Centrochelys sulcata
African spurred tortoise
Grazing, a heated house for cool nights, and walls that go into the ground. Sulcatas dig. Hatchlings are sold because they are small. Adults commonly exceed 50 kg.
Legal status
- CITES II
Centrochelys sulcata is recorded as CITES Appendix II under TESTUDINIDAE spp. in Appendix II, except Appendix I species. No EU annex letter was verified for this exact species in this record, so the annex field is empty. Confirm Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/966 before you import, sell, or rely on an annex. Not marked as an EU invasive alien species. Not marked venomous. Not named in 50 CFR 16.15. Check local rules before you keep, move, or rehome an animal. This record is not a permit and not legal advice.
Official sourceNot legal advice. Rules differ by country, and sometimes by region. Check the law that applies to you.
- Temperature
- 26–35°C
- Basking
- 35–40°C
- UVB
- Ferguson zone 3 to 4. About 1.0–3.0 at the shell, with shade available
- Humidity
- 40–60%
- Minimum enclosure
- An outdoor pen many metres long. An adult does not fit a indoor table.
- Adult size
- Often 60–80 cm and 40 kg or more.
- Lifespan
- Often 50 years or more.
- Difficulty
- advanced
Diet and feeding
Grasses and hay. Fruit is not the diet. Grazing daily. Limit rich grocery greens.
Substrate
Grazing and packed soil.
Health
Pyramiding, metabolic bone disease, and respiratory infection in a cold garage.
Handling
Do not lift an adult alone. A hatchling still gets two hands under the shell.
Husbandry ranges are general guidance for captive care, not a veterinary prescription or a permit. Confirm the gradient with your own thermometers. UV zones follow Baines et al., Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research 4(1), 2016, https://www.jzar.org/jzar/article/view/150. Legal fields use the source link on this species and stay empty when an annex was not verified.