What I know about turtles and tortoises you could put in a nut shell, or a turtle shell - a small turtle shell. My older brother had those little turtles that live in aquariums when I was about 3 or 4, so he had to be around 16 or 17, but that's really been my only experience with turtles. I know there are different species of turtles and tortoises. I've seen lots of turtles and tortoises. I know they get hit by cars a lot when trying to cross the road. But, that's about all I know about them. I am definitely not a turtle connoisseur. So, when I saw a local ad for Sulcata turtles, I was curious.

Turns out, the Sulcata turtle is a desert tortoise. One of those big, slow-moving creatures. And it's a tortoise, rather than a turtle. Although technically, tortoises are turtles. Tortoise refers to terrestrial, or land, turtles; while a turtle refers to all reptiles of the Testudines order, to which a tortoise belongs. The word "turtle" is commonly used to refer to the aquatic species of turtle. Confused yet?

The Sulcata tortoise is definitely not a pocket pet, but it is an exotic one. Sulcatas can grow to weigh 80 pounds or more, so they are not something you can keep in an aquarium. If you plan to get a Sulcata tortoise as a pet, you'll want to make sure you have a large, outdoor enclosure for your tortoise. You'll need to make sure the enclosure is secure so that the tortoise cannot escape. You'll also want to have some sort of a shelter in the enclosure to provide shade and protection for your tortoise.

Sulcata tortoises are native to semi-arid regions, so the enclosure needs to be kept between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature drops below 60 degrees at night, you will to provide some sort of heat source for your tortoise.

Sulcata tortoises survive on a diet of grasses, dandelions and prickly pear cactus. You'll want to build your enclosure in a grassy area of your yard, or provide grass sod for your tortoise. The grass should be chemical-free. It doesn't have to be weed-free though. In the winter months when the grass is either dormant or covered with snow, you can give your tortoise grass hay and cactus leaves. You can also give your tortoise a treat of romaine lettuce once a week. Also make sure that your tortoise always has plenty of fresh water.

Sulcata tortoises can live to be 75 years old, so once you get one, know that you've made a life-long commitment to be a responsible tortoise owner.