Shell health?

[Pjfarm]

Hi, We have had Rocky for just over a year. I would guess he is about 1.5 yrs old. Please tell me if you think his shell looks ok or not. There seems to be wide spaces that did not exist a few months ago. Thanks

 

[Kapidolo Farms]

It is growth. Good job on the husbandry!

 

[Yvonne G]

You've had Rocky for just over a year, but I'm betting the pet store you bought him from bought him from a wholesaler who deals in wild caught tortoises and he was probably about 8 or 10 years old when captured. Rocky is almost full grown. Just a tiny bit of more growing to do. And as Will said. the wide space is new growth because of your good care and the poor care he had before you.

 

[Pjfarm]

Will and Yvonne, Thank you so much. He seems so small, about as big as a average sized woman's hand so I thought he was young when we got him. I also thought Russians grew to be much bigger so I have been afraid we were over feeding him or something and messing with his shell growth.
Patty

 

[Yvonne G]

Full grown male Russian tortoises are about 5" in a straight line front to back. There will occasionally be bigger or smaller, but that's an average. Females sometimes get to be about 7 or 8" front to back in a straight line, but most or average is about 6"