When researching sulcata tortoises, it’s important to consider how much a sulcata tortoise cost. You’re not just paying for the animal, but you’re paying for the setup and lifelong care. And, unlike getting a dog, a sulcata tortoise is going to live for 75 – 100 years, so the expenses add up.
How Much is a Sulcata Tortoise?
Depending on the age and look of the tortoise, you’ll probably see a wide variation on the price. You’ll also find a price variation on where you purchase the tortoise. Breeders often sell baby sulcatas cheaper than what you’ll find at a local pet shop. You may also find a lower price if you buy a sulcata from a reptile show versus online.
Baby sulcata tortoises average $45-$100. Some breeders will sell baby sulcatas on the lower end if they have a surplus. You may find some baby sulcatas available for cheaper if they have split scutes. Sulcata tortoises with split scutes are healthy, they are either missing or have extra scutes.
If the sulcata is older, you will likely pay upwards of $300 to $1000. Female sulcata tortoises are often more expensive than male sulcata tortoises.
Sudanese sulcata tortoises will usually cost a little more than a standard sulcata.
Ivory and albino sulcata tortoises will cost upward to $1,000 or more, wherease hets for ivory or albino may run you around $300-$750 for a baby sulcata.
How Much Does it Cost to Raise a Sulcata
Buying the animal is one fee, but raising the animal totals years of expenses.
The first set of expenses you will incur is the enclosure setup.
- Tortoise enclosure – $25 – $100+
- UVB lamp – $20 – $100
- Ceramic heat emitter – $10 – $20
- Substrate – $5+
- Food dish – $5+
- Water bowl – $5
- House/Hide – $10+
Tortoise Enclosure
If you’re going to get a baby sulcata tortoise, you’ll want to buy or make an inside enclosure. The larger the enclosure, the better, but the larger the enclosure, the more it will cost.
If you buy a tortoise enclosure, the cost will vary. A large storage tub, may cost upwards of $25, whereas a pre-made tortoise table may cost $100. Larger enclosures or glass aquariums may cost even more. Plus, keep in mind that aquariums will need more modifications to ensure the humidity and heat is correct and stress is minimized.
Even if you plan on housing a baby sulcata inside, it’s important to build an outdoor enclosure for natural sunlight and grazing. This cost of building a outdoor enclosure could run from $100 and up depending on the materials and size that you allot.
Lighting and Heat
Depending on what watts and brands and types of bulbs that you purchase, you’ll find the price will vary. Also keep in mind that some bulbs need replacement more often. Where some bulbs may last 6 – 12 months, others need to be replaced ever 3 months or so.
On average, you may find bulbs cost about $40 each. Plus, you’ll need the clamp and the light hood, which can total another $15-$25. A UV hood can cost about $30 – $50.
Substrate
Depending on the size of the enclosure, the amount of substrate that you need will vary. The larger the enclosure, the more substrate you need. And some substrate will cost more than others.
Purchase organic top soil or cypress mulch from a local garden center in a large bag that may last a little longer and cost a little cheaper in the end. For about $5 – $10 purchase compressed coco coir bricks.
While the baby sulcata is still being housed inside, you’ll need to keep in mind that substrate is an item you’ll likely need to keep purchasing. You can reuse it for a while. Some people will dump out the debris and bake it to clean it before reusing, but in the end, you will eventually need to purchase more substrate.
The Cost of Electricity
When housing a baby sulcata inside, don’t forget that it costs to run the lights, UV and humidifier. On average, you may spend about $10 – $15 a month running the equipment.
When the baby sulcata is a large, adult sulcata, you won’t have yearround electricity expenses, but during the winter months, you may see an increase in your bill if you bring the tortoise inside or have a heated outdoor house.
Food for Sulcata Tortoise
Sulcata tortoises are grazing tortoises. They eat mostly grasses and weeds. During the winter months, you may have to supplement with hay and grocery store greens, which is an added expense unless you grow your own greens or till your own hay.
You may also purchase Mazuri or ZooMed Grassland diet, or another tortoise pellet. If you purchase smaller bags, the cost may range from $10 – $15. Larger bags, may cost upwards of $50.
You also need to provide fresh drinking water, as well as fill up a kiddie pool or large water dish for soaking at least once a week (for adults), daily for babies.
Vet Care
Although, caring for a pet tortoise is not the same as a dog that needs annual shots. It’s a smart idea to have a qualified reptile vet who is familiar with tortoises.
Reptile veterinarians can be much more expensive than a regular dog and cat vet. The visit can run a little more. The treatment is likely to cost a lot more.
You may need a vet to check for worms, treat worms, dog bites, beak trim, microchipping, routine blood work or other simple to advanced care.
Routine care, like blood work and checking for worms may only cost about $50 plus the vet visit of $35+.
There are some places that offer pet insurance for tortoises, but not all pet insurance companies cover exotic pets, like tortoises.
