Yes! While our native wild Texas Tortoise is protected and illegal to keep as a pet, our captive-bred African Sulcata Tortoises are 100% legal to own, breed, and love in the Lone Star State. 

Sulcatas are the third-largest tortoise species in the world. As adults, they can easily reach 70 to 100+ pounds and over 2 feet in length. While they start out the size of a golf ball, they grow steadily over the first few years. Buyers must be prepared to provide a secure, large outdoor habitat as they mature. 

Their diet should consist of 80% to 90% fresh grasses and weeds (like Bermuda grass, Timothy grass, dandelion greens, and clover). You can supplement this with dark leafy greens like mustard greens, turnip greens, and hibiscus leaves. Avoid feeding them fruit, dog/cat food, or heavy amounts of grocery store iceberg lettuce, as they require a high-fiber, low-sugar diet to grow smooth, healthy shells. 

Baby tortoises need a warm, humid environment to prevent dehydration and shell "pyramiding." A large plastic tub or a closed tortoise table works best. They require a basking spot of around 95°F, a ambient temperature of 80°F, a high-quality UVB light source, and a humid hide box with damp moss or soil substrate. 

Routine soaking is the single most important part of caring for a baby Sulcata tortoise. Because hatchlings are small, they can dehydrate very quickly under their indoor basking lights, which can lead to severe health issues or shell pyramiding.

You should soak your baby tortoise daily (7 days a week) for 15 to 20 minutes.

• Use a shallow, warm water bath (lukewarm to the touch, like baby bathwater) in a plastic container.

• Keep the water level very low—only up to the bottom of their chin or where their top and bottom shells meet—so they can easily keep their head above water.

• Soaking allows them to drink, stimulates them to eliminate waste, and ensures they stay properly hydrated from the outside in. Always supervise your baby tortoise closely during their soak!

Sulcata tortoises always need for water, but how they get that moisture changes as they grow and mature.

• Hatchlings (0–1 Year): Require regular, daily soaks (7 days a week). Because their small bodies lose moisture rapidly under indoor heat lamps, missing days can quickly lead to dehydration.

• Juveniles (1–4 Years): As their shells harden and they grow larger, their bodies retain moisture much better. At this stage, you can safely transition to soaking them 2 to 3 times a week.

• Adults (4+ Years): Once your tortoise reaches a larger size and lives primarily outdoors, you no longer need to manually soak them in a container. Instead, we use a hard plastic kiddie pool with one side cut down so they can easily walk right into it and soak themselves. We also water their pens regularly to keep fresh Bermuda grass growing and keep a shallow pan of water available at all times so they can drink whenever they want.

Because Sulcata tortoises are the third-largest tortoise species in the world, they will eventually need to transition to a secure outdoor lifestyle as they mature. Around 3 to 4 years of age, they will become too large for indoor enclosures and will require a dedicated outdoor habitat.

A proper adult outdoor setup requires three main elements:

• A Secure Perimeter: Sulcatas are powerful diggers and bulldozers. We recommend a sturdy perimeter using materials like concrete blocks secured with deep steel rebar and heavy wood timbers for the sides of their pens. Because Sulcatas are incredibly strong, a properly reinforced wall ensures your tortoise stays safe, secure, and right where they belong. 1200 sq. ft. to 2500 sq. ft. gives them plenty of space to walk around and rest. They need sun and shade. If there is no natural shade in their pen area, make their house big enough so they are comfortable spending time in there.  

• A Large Hydration Area: Adult tortoises still need plenty of access to water. Once they reach maturity, they need a large, shallow soaking area. A kiddie pool cut on one side so they can enter the pool works well. They will also drink water, so having a shallow pan of water in their enclosure is also important. 

• A Heated Night House: While they thrive in our hot Central Texas summers, they cannot handle freezing temperatures. You will need to provide an insulated, doghouse-style shelter equipped with a safe, thermostatically controlled heating element. Pig blanket transmitter mat helps to keep them warm and dry during the winter. They need enough space so there is a heat side and cool side for them to lay on the floor of the house and so they can comfortably move and turn around. 

Providing a spacious, well-thought-out yard ensures your tortoise stays healthy, active, and safe for decades to come!

Brand new hatchlings can be fragile. "Well-started" means we keep the babies through their most critical initial weeks. We ensure they are actively eating, consistently hydrated through regular soaking, growing steadily, and showing active, alert personalities before they ever leave our care. 

We primarily serve our local Central Texas community with safe, convenient local pickup right here in Bell County. However, we can accommodate shipping options depending on your location and weather conditions. Please contact us directly to discuss pickup coordinates or shipping availability.