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Common names: Sulcata Tortoise, African Spurred Tortoise
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Scientific name: Centrochelys sulcata
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Origin: Southern edge of the Sahara Desert (Chad, Sudan, Mali, Ethiopia, etc.)
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Size:
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Average adult: 24–30 in (60–75 cm) shell length
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Weight: 70–150 lbs (32–70 kg), with some over 200 lbs (90+ kg)
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Lifespan: 70–100+ years in captivity with proper care
🧬 Appearance
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Shell (carapace): Light brown to golden tan, deeply grooved scutes (“sulcate” means furrowed)
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Skin: Thick, rough, golden to brown, adapted to dry environments
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Spurs: Large, conical spurs on their thighs — the feature behind their common name
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Sexual dimorphism:
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Males usually larger, with longer, curved gular scutes (plastron extension under neck)
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Females more rounded with shorter scutes
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🧠 Temperament
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Personality: Generally calm, curious, and gentle
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Handling: Not ideal for frequent handling due to large size and stress risk
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Behavior:
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Loves digging burrows (to escape heat and maintain humidity)
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Very strong — can push through fences and lift heavy objects
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Grazing is their main activity
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🏡 Habitat & Care
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Enclosure (outdoor preferred):
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Adults need a large, secure outdoor pen (hundreds of square feet) with reinforced fencing
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Indoor enclosures are only suitable for hatchlings/juveniles
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Substrate: Outdoors — soil/sand mix for digging; Indoors — coconut coir, topsoil, or organic dirt
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Temperature:
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Daytime: 80–100°F basking area
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Night: >70°F (adults tolerate cooler but not below 60°F for long)
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Humidity:
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Adults: 30–50% (semi-arid)
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Hatchlings: require higher humidity (65–80%) to prevent pyramiding (shell deformity)
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Lighting: Full-spectrum UVB is essential for calcium metabolism if kept indoors
🍴 Diet
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Type: Strict herbivore, grazer
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Staple foods:
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High-fiber grasses (Bermuda, Timothy, orchard, fescue)
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Edible weeds (dandelion, clover, plantain)
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Succulents (opuntia cactus pads)
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Avoid: Fruits, high-protein foods (dog/cat food, legumes), too much watery lettuce
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Supplements: Calcium + vitamin D3 if indoors (outdoor natural sunlight usually sufficient)
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Feeding style: Constant grazing opportunity preferred
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