How old?

[CaitlynP]

We rescued our tortoise the other day and I'm curious if anyone is able to give me an estimate on how old he is? He weights 35.6lbs is 19 inches long and 14 inches wide. He does have a deformity to the back of his shell and I believe some pyramiding.

 

[ryan57]

We rescued our tortoise the other day and I'm curious if anyone is able to give me an estimate on how old he is? He weights 35.6lbs is 19 inches long and 14 inches wide. He does have a deformity to the back of his shell and I believe some pyramiding.

The indentation in the rear is pretty normal. Also, not really pyramiding from what I see. Judging by the coloration of the scutes which lighten over time, your tortoise has been growing more slowly and I have no experience at making a judgement on the age.

On the other end of the spectrum that points to an approximate minimum age, my first sulcata was this size and weight at 2yrs, 5months or so.

 

[CaitlynP]

The indentation in the rear is pretty normal. Also, not really pyramiding from what I see. Judging by the coloration of the scutes which lighten over time, your tortoise has been growing more slowly and I have no experience at making a judgement on the age.

On the other end of the spectrum that points to an approximate minimum age, my first sulcata was this size and weight at 2yrs, 5months or so.

Well that makes me feel better knowing the indentation on the back is normal and that it isn't really pyramiding! Thank you. Wow, I didn't have a clue how old he was but I was thinking that young. Thank you for the help!

 

[Tom]

I agree the carapace looks normal all around. And quite handsome too.

There is no way to know the age without knowing the hatch date. This one could be two years or twenty. My best guess would be around 5 or 6.

 

[CaitlynP]

I agree the carapace looks normal all around. And quite handsome too.

There is no way to know the age without knowing the hatch date. This one could be two years or twenty. My best guess would be around 5 or 6.

That makes me feel better knowing he looks healthy! They don't know how long he had been roaming the wild and found in a road. The rescue did a stray hold but never dealt with tortoises and passed along what little info they had on him (we are calling it a him)

 

[_The_Beast_]

That makes me feel better knowing he looks healthy! They don't know how long he had been roaming the wild and found in a road. The rescue did a stray hold but never dealt with tortoises and passed along what little info they had on him (we are calling it a him)

If you post a picture of the lower tummy, tail, and vent, folks on here may be able to help you determine if it's a boy or a girl

 

[Tom]

That makes me feel better knowing he looks healthy! They don't know how long he had been roaming the wild and found in a road. The rescue did a stray hold but never dealt with tortoises and passed along what little info they had on him (we are calling it a him)

Do you have an insulated night box for him? If not, you need one ASAP. They should not drop below 80 degrees at night, and cooler temps with high humidity can make them sick very quickly. Here are two examples with safe and effective heating strategies shown:

Single Tortoise Night Box

I like my larger tortoises to live outside full time. My climate permits this year round with a little help. For people who live where it snows all winter, this type of box is still good for warmer weather, getting them out earlier in Spring, and keeping them out a bit later into fall. You'll...

tortoiseforum.org

Double Door Night Box

As the years have gone by and I build more of these boxes, I learn more and more each time. This one is the latest and I incorporated everything I've learned over the years. I also tried to take lots of pics so I can explain in more detail some of what is going on. It will take multiple posts to...

tortoiseforum.org

Questions are welcome.

 

[CaitlynP]

Do you have an insulated night box for him? If not, you need one ASAP. They should not drop below 80 degrees at night, and cooler temps with high humidity can make them sick very quickly. Here are two examples with safe and effective heating strategies shown:

Single Tortoise Night Box

I like my larger tortoises to live outside full time. My climate permits this year round with a little help. For people who live where it snows all winter, this type of box is still good for warmer weather, getting them out earlier in Spring, and keeping them out a bit later into fall. You'll...

tortoiseforum.org

Double Door Night Box

As the years have gone by and I build more of these boxes, I learn more and more each time. This one is the latest and I incorporated everything I've learned over the years. I also tried to take lots of pics so I can explain in more detail some of what is going on. It will take multiple posts to...

tortoiseforum.org

Questions are welcome.

Thank you for the links we are in the process of building him a house right now and move him inside at night but we do have one of those heating mats for him. His tortoise yard is about 70% done just need to add the shelter some more plants to it and another shade area.