African Spurred Tortoise

African spurred tortoise is one of the most desirable yet a problematic pet. It is one of the most engaging tortoise pets and has a degree of responsiveness.

Taxonomy: It is also called as African spur thigh tortoise, African tortoise, Sulcata tortoise, desert tortoise and is found in southern edge of Sahara desert in North Africa. Its generic name is Geochelone Sulcata.

• Geo means earth or land
• Chelone means tortoise
• Sulcata is from Latin meaning furrow and refer to the furrows on its scales

Size and weight: Spurred tortoises are the largest of all mainland tortoises and may weigh 200 pounds. This could be because of the harsh natural habitat, Sahara that equips the spurred tortoise with the ability to grow rapidly. The hatchling is 6-10 inches and grows quickly in the first few years of their lives. The tortoise of 24-36 inches can weigh about 150 pounds

Life span: Spurs can live up to about 80 years. The oldest known of this species was known to live 56 years

Habitat: African spurred tortoise is native to Sahara desert and Sahel. Sahel is a transitional eco region of semi arid grasslands savannas and the thorn shrub lands. It is found in countries of Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal and Sudan.

African Spurred Tortoise Housing:

• Spurred tortoises need a lot of space and they have a habit of digging. They are known to dig under the plow through seemingly impenetratable barriers. Males are very active during the breeding season and may require more room than their female counter part.
• The most suitable housing for the spurred African tortoise is the turtle table. The standard size for a hatchling tortoise will be 2 foot by 2 foot. As the tortoise grows, this housing needs to be increased.
• For an adult African tortoise, the housing should be 8 foot by 8 foot
• Water dish should be large enough to allow it to soak in and shallow to prevent it from drowning
• The substrate in the dry area should be of top soil and children’s play sand or cypress bark
• Grass hay can also be used as a substrate as it is easily maintained and provides nourishment if it is nibbled
• The housing must be dry as spurres cannot tolerate wet conditions
• Food should not be kept on sand if it is used as substrate as it may cause GI and lead to death
• Outdoor housing should be predator proof. It is the best options during warm weathers

African Spurred Tortoise Food:

• Tortoise food should be rich in fiber and low in protein. Calcium rich diet is essential as it will ensure good functioning of digestive tract
• Avoid the supermarket fruits and vegetables as they tend to have inadequate fiber levels and excessive pesticide residue
• African spurred tortoises have a habit of grazing and this should be considered when they are fed in captivity
• Fruits should be completely avoided from the tortoise food as the digestive system is not at all equipped to digest sugars
• If the African spurred tortoise is fed on dog food or cat food it may cause renal failure and lead to death

African Spurred Breeding:

• Breeding may be done by the tortoise breeder to get baby tortoise for commercial sale. Copulation is done after the rainy season during the months of September to November. Males fight each other over breeding rights with the females and are vocal during copulation.
• After nearly 60 days of mating, females search a suitable place for nest. 4-5 nest sites may be excavated before she selects the perfect location for her eggs

This article on African spurred tortoise informs you about the species of tortoise. It will help you to understand your per tortoise and bond with it.