The Great African Spur-Thighed Tortoise

By Tyler Monson, TurtleTimes.com
November 27, 2000

There are not a lot of books on the market that address the Sulcata tortoise. It wasn't that long ago that the African Spur-Thighed tortoise (or African Spurred tortoise it is debatable by some as are many tortoise names) commanded a high dollar. The advancement in their husbandry has made them common in pet stores and they are now among the cheapest. Sadly a tortoise that is sold at a very small size grows... until its to heavy to carry and has been known to walk through apartment walls. 

The Great African Spur-Thighed Tortoise is Volume 3 of the Tortoises of the World Series by Green Nature Books. 

As with any of Richard's books, he writes them based on personal experiences and its through his experiences that you learn about the requirements for the tortoise. I personally find Richard's writing style entertaining, but you will find that he knows a lot about tortoises and has shared tips from other established breeders. 

The first thing you will notice with any of his books is it is a loose-leaf bound book, there is not a big enough audience out there for a major publisher to want to sell books on Sulcatas exclusively. The information is what counts and its in there. Richard offers your money back if you don't like it. At its cost... Its his vast experience that counts, and through his experiences offered in this book you can avoid many common mistakes and take advantage of the success of others, while providing the best quality of husbandry for your tortoise. 

This book does have its short coming, Richard admits it was thrown together, but at the time of publishing there was a dire need for the care of these great tortoises. A number of years later there is still no book dedicated to this subject. It probably is not a good choice for advanced keepers but should be ideal for begging and intermediate keepers.  

Richard has done the footwork of tortoise care researching the A-Z's on the subject. It contains good information on the care of a Sulcata, breeding, and the current theories on their husbandry. In the end the book is worth the cost.

What's good:

• The organization was good. Richard guides you through the A-Zs of the care required.

• His style of writing is that of a story teller not the more commonly scientific approach. With that said Richard has done a lot of research for this book and has a background in biology. 

• Although you can some get the tips and experience from various sources, to have them all in one place is very handy.

• The book is interspersed with tips should have you provide some new ideas about your current husbandry techniques. 

• Like all Green Nature Books titles there is a 30 day money back guarantee. I gave it an extra star for Value as their is a money back guarantee.

What's not:

• An illustration of the record keeping system would have been helpful.

• The guidelines for housing were good but pictures of enclosures would have been really nice.

• The book is a bit small for the money unlike Richard's other volumes. It does provide good information and does cost less than normal.

Conclusion:

I think this book is good for begging and intermediate keepers who own Sulcatas, Its the experience shared that counts, and the benefits of this book make it extremely affordable even at its small size. I would buy it. 

Authors
Richard Cary Paull

Format: Paperback, 3rd ed., 52pp.
ISBN: 1888089229
Publisher: Green Nature Books
Pub. Date: January 1996

Related Links

• Green Nature Books, Buy Direct from Richard Cary Paull

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