Lilly

This sulcata is at a foster home in central Austin Lilly was purchased at a reptile expo. The owner had recently lost a family member and wanted a pet that would outlive her. Lilly has always been very sweet and very spirited; she loves cats and will take any opportunity to get close to a friendly one. In her previous home used to curl up with a kitten and sleep in her enclosure and on the floor together. She's an amazing animal who will flourish with a family who can meet her needs. Every time a sulcata or leopard tortoise comes to the rescue, I personally promise that animal that it will have the best care and that it will always be able to live outdoors where it can enjoy natural sunlight, lots of shady spots for hot summers, lots of plants and other hiding places, a warm shelter that it can freely go into when temperatures drop below 60 degrees, clean fresh water, and plentiful natural graze just like it would have in the wild. That means grasses, weeds, and cactus, but a little snack of store-bought produce is okay once in a while for a photo op (not as a regular diet). I also promise each one that it is going to a big giant yard where it will have at least 6,000 square feet to roam that it will NOT be sharing with another sulcata tortoise, so it doesn't have to worry about fighting or mating. I can't break my promise to any of these wonderful creatures, so if you choose to open your home and heart to one of them you are extending the same promise to the animal that you adopt. You may NOT adopt more than one sulcata or leopard, unless you have multiple 6000-square-foot enclosures, even the cute harmless little babies. It is dangerous for the animal as it grows, they do not need a companion, and we will not approve the adoption of more than one sulcata per household. Please note the following: -Minimum 6,000 feet enclosure means give it the run of your fenced in backyard, which must be at least 6,000 square feet. In the wild, these animals have home ranges that are measured in miles, not feet. We've already taken them from their habitat, the least we can do is try and emulate it in captivity as best as possible. -TEMPS NEED to BE KEPT ABOVE 60 DEGREES (this means you might have to bring your animal into your home during an historic freeze event). DO NOT BOTHER APPLYING if you aren't willing to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to keep this animal alive. You MUST have a way to monitor the temperature inside of the tortoise's outdoor house (buy a Bluetooth thermometer) and you should be willing to purchase a good generator, and/or bring the tortoise inside your house if the power goes out and you can't keep the temps in your tortoise's house above 60. If you are not in good physical shape to lift and carry a heavy sulcata or leopard tortoise in an extreme cold weather event don't apply to adopt. -A sulcata or leopard tortoise's diet is grass, weeds, and cactus. Please do not feed your sulcata or leopard tortoise fruit or produce that is high in oxalates, such as spinach or carrots, as these can cause bladder stones which may be fatal. Do your homework. Please understand that these animals can live for 150 years and can reach 200 lbs. You'll need to have a plan in place for both of these eventualities. If you submit photos of your sulcata or leopard tortoise habitat (aka: your yard) with a piece of paper with your name on it or some other form of authentication in the same frame as the habitat then we will review your application, otherwise your application will expire in 30 days without being reviewed. Pictures should be e-mailed to [email protected] (this is the only way to submit your photos - please don't text them to me or send them over Facebook). Photos should show sturdy walls or fence of the enclosure, hides, water source, heated house (or explain your plans for this) Once your application has been reviewed and approved, we'll send you an e-mail that has a link to our calendar so that you can schedule the pick up at a time that is convenient for you. The adoption fee for a sulcata or leopard tortoise is $150, payable through the adoption link I will text you during the adoption or by cash at the time when you pick up the animal.