Is this growth ok??

Kelly71

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Hi All,
Just wondered I just measured Sunny and in end of April his shell was 3' from back of the neck to tail? Now he is 3' 3/4 from back of neck to back of tail? Does that seem right? Maybe that is why he has those bubble swirly marks on his shell? Growing to fast? lol Thanks
 

dmmj

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They can not grow to fast
Fast growth means good care.
 

Michael in MO

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your description of measuring seems like there could be some room for error. There is a widely accepted way to measure turtles and it is called Straight Carapace Length (SCL). The measurement of a turtle is done as a straight line from the front of the carapace to the back. This is accomplished by using an imaginary line that goes through or above the turtle. You do not want to go along the ridge of the carapace, because in some species this is highly domed and wil give you an inaccurate measurement. Picture it as though you were placing bookends and the front and back of the turtle, and then measuring the distance between bookends. This will give you a reliable standard.
 

Kelly71

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Hi,
Thanks I see now? Kind of looks like a shoe thing? lol I really dont know how to get one of those things that they are
using in that pic? Thanks
 

JoesMum

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Back your tort up against a wall, use a house brick or a piece of wood to hold the other end ... then use a piece of chalk or a pencil to make a mark on the floor where the house brick is. Measure from the line to the wall.
 

Kelly71

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Hi,
Can you guys tell me, how long can you keep a tort out of its habitat for? Like away from heat lights etc for? How long could you say play with a tort outside of its habitat for safely an hour, half an hour? Thanks
 

Michael in MO

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Hi,
Can you guys tell me, how long can you keep a tort out of its habitat for? Like away from heat lights etc for? How long could you say play with a tort outside of its habitat for safely an hour, half an hour? Thanks
I would say the answer really depends on where you're interacting with the tort and how closely it resembles appropriate temps for your tort. Other things certainly play into that like if outside is the area herbicide and pesticide free??, if inside are there things your tort can get behind or topple over (the bigger it gets the more it can topple over, and less things it can get behind) biggest consideration of both places.. have you "child proofed" the area before setting your tort down? They will try to eat things you will think "why in the heck would you eat that" two sniffs and a quick bite and suddenly your tort has swallowed something you have to worry about being in their gut..... TOO cold I'd only say 15 minutes TOO hot... provide some shade for it to find and then only stay out as long as YOU can handle.. TOO long walking thru your house and you'll have to clean up a huge pile of tort droppings from your carpet.. my torts always prefer to "go" when they're not in a familiar area
 

Kelly71

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Hi,
I mean not outside just in the house? Say like holding him letting him walk around a bit in his
bath container ( it is big ) with no water in it though just for a little while but, how long is to long to have him out though
doing just those things? Maybe like half an hour 20 mins? Thanks
 

Michael in MO

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OH inside a house, unless you keep your air at 65degrees..a tort would be fine for a long time, much longer than 20 mins.. I'd let him bask in the AM first to get him up to "proper operating temperature" ha ha, then have at it. I live in the Midwest USA and it's been my experience that redfoot torts are much hardier than some portray them. My two spend as many sunny days as possible (once temps reach 80's(f) constantly for a daily hi) outside from 5am until 7pm. Of course they have ample shade and ample water and many spots to sun-up.. Also they both weigh over 15lbs closer to 20 so no birds of prey can pick them up. It looks like you have a hatchling or yearling so DON'T put it outside unsupervised at all.. or a bird or exposure will do it in. HOWEVER inside is no problem... in the winter drafts might be a reason to stick to the 20-30 mins you mentioned
 

Kelly71

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Hi,
Yes, I would not get him out until in the later after noon time. lol Am not ready for the outside yet either? lol
My guy is also a Yellowfoot I have been told on here? I hope they are as hardy as a Redfoot? Thanks
 
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