My name is Frankie and I am a sulcata tortoise (Geochelone sulcata). I am 10 years old and weigh 85 pounds (the last I checked).  I was hatched in the United States. When I am fully grown I can weigh more than 120 pounds and can live up to 60 years.

I have my own web site, a Facebook page, a MySpace page and a blog called Frankie Torotise Tails.  I have been featured in newspaper articles and have been on television.  I am a special friend to Autistic children. I walk in parades and even have my own skateboard.

Not all sulcata are as lucky as I am with a loving home, a large backyard, lots of time in the sun, fresh water every day, long walks with my owner, a heated shelter for cool nights and an indoor area when it gets really cold or stormy. Many sulcata live indoors in cramp conditions without UV lighting or proper heat. They may never get to walk outside freely and may eat all the wrong foods.

Did you know 4 out of 5 sulcata eventually are abandoned, given up or sold by their owners because they couldn’t take care of them once they got big?

1. Don’t buy a baby sulcata if at all possible - there are lots of sulcata that have been abandoned and/or given up by their owners because they were not ready for the HUGE responsibility. Find a nearby turtle rescue group and give a homeless sulcata your love.  Don’t shop! Adopt instead.

2. Don’t breed your sulcata.  Again, there are so many sulcata needing good homes we just don’t need to bring any more into the world.

3. Do all the research on sulcata before getting one. It’s a HUGE responsibility. 

Frankie the Frankasaurus