Once again, I'm living vicariously through someone else. This time it's my mom. She'll (we'll) be adopting two Sulcata (African Spur-thigh) Tortoise.

Stanley is about 20 years old and weighs about 125 pounds.


Camille is about 18 years old and weighs about 200 pounds.


Here they are together. Camille's in the flower bed so it's hard to tell how much bigger she is.


As soon as my dad gets their shelter built, we'll be bringing them home. They currently live in San Jose, but their current owners felt they needed more room. Mom lives on 40 acres, and has a very large fenced yard that they'll be living in (along with about 5 feral cats, 40+ parakeets, 4 cockatiels; and occasional visits from 4 indoor cats, the two poodle pups Mom recently got, and Gil [my iguana]). It's one big happy farm!

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~~Steph

"This I believe: That the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world." John Steinbeck

WOW they are huge and cute!! Congrats!!

Awesome Steph!! It's very admirable for someone to let their pets of 20 years go all in good interest of the animal. They look in excellent health and they should be around for a while I hope your using some of those 40 acres to harvest some food for those guys, they eat by the truckload.

I was gonna say that! You will have to become small time farmers just to feed those two! Start planning your ACRES of gardens...you will need it! And I would think a green house would be a good idea too! LOL
I think those torts are so cool and I'm so jealous that you have the room and the means to care for them! Post a bunch of pictures of them ok? I don't think any of us at HC have any torts THAT big!

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Some think they can. Some wish they could. Some do.

OMG...they are so cute. Its amazing how something starts out so small and can get sooooooo large. I agree, more pics are necessary for our enjoyment.

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

Hey! I met those Tortoises! Good for you Steph and Mom! They are really special creatures. Glad to see you are taking them to Mom's farm.

Here they are when I first met them last year:


Congratulations!

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Regards,
Dominick
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"Do you watch too much television? Did you do so as a toddler? Evidence tonight that it could be the cause of learning disorders, like attention deficit and hyperact-Ooooh, a kitty!" - Keith Olbermann

Dom, that's a GREAT pic! It really shows the size difference between them well!

Cody, the people from whom we're getting them are extraordinary people... they care very much for the health and well-being of their animals. They own approximately 50 lizards, most of them iguanids, they're very active in conservation too. They're the founders (I think) of the International Reptile Conservation Foundation (IRCF).

As for feeding them... we live in California's Central Valley... the home to numerous dairys and LOTS of alfalfa hay and fresh veggies!

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~~Steph

"This I believe: That the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world." John Steinbeck

Ohhhhh, congratulations!!! What an amazing opportunity for you and your family. I love tortoises, they have such beautiful and wise-looking faces... not to mention those incredible shells! Keep posting lots of pics, and often!!!

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I give up! I've officially lost count of the critters...

Awwww they are adorable...cant wait til my sulcata is that big....Lyn

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Warmest Regards from Lyn

Their huge! I'm so happy to hear that they are going to a great home with lots of room for them. I'm sure their current owners are happy about that. Let us know how the move goes.

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Tricia