcocki leopard tortoise.  If you’re looking for a medium tortoise, we would recommend considering the baby red foot tortoiseCherry Head Red Foot Tortoise, or Yellow Footed Tortoises.  Looking for a very small pet tortoise?  Consider the beautiful captive bred baby Russian tortoise as well as our eastern and western Hermann’s tortoise.  Tortoise town has a full selection of 100% captive bred, hand raised tortoise babies for sale as well as juvenile, and adult tortoises.

Our most popular tortoises for sale include small, medium and large tortoise for sale including baby Russian tortoisebaby greek tortoise, baby hermann’s tortoise.  Our medium sized pet tortoise for sale include baby leopard tortoisebaby red foot tortoiseyellow foot tortoise as well as marginated tortoises.  Our large- giant sized tortoises include the african suclata tortoise (also known as the spur thigh tortoise for sale) as well as the leopard tortoise, giant leopard tortoise, burmese mountain tortoise, and giant aldabra tortoise.

Baby Sulcata Tortoise Care Sheet

(baby tortoise care sheet)

Before purchasing your Sulcata tortoise, or any tortoise for sale, whether it is a baby Sulcata tortoise or a well-started baby, juvenile African spurred tortoise, or adult sulcata tortoise for sale, understanding proper care is key to enjoying your new tortoise.

Sulcata Tortoise also known as the African Spurred Tortoise

Range: Arid, sparse areas of sub-Saharan Africa

Lifespan: 80-100 years

Size: A very large tortoise or 24-30 inches

Appearance: African spurred tortoise males are much larger than females. Adult males have the deep concavity in the posterior half of plastron, with long, thin tails tipped by a horny curving spur. Females have a more rounded appearance with features that are not so exaggerated and a short, blunt tail. Adults’ carapace is a uniform brown. Their plastron, head, and limbs are a uniform yellowish. Juveniles have a pale yellow carapace with brown on the scutes, a yellow-white plastron and lighter areoles on the carapace plates.

baby Tortoise Habitat

Due to their large size, housing a baby sulcata tortoise inside can be quite impractical. Please consider this carefully prior to purchasing. The most useful form of indoor accommodation for a sulcata tortoise hatchling is a tortoise table. A reasonable size for a hatchling is 2 foot by 2 foot, however, they will outgrow this very quickly (at 3 years old they can exceed 12 inches). As the animal grows the size of its habitat needs to be increased. Holes can be cut into the bottom of your tortoise table to allow for the sinking of food and water dishes, making them flush with the surface for easier animal access.

The water dish in the habitat should be large enough to allow the tortoise to soak in, whilst remaining shallow enough to protect from drowning. For an adult African Spurred tortoise, the indoor habitat should be at least 8 foot by 8 foot! An outdoor heated shed or greenhouse is sometimes a better option for an adult African Spurred tortoise.

baby tortoise outdoor habitat

During hot summer days allow your baby sulcata tortoise to roam in a predator-free enclosed garden. Because of their large size and grazing habits, these tortoises will greatly benefit to being outdoors when the climate allows it. Ensure that there is adequate shade, hiding spots, and access to a shallow dish of water. A dry grassy area that allows grazing is ideal.

These large tortoises need a sturdy fence that extends underground due to their tendency to burrow. Daytime temperatures can be up to 100 F and nighttime temperatures should not drop below 70 degrees F. A shallow dish of water should be provided at all times, and a muddy wallow may be used as well.

Sulcata tortoise Substrate

Sulcata tortoise care

As a substrate, a mixture of topsoil and children play sand or cypress bark works well, but for this and other arid loving species, the best substrate is grass hay. Hay is easily maintained and provides nourishment if they nibble it. This must be kept dry as African Spurred tortoises cannot tolerate wet or constant high humidity conditions.

If sand is used in the substrate this area should also not have food placed directly upon it as the sand can build up in the tortoises GI tract leading to possible impaction and even death. A completely separate sand-free area in the habitat should be utilized to feed.

Sulcata tortoise basking light

In one corner of the environment, a heat spot lamp should be positioned to provide artificial basking facilities. This should be positioned to provide a basking spot of 90 degrees F in that section of the habitat, while the rest of the enclosure can be heated to 80-90 F during the day with a drop at night. Heating sources should always be run through a thermostat.

The enclosure should also be equipped with a full spectrum fluorescent light to provide for UVB. A UVB source is necessary for Vitamin D3 syntheses (needed in calcium metabolism). There should be a hide box located in the corner away from the basking spot to allow the animal a cooler dim retreat.

baby tortoise housing

The options here are limitless. You can modify a terrarium. You can construct a tortoise table or similar habitat out of wood, metal, and acrylic. I’m not going to go into too many particulars. I’m of the opinion that simple is best…the obvious being the use of a brooder box immediately upon hatching (to minimize ingestion of vermiculite or another medium).

I use two 50 gallon Rubbermaid tubs; one filled with six inches of an 80/20 combination of coconut bark: coco coir and the other six inches of orchard grass hay. Both have a 160W Mercury Vapor Bulb (MVB) and a 100W Ceramic Heat Emitter (CHE) suspended approximately 18 inches above the substrate surface. The dual tubs serve a vital function. The hay tub fuels the animals’ feeding instincts and encourages burrowing.

The bark/coir tub provides a ‘natural’ humid environment and also encourages burrowing and a comfortable nights sleep…which is crucial to good health and growth. You can and should add a humid hide, as well. It can be as simple as a Sterilite container with a hole large enough for your tortoise to crawl through. You can use sphagnum moss, peat moss or coco coir to fill it.

baby tortoise behavior

Sulcatas Tortoises like to move around and are very strong — they must have a large area in which to freely and widely roam. Sulcatas also need to burrow away from the heat and do so by retreating to their pallets or into muddy wallows where they will stay for hours, flipping cool mud up onto their backs. When temperatures exceed 104 F (40 C), they will begin to salivate heavily, smearing the saliva on their forearms to help cool themselves down.

Whether housed indoors or out, baby tortoise can roam about and are voracious eaters. Like many tortoises, they are also climbers. Care must be taken to assure they are not given the opportunity to climb things that are too steep resulting in their toppling over. If they flip onto their backs and are not able to right themselves, they may die of hyperthermia if they do it during the hottest part of the day. They may also choke or drown on their own vomit if they panic.

Sulcata tortoise behavior continued

They may lose precious water by voiding urates and thus become seriously dehydrated. Suffocation is also a possibility if they are left upside down too long as their lungs, which are near the top of their carapace, are compressed by the weight of their internal organs.

Baby tortoises also need to burrow away from the heat and do so by retreating to their pallets or into muddy wallows where they will stay for hours, flipping cool mud up onto their backs. When temperatures exceed 104 F (40 C), they will begin to salivate heavily, smearing the saliva on their forearms to help cool themselves down.

Keep dangerous objects out of their area. Part of baby tortoise care is baby tortoise proofing your setup! or your new baby tortoise habitat setup.  Steps, dogs, raccoons, and children are among some of the dangers that must be guarded against. So too are thorny cacti, human and animal hair, pesticides and herbicides, small plastic, glass and metal toys, and toxic plants. Sulcatas are voracious, if not always smart, eaters and will ingest anything small enough and colorful enough.

Baby tortoise care baby Sulcata tortoise Diet:

African Spurred tortoises are herbivorous, grazing tortoises and need a high fiber, low protein diet. At least 75% of their diet should be given as grasses and hays, along with some edible weeds and flowers. Small amounts of other leafy green vegetables are okay, but avoid foods high in oxalates.

The phrase used most commonly by sulcata owners to describe their tortoises is “eating machine.” Sulcatas graze and forage for hours during the day. In the wild, much of their intake is from extremely hard to digest tough plant fibers from grasses.

In captivity, a wide variety of vegetables and fruits can be offered  to your new baby tortoise (see list below) but Ssulcatas, like all tortoises, need to be able to graze on pesticide- and herbicide-free grasses and weeds. While sulcatas may be successfully reared for the first couple of years in a small yard, larger specimens need lots of yard with forage for them. Lists of toxic plants are available which should be used to determine which plants to keep out of your yard.

Baby tortoise food

Three of the most important factors in constructing tortoise diets are the calcium: phosphorous ratio of the food and supplements ingested, the amount and type of protein eaten, and roughage–lots and lots of roughage. Too much phosphorous, or too little calcium, will cause bones and shell softening and deformity and impairs metabolism and organ function.

Too much protein, and feeding the wrong kind of protein (such as vertebrates, invertebrates, and commercial mammal foods) or too much of certain proteins (legumes, soy, and alfalfa hay products) will cause too rapid growth, kidney failure, shell deformities and decrease lifespan.

Studies of the feces of wild tortoises have shown that they do not ingest much in the way of animal protein. The animal component found in the feces was no greater than the small number of other nonfood items such as small stones, feathers, fur and lizard skin sheds: in short, whatever was in the way as they were grabbing at their plants of choice (Highfield). A necessary protein may easily, and should, be supplied by plant proteins.

Examples of proper Sulcata Tortoise food and Sulcata Tortoise Diet Needs:

* Orchard grass or hay

* Timothy or Bermuda Grass .* Dandelion greens

* Clove

* Cactus pads

* Edible flowers

Avoid:

* Fruits

* Spinach

* Grains (bread, pasta etc)

* Human foods

* Pellet type complete tortoise foods

* Dog and cat food or any animal protein

Vitamin Supplements  (Baby Tortoise Care Sheets)

Most Sulcata keepers routinely supplement their tortoise diets with both a multivitamin supplement and a calcium supplement; others do not supplement at all. Given the often extremely low calcium levels in the greens and vegetables offered to sulcatas in captivity, and the variable nutritional content based on the differences in the soil content in which the plants were grown, regular supplementation will help even out any inconsistencies and trace element deficiencies in their diet.  baby tortoise

UVB levels in the tortoises natural habitat are vastly higher than anything we experience in the, so food must be lightly dusted with a vitamin and mineral supplement which contains vitamin D3 and calcium daily. Cuttlebone is a good source of calcium and can be left in the enclosure at all times.

Sulcata tortoise Breeding

Copulation may take place anytime from June through March, but occurs most frequently right after the raining season, during the months from September through November. During the several copulation events which may take place each day, the female is weighted down by the much larger and heavier, and rather vocal, males. The females stay in one place during the event, with movement restricted to a side-to-side shifting of the hind quarters.

Soon after mating (generally between September and December), the developing eggs take up increasing room inside the female’s body. Food intake will decrease. Restless behavior will be noted as the female begins to roam the compound looking for suitable nesting sites. For five to fifteen days,   (Baby tortoise Care sheets) four or five nests may be excavated before she finally selects the location in which the eggs will be laid. The site is generally in one of the trial nests. The digging may start like the usual pallet digging, but the female soon turns around and continues to dig using her hind legs.

Additional: African Spurred tortoises do not hibernate. Make sure there are no steep surfaces or steps that the tortoise can climb on as they can tip over onto their backs and be unable to get back up.

Natural History  (Baby Tortoise Care Sheets)

Sulcata tortoises are native to more northern parts of Africa, ranging from the southern edge of the Sahara down through the arid countries, including Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad, the Sudan, and Ethiopia, up through the dry, hot Massaua coast bordering the Red Sea.

Captive bred and imported Sulcatas can be found increasingly found in the pet trade. The sulcata is the largest of the African mainland tortoise, with specimens easily reaching 24-30 inches (60-75 cm) in carapace length and 80-110 pounds (36-50 kg). The largest on record was a male resident of the Giza Zoological Gardens (Egypt) who weighed in at 232 lb (105.5 kg) and measured 41.6 inches (104 cm) over the carapace (Flower, 1925, in Stearns). The oldest recorded specimen in captivity, also at the Giza Zoological Gardens, was 54 years of age (Hughes, 1986, in Stearns).

Leopard Tortoise Care (baby tortoise care sheet)

Caring for your new pet leopard tortoise is quite simple, once you do your research and are prepared.  If you are looking for tips on leopard tortoise care, feeding leopard tortoise, building a leopard tortoise habitat or tortoise table you have come to the right place.  Before or directly after you purchase your leopard tortoise for sale be sure to do your research and get your habitat ready.

Leopard Tortoise Availability  (baby tortoise care information)

It is imperative that you find the correct breeder that is breeding healthy captive bred pet leopard tortoise for sale.  Captive-bred leopard tortoises are sometimes available but sometimes hard to find. Import of wild caught specimens into the United States was banned in 2000.  Before the ban leopard tortoises were commonly imported, and many people currently breed leopard tortoises, however Stigmachelys pardalis pardalis the Giant South African Leopard Tortoise is less common in collections than Stigmachelys pardalis babcocki, also known as the standard leopard tortoise.

Leopard Tortoise Size

Adult leopard tortoises grow from 10 to 18 inches long depending on where the tortoise comes from (what geographic subspecies it is from). The Giant South African subspecies, Stigmachelys pardalis pardalis, can grow up to 24 inches and the leopard giants from Ethiopia and Somalia can grow up to 30 inches. Most of the time you will find the females outgrowing the males, however depending on the geographic origin of the leopard tortoise baby this may be reversed, or male and females may be of similar size.  Remember that the males will have a concave plastron, and a longer tale, where females would have a much shorter tail and convex plastron.

Life Span of the Leopard Tortoise:

Leopard tortoises live between 50 and 100 years in the wild.

Leopard Tortoise Habitat and Cage setup

Leopard Tortoises do very well as pets whether they are living indoors in a tortoise table style enclosure, or outside in areas where the temperature does not dip below 55 degrees at any time.  A pair of adult leopard tortoises can be kept in a 4 foot by 8 foot setup or tortoise table.   It is important that the walls are a solid material so the tortoise cannot see thru them, and for that reason aquariums are normally not recommended unless the walls can be covered so the animals cannot see through them.

 You should make sure the tortoise table walls are at least 16-18″ tall and can be made of wood, block or other material that prevents the tortoise from seeing beyond or through the wall. Leopards are very calm and do not try to dig, or escape like some other breeds of tortoise may do.Be sure to provide plenty of hiding places, a hide box and if outdoors plenty of shrubbery to provide cover to the leopard tortoises.

Planting things like grass  that is edible in some portion of the outdoor enclosure is preferred.  Provide some uncovered soil areas if your tortoises are old enough to lay eggs, etc.  Some rolling terrain is recommended. You will often find your leopard tortoise basking in the sun at the highest point of it’s terrain.

Leopard tortoise habitat

Adult leopard tortoises can be housed indoors in a stock tank, plastic pool or large tub. Although a pair of adult leopard tortoises could be maintained in an enclosure measuring 8×4 and 1.5 feet tall, larger areas allow more time between cleaning and changing substrates.   Keep in mind they will not be adult size for over a decade.

We recommend a variety of coconut husk, and forrest floor as an enclosure substrate, but regular potting soil may also be used.   It is important to also offer different micro-climates where the temperature varies like moist hide boxes as well as basking spots and heated areas using a heat lamp or ceramic heating element.  

Leopard Tortoise Temperature and Lighting 

(baby tortoise care sheet temperature and lighting)

One of the best things about having a pet Leopard tortoise is it does not hibernate. They generally live in areas that are between 70-100 degrees F in their natural habitat.  For indoor tortoise table or enclosure of the leopard tortoise, temperatures should be kept between 75 and 90 degrees, with a basking spot of UVB light and heat of 95 degrees.   Both natural sunlight or UVB light plays an important role in how the body grows and absorbs and uses calcium. UVB light or natural sunlight allows the tortoise to produce vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is crucial for the tortoise to absorb and use the available calcium. UVB can be achieved  by using fluorescent tubes specially made for reptile use. If fluorescent tubes are used for UVB, a separate light or heating element, normally ceramic, may be required for heat.

If housed in an outside or outdoor enclosures leopard tortoises may handle a wider range of temperatures, but once temperatures drop into the 50s at night or daily high temperatures fail to exceed 70 degrees, move tortoises indoors or provide heat. Heat may be provided with items such as ceramic heat emitters, infrared heat lights, etc.

Leopard Tortoise Food Baby tortoise care 

Leopard tortoises are grazers and feed on a variety of weeds and greens.  The leopard tortoise diet should be rich in calcium and fiber.  In addition to grazing the captive diet may be supplemented a couple times a week with collard greens, turnip greens, mustard greens, dandelion greens and flowers, hibiscus leaves and flowers, grape leaves, escarole, mulberry tree leaves, spineless cactus pads (Opuntia spp.), carrots, zucchini, butternut squash, pumpkin, mushrooms, sweet potato, yellow squash, and bell peppers.

Soaked Tortoise food may also be included in their daily dietary needs.  Although some tortoise keepers supplement the diet with manufactured vitamins and vitamin D3, I have not found these necessary if the leopard tortoises are provided a varied diet and exposed to UVB light. Hatchlings should be fed daily and may benefit from food that is lightly sprinkled with calcium powder several times a week.

Leopard Tortoise Water  Baby tortoise care

Leopard tortoises readily drink standing water. A shallow water area may be provided, checked on daily and cleaned as required. The size of the water dish should be large enough so the tortoise can get in and out easily and only deep enough to drink.  Hatchlings may be soaked one, two or three times a week in shallow, warm water. They drink and often and sometimes defecate in the water while being soaked so it should always be changed daily.

Leopard Tortoise Handling and Temperament  Baby tortoise care

Leopard tortoises are shy and will withdraw their head and limbs until they are used to their home/habitat. Over time, however, they generally learn to recognize their keepers and will come for food and if handled in the correct manner will become great pets.

Breeding Leopard Tortoises and Egg Incubation  Baby tortoise dare

Leopard tortoises are not aggressive like some other species, therefore multiple males and females may be kept together. Females may lay one to five clutches of eggs estimated every 4-6 weeks throughout their breeding season.  Clutch size an range from six to 20 eggs.

Place leopard tortoise eggs in a plastic shoebox for incubation on a substrate of potting soil, vermiculite, perlite or peat moss. Incubation temperatures may range from about 82 degrees to 89 degrees. Eggs of tortoises from some locations may benefit from a cooling period of 30 days or more at 65 to 70 degrees to break diapause and allow the embryo to start development. If you experience poor hatch rates, a cooling period is suggested. Incubation may take 150 to 400 days.

Over 25 Species of captive bred tortoises for sale

Other species of tortoise for sale offered here include giant tortoises like the Aldabra tortoise, Sulcata tortoise, Burmese mountain tortoise and more.  Medium size species include the leopard tortoise, red-footed tortoise, yellow foot tortoise, mountain tortoise, Burmese star tortoise, and the giant leopard tortoise. Small tortoise for sale includes Hermann’s tortoise, baby Greek Tortoise, Indian Star tortoise, Pancake Tortoise, Russian tortoise and the Egyptian tortoise.  Above all, we’ve got the widest selection of tortoise for sale in the USA, including baby tortoise, juveniles and adult tortoises for sale.

baby leopard tortoise baby Sulcata tortoise Cherry head tortoise tortoise for sale baby Aldabra tortoise baby Russian tortoise baby red footed tortoise baby star tortoise baby tortoise care baby Sulcata tortoise care indian star tortoise

© 1998-2024 Tortoise Town * All Baby tortoises for sale & turtles for sale from our tortoise farm under 4" are sold for educational or scientific purposes.