All Turtles Message Board

Hewwo2u2 · Level 3 Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 105 Location: SC

The giant Galapagos tortoise facinates me. I know there are rare and hard to keep but I was wondering if any "experts" here have one as a pet. If so whats it like having something so huge in your back yard? Smile

deesygirl · Moderator Joined: 12 Sep 2002 Posts: 1226

There is a place in the states that does a breeding program for them. It is in Texas or Arizona I think. You relly can't just own a Galapagos Giant, thankfully.

People keep the African Spurred tortoise or Geochelone sulcata as pets and they have become the big throw away pet the last few years. The rescues are full. The zoo's are full. It is terrible. The pet stores don't really explain to people what it really takes to care for these animals. You really need to live in the southern states. You need to have about a 1/4 acre horse paddock because they need to burrow for a nest. They need heat, they need native grasses to eat, they poop the size of a St Bernard. They live in dogloos with pig blankets for warmth. These guys are native to the deserts of Africa so America is just a fairly harsh climate for them. If you live in the mid to northern climates you have to be willing to have this animal in your home all winter and they are huge and will rearange your furniture for you. People don't realize this when they see these cute little hand sized babies in the pet store and when they outgrow that 75 gallon tank the pet store sells them with; well people don't know what to do. So they dump them. Can you immagine what people would do with a Galopagos giant? Rolling Eyes

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trtlduv · Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 11:31 am Post subject:

Hewwo2u2 · Level 3 Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 105 Location: SC

wow no, I can only imagine! I've heard about the "throwing away" of the sulcatas. It is really sad. I don't know much about tortoises at all, but I've heard that the sulcatas tend to get aggressive when they get older? The rearanging of the furniture thing was rather funny though. Smile

The Galapagos is so interesting to me not just beacue of its size. I read that they've been known to come when called and can even know their names! All I can do is picture someone whistling and then seeing this huge turtle come up to them! Laughing

trtlduv · Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 11:42 am Post subject:

That would be sweet!! Laughing

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centex · Level 3 Joined: 21 Aug 2005 Posts: 319

my two sulcatas run too me...seriously...run too me when I go outside too see them. I didn't know they got aggressive when they got older.........in which way? Will they attack? I just can't see mine doing that....but who knows!!

Tiffany · Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 1:00 pm Post subject:

I know this is a very old post but I know someone that has 6 glops and they are the coolest things ever! They are in his backyard and they do come when he calls them....probly because they know he'll feed them! LOL But they are huge and eat sooooo much it's insane! He has made friends with the local farmer market and all the stuff they are throwing away he goes and picks up.