Redfoot lifespan

[Shelli]

I was checking around today to see if I could find out the age a Redfoot might live too in the wild or in captivity..
I could only find this

While the longevity of wild red foot tortoises is unknown, individuals raised in captivity often live 25 years or more, with life spans of 40 years being an entirely reasonable goal.

http://lllreptile.com/info/library/animal-care-sheets/turtles-and-tortoises/-/red-foot-tortoise/
I know other tortoises can live over 100 and easily 50 years or so in captivity unless they have an accidental death during hybernating or what ever..
But what about Redfoots I would be interested to hear stories of elderly redfoots that people may have come across.. right now I think the oldest I've heard of is 6!! Which isn't very comforting..

 

[cdmay]

I have some anecdotal information...
In the 1970s I obtained a female that was presumably imported from Colombia. The woman I got her from was the well known Ellen Nicol and Ellen had kept that female for 21 years before I got her. I kept her for an additional 12 years before giving her to a friend who kept her for at least 9 or 10 years after that. I haven't been in touch with the guy for a number of years so that old female may still be alive for all I know. Ellen had originally got this female as an adult.
A good friend of mine just gave his long term pair of RFs away last year after having them since 1969. They were still producing nice hatchlings each year. He obtained them as half grown animals from a pet store in Gainesville, Florida.
My friend Eric Holt has a male named 'Cortez' that he inherited from an elderly keeper who had recently passed away. The man had kept Cortez for over 40 years. Eric says that he seems to be quite healthy and active.
Lastly, I know of several RFs that I hatched in the late 70s and early 80s that people still have and that are doing just fine.

 

[Nay]

Hi, I have had Jack for 7 yrs, they claimed he was around 10 when I got him. And I have had Petey for 3 yrs, and she was 14 when I got her..

 

[Chewbecca]

Shelli,
Our redfoots are going to be around for a LOOOONG time.

 

[Madkins007]

Most references I have seen list 30-50 as a 'typical' lifespan, but 'typical' is a slippery concept. MOST pet tortoises, of any species, generally only live about 5-10 years because of stresses they are exposed to. Other Red-foots have been reliably documented as going on a lot longer.

I have read, but do not know if it is true, that the males often live longer with the theory being that laying eggs 'wears out' the females.

 

[Itort]

In 1974, I purchased a pair of adult wild caught Redfoots and kept them until 2007 when I lost them in a house fire. Up tp this point they were healthy and breeding. That makes 33 years in my care as adults.

 

[DoctorCosmonaut]

Poor things poor you!

 

[cdmay]

In 1974, I purchased a pair of adult wild caught Redfoots and kept them until 2007 when I lost them in a house fire. Up tp this point they were healthy and breeding. That makes 33 years in my care as adults.

Your experience reminds me of the record lifespan of a striped mud turtle...there was a W/C female that was estimated to have been 10 years old at the time of capture. She lived for 49+ years in captivity but then she was killed in a house fire.
Sorry about your loss but at least you survived.

 

[Shelli]

In 1974, I purchased a pair of adult wild caught Redfoots and kept them until 2007 when I lost them in a house fire. Up tp this point they were healthy and breeding. That makes 33 years in my care as adults.

I'm so sorry for you loss all those years!!
It's great to hear about all these older Redfoots..