If you’re looking at bringing home a small sulcata baby, understand he won’t stay small for long. Sulcata tortoises are the third larges tortoise species in the world. So, expect a large tortoise that will need a lot of space.
Although, each Sulcata grows at its own pace, they all become very large adults.
Average Adult Sulcata Tortoise Size
Expect a sulcata tortoise to get large. They average between 80-150 pounds and 2.5-3 feet wide.
Male sulcata tortoises tend to be larger than females.
Sudanese sulcata tortoises often average closer to 100-200 pounds. Female Sudanese sulcata tortoises tend to average about the same as “regular” sulcata tortoises, whereas male Sudanese sulcatas can top the scale closer to the 200 pound mark.
Average Hatchling Sulcata Size
Hatchling sulcatas tend to weigh about 35-40 grams and about 1.5-2.5 inches long. By three months old, the baby tortoise may measure about 2-2.5 inches long and weigh about 40-50 grams.
Average One Year Old Sulcata Size
Every sulcata tortoise grows at its own pace. Depending on environment, diet and overall health. You’ll find one year old sulcatas that are the size of baseballs and others footballs.
If started corrected with proper housing and diet, a 1 year old sulcata could weigh between 800-1000 grams (1.7 – 2.2 pounds) and measure about 6-8-inches.
Average Five Year old Sulcata Size
At five years old, a sulcata tortoise could be anywhere from one pound to 80 pounds and 4-inches to 26-inches.
Sulcatas that were started with a poor diet and in a dry environment, will be smaller than tortoises started on a diet rich in grass and weeds and a high humidity of 80%.
Is My Sulcata Growing Too Small or Too Big?
With Sulcata tortoises, you’ll find there is no good average.
When trying to determine if your sulcata is growing properly and healthily, you’ll have to asses your tortoise.
As long as your tortoise is growing, try not to worry. Some tortoises grow slow and steady, where others grow fast.
Factors that can Alter Growth
These are not the only factors that can cause one sulcata to grow slower than another.
- Low fiber diet
- High protein diet
- High percent of fruits and/or vegetables in the diet
- Dry enclosure
- Lack of hydration
- Bullying by another tortoise
- General stress (Ex: glass aquarium where the tortoise can see out)
- Improper heating
- Lack of a UV source (artificial or natural)
- General illness caused by one of the above factors or another not listed
