RE: is my adult female russian tortoise small?
Size is affected by previous conditions: food, etc. The age estimate is just that, an estimate.
What is most important is the ratio of the tortoise's weight to length, to make sure your tort is proportional.
Here is how you can calculate this:
The Donaghue Ratio works for any tortoise species. It is more reliable for Russians because their shells are domed.
SCL*cm^3 x 0.191 = WTgr
Or
length in cm x length in cm x length in cm x 0.191=weight in grams.
(*Straight-line Carapace Length in centimeters, or SCLcm). To get this, push the tort up against a wall on a piece of paper. Mark the end of the shell and then remove tortoise and measure in centimeters.
Scroll down on this thread for more info:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-What...z1nMYVfMpI
Size is affected by previous conditions: food, etc. The age estimate is just that, an estimate.
What is most important is the ratio of the tortoise's weight to length, to make sure your tort is proportional.
Here is how you can calculate this:
The Donaghue Ratio works for any tortoise species. It is more reliable for Russians because their shells are domed.
SCL*cm^3 x 0.191 = WTgr
Or
length in cm x length in cm x length in cm x 0.191=weight in grams.
(*Straight-line Carapace Length in centimeters, or SCLcm). To get this, push the tort up against a wall on a piece of paper. Mark the end of the shell and then remove tortoise and measure in centimeters.
Scroll down on this thread for more info:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-What...z1nMYVfMpI