Very young mother

I had a really surprising afternoon when my 7 year old female radiated tortoise started nesting. She ultimately deposited 3 small eggs. If any of these 3 eggs hatch, this will be the youngest mother on record.

Currently, the youngest radiated tortoise to produce viable young on record was 10.4 years old when the eggs hatched.

I have a message into the studbook keeper to see if there is record of a tortoise this young nesting - whether the eggs are viable or not.

Pretty amazing either way!

What size is she?

Interesting stuff. I'm wondering if they will hatch, and also wondering what she'll do next year.

Tom said:

What size is she?

Interesting stuff. I'm wondering if they will hatch, and also wondering what she'll do next year.

Click to expand...

Right. I'm not expecting anything out of these eggs - they are very small, but just knowing that she's "On-line" is great. I will put her into a regular breeding schedule next year and see what happens.

Be sure to keep us posted on how the eggs do and what you hear from the registry

Tom said:

What size is she?

Interesting stuff. I'm wondering if they will hatch, and also wondering what she'll do next year.

Click to expand...

Didn't notice you asked her size. She is 11.5" SCL.

Wow that is a very young female .

Studbook keeper and Director of the SSP just confirmed that as far as they know, this is the youngest female ever to nest.

I wonder if her living conditions may lead to her early maturity? ie her diet, ambient temperature, night temperature that is warmer than nature? like chill hour for fruit trees, but she was kept warmer temp especially the night temperature so maturation process was shortened.

x-tank said:

I wonder if her living conditions may lead to her early maturity? ie her diet, ambient temperature, night temperature that is warmer than nature? like chill hour for fruit trees, but she was kept warmer temp especially the night temperature so maturation process was shortened.

Click to expand...

She is exposed to, what I would call, normal conditions for a captive radiated tortoise. She is also being raised in the same way as many others I have, two of which are females slightly older than her, and bigger, with no nesting.

I certainly don't have an explanation, but, for better or worse, its the new minimum size and age metric for radiated tortoise reproduction....at least for females.

I just remembered to weigh her ;-)

Final Stats:

7 Years, 4 Months old
11.5" SCL
7320 grams
First nest was 3 eggs.