At birth, the Sulcata hatches from an egg only slightly larger than a ping-pong ball. Within its lifetime, a pet Sulcata tortoise can grow to be 150 pounds, 3 feet across, and live up to 80 years or moreaqualandpetsplus.com: [1]. It's important to know this before choosing a Sulcata as a pet. They are charming and funny, but will eventually be huge and most likely outlive you. It is not uncommon for Sulcata owners to make provisions for them in their wills.

Baby sulcatas are readily available, especially from breeders who can be found on the Internet. Most pet stores do not carry them because they grow so quickly. These land tortoises are herbivores or vegetarians. Infant Sulcatas are absolutely precious.

In the African deserts, these creatures are hunted by African tribesmen for their "bush meat." Their large shells used as bowls and for other products. It is primarily in the United States that they are cherished as pets.