Hello there, my name is lauren and I currently live near Atlanta, GA. Last year, I tool my husband to pick out a tortoise for his birthday. He fell in love with a Russian and he named him Larry. (I think he looks more like a Lawrence Wobblestone but it wasn't my decision) Anyway, we've had him coming up on a year now but its hard to say how old he is. We got him at a reptile pet store in Asheville, NC and it didn't take long to realize the kid who sold him to us didn't know crap about him or the species. He told us he was about 5 months old, would live to be over 100 years old and would grow to the size of a spare car tire. He was roughly 4.5 inches long that day and we learned that he is no 5 month old Russian. Regardless, we love him and spoil him rotten.
I noticed something recently though that concerns me. After not seeing him for a few months while I was dealing with family issues out-of-state, I noticed his front arms aren't as big and bulbous as b4. They look thin and wavy/rippled instead of plump. Kind of like an old person on The Simpson's. Wrinkles where the large scales are. Can anyone please tell me if this is normal or if he is becoming thin and sickly? I am asking for a Sulcata next month for my birthday since we are moving to a large piece of land...and they are my favorite lil monsters.
Plus any other tips for both species. We are wanting to learn all we can so to one day turn out land into a tortoise sanctuary.
Thanks and I look forward to this forum.
Lauren, Lawrence and Dylan
I noticed something recently though that concerns me. After not seeing him for a few months while I was dealing with family issues out-of-state, I noticed his front arms aren't as big and bulbous as b4. They look thin and wavy/rippled instead of plump. Kind of like an old person on The Simpson's. Wrinkles where the large scales are. Can anyone please tell me if this is normal or if he is becoming thin and sickly? I am asking for a Sulcata next month for my birthday since we are moving to a large piece of land...and they are my favorite lil monsters.
Plus any other tips for both species. We are wanting to learn all we can so to one day turn out land into a tortoise sanctuary.
Thanks and I look forward to this forum.
Lauren, Lawrence and Dylan