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Adoption Requirements
Adopt
We offer adoption to our Members only.
Your habitat must be complete before submitting an application. Local Texas adoptions only. We do not ship our animals.
Detailed requirements:
-Applicant must be at least 18 years of age.
If you are applying as a family with children under 18, parents are the responsible party to complete the application & sign the adoption agreement at time of adoption.
-Must be able to provide a secure outdoor habitat that provides a natural, varied, species-appropriate diet and natural sunlight.
We will not adopt to homes intending on keeping tortoises or turtles in an artificial setting.
The exception to an artificial dwelling is hatchling care and winter setups for non-hibernating species.
See our "turtle/tortoise care" page for animal care websites and habitat ideas.
-Committed to lifetime care.
Tortoises/Turtles can live for 30+ years. If you don’t plan to keep your animal for that long then this may not be the right pet for you.
-Tortoises are NOT gifts for children.
Tortoises/turtles are not pets for children’s rooms, nor are they acceptable pets to be handled on a regular basis due to fragility and their risk of carrying salmonella which can be harmful to children.
-No Breeders.
Because we see the constant need for rescue, we do not adopt to homes that would intentionally or unintentionally result in a breeding pair or community. The mixing of males & females not only inevitably results in breeding, but constant harassment of females and is a stressful environment. You must have the willingness and ability to keep males & females separated at all times.
African Sulcata Tortoises
These large tortoises are not suitable pets for everyone. In order to adopt one of our sulcatas you must:
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Own your home
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Have a very large, very strong fenced-in area with grasses, plants and shaded areas, fully prepared to house a full grown tortoise of 200 lbs. We recommend at least 1/4 acre per tortoise.
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Have a winter house prepared
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Have experience and/or have done thorough research on these tortoises
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If you already own a MALE Sulcata, please do not apply. Female to female homes or single male sulcata homes only. If you already own a female, you will only be approved for a female from us. Again...we do not match male/female pairs.
FEES:
Adoption fees vary based on species and size, and ranges from $50-$150.
We do not charge fees for native animals such as box turtles and sliders.
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