Newbie, with two Aldabras - quick intro

TortyDxb

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Ok,

So I will definitely get around to photos and the like, but for now I just wanted to make an inroad with y'all and the forum.

I've got two very juvenile Aldabras recently turned up on doorstep so to speak. They are definitely imports and are around 3.9inches long (underside/SCL) and showing slight signs of pyramiding, I believe.

I'm in foster mode, as I have the set up for them (may keep them/may not).

I'm a firm believer in misting, high humidity and warmth (everything your Tom says basically), and hope to correct/halt the minor pyramiding.

I have the advantage ( :)?? ) of being based in the Middle east, UAE. Current humidity at night (December) 78% - see here https://tinyurl.com/yd7nj225

My best estimate is that these wonderful fellows were born in September 2017, and they are absolutely a joy to observe :)

There are more from this batch of hatchlings too, I am in touch with someone who has 3 of them- which is great for anecdotal's and to compare. They have put their hatchlings out for the nights already (they are tortoise lovers in the extreme, and have them on a farm). I haven't yet, but am keen to. I just want that super high humidity and warmth in the hope of no pyramiding, so at night they come in to an enclosure.

I think the UAE comes quite close to Florida in being an easier place to have Aldabras, we will see.

To all of you who bother with an update (or a little to a lot of info) here and there, thank you. It is so useful to compare and formulate an idea of what is best.

Greg some of your photos have been so much fun to go through, thanks for the effort.

I'll get round to measurements and weighing them soon, and photos too. Diet wise, I'm doing no fruit at all, a red pepper on standby and kale and dark greens, with leaves, flowers and grasses when possible.

I can't believe how captivating this can be!
 

Sesel

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Welcome :)

They are definitely imports and are around 3.9inches long (underside/SCL)

My best estimate is that these wonderful fellows were born in September 2017

Interesting. We had some hatch out beginning of September.
20170905_070701-1.jpg

They are around 4 inches now.

So I will definitely get around to photos and the like

I'll get round to measurements and weighing them soon, and photos too.

Can't wait :D

I can't believe how captivating this can be!

Indeed~
 

TortyDxb

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3 from that clutch. Unfortunately 2 died after pipping whilst still in the shell. Don't know the reason.



No, we are new at this :D


I re measured the two aldabras up against a wall today (harder than it sounds!) and in fact they are both just over 4 inches.

Are yours showing signs of pyramiding? I think these two are.
 

Alaskamike

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Welcome.

I wouldn’t be too concerned about pyramiding at 4”. With your set up & keeping temps & humidity right it will disappear.

These little fellas grow fast, so it will even out. Good to have a new Aldabra keeper here. Many like myself , are new to keeping these ( potential ) monsters. And it’s interesting to share experiences.

My CupCake was about 7 mos when I got her from @ALDABRAMAN , and will be 4yo in January. While similar in needs to the Sulcata , they have a very different temperament. I find the Aldabras to be shyer when young. They also seem to be more inclined to be peaceful with each other - though I still would raise 3 together ,,rather than 2 if had the choice. Alas ,I could only afford one :)

Good fortune with yours. I hope you keep us updated on progress.
Mike
 

Sesel

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I re measured the two aldabras up against a wall today (harder than it sounds!) and in fact they are both just over 4 inches.

Are yours showing signs of pyramiding? I think these two are.

20171228_173616.jpg

Not sure what to look for for signs of pyramiding, maybe you could tell me :)
 

TortyDxb

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The difference between this and the ones I just uploaded is really obvious. Well done, that is really smoothe- 4 inches?
 
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Sesel

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The difference between this and the ones I just uploaded is really obvious. Well done, that is really smoothe- 4 inches?

Yes, should be around 4in. On 3rd December it was 3.74in. We weigh & measure at the beginning of every month.
Like Alaskamike said, i wouldn't worry too much :)
Do you know where they were imported from?
 

TortyDxb

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I have not weighed either of them yet tbh. Now that ive seen yours, I really want to correct that pyramiding :)

I assumed Seychelles.
 

TortyDxb

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Welcome.

I wouldn’t be too concerned about pyramiding at 4”. With your set up & keeping temps & humidity right it will disappear.

These little fellas grow fast, so it will even out. Good to have a new Aldabra keeper here. Many like myself , are new to keeping these ( potential ) monsters. And it’s interesting to share experiences.

My CupCake was about 7 mos when I got her from @ALDABRAMAN , and will be 4yo in January. While similar in needs to the Sulcata , they have a very different temperament. I find the Aldabras to be shyer when young. They also seem to be more inclined to be peaceful with each other - though I still would raise 3 together ,,rather than 2 if had the choice. Alas ,I could only afford one :)

Good fortune with yours. I hope you keep us updated on progress.
Mike


Hi Alaskamike,

Just weighed both of them. They are between 4-4.2 inches long and one is 196g and the other is 191g.

Lmk what you think if you have time. Thank you.

Torty
 

Alaskamike

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When I got my CupCake. She was already 7 mos old about 570 grams & 5 & 3/4” .

So I can’t comment on weights of younger ones. There is one thing though to watch carefully for & that is how they walk. These torts gain weight quickly , especially since we feed & water them daily. No problem with that , as long as good food , a calcium supplement once a week, humidity,,temps, UV, and plenty of exercise is in their life.

A few good hours of sunlight daily will take care of UV

I asses good development by watching how they walk. Do they walk with back legs pretty much under the shell ? When they stand are the back legs up under the shell in an H shape ?

What you don’t want is to see them walking with back legs splayed out. This indicates possible muscle weakness. Can be caused by lack of exercise and/ or a calcium deficiency.

Other sickness can also affect back legs - but these two are most likely.

I allow mine to wander a pretty good area fenced in to graze just about daily. Sometimes we can overdo making it too easy for them to just sit , eat a pile of food we give them & hide. They need to move some.

Get those chunky thighs working !
 

TortyDxb

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When I got my CupCake. She was already 7 mos old about 570 grams & 5 & 3/4” .

So I can’t comment on weights of younger ones. There is one thing though to watch carefully for & that is how they walk. These torts gain weight quickly , especially since we feed & water them daily. No problem with that , as long as good food , a calcium supplement once a week, humidity,,temps, UV, and plenty of exercise is in their life.

A few good hours of sunlight daily will take care of UV

I asses good development by watching how they walk. Do they walk with back legs pretty much under the shell ? When they stand are the back legs up under the shell in an H shape ?

What you don’t want is to see them walking with back legs splayed out. This indicates possible muscle weakness. Can be caused by lack of exercise and/ or a calcium deficiency.

Other sickness can also affect back legs - but these two are most likely.

I allow mine to wander a pretty good area fenced in to graze just about daily. Sometimes we can overdo making it too easy for them to just sit , eat a pile of food we give them & hide. They need to move some.

Get those chunky thighs working !


Noted, will get some shots of them on the move at some point, but they are active and out fro 7 am until midnight daily. They choose cover for alot of this time.
 

TortyDxb

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Yes, should be around 4in. On 3rd December it was 3.74in. We weigh & measure at the beginning of every month.
Like Alaskamike said, i wouldn't worry too much :)
Do you know where they were imported from?

Sesel, can you give me the weights of your 4 inch aldabras please? The two in my care have weighed in at 177-196 grams only. I think this is under weight.

Thanks!
 

TortyDxb

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Joined
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Messages
147
Location (City and/or State)
uae
When I got my CupCake. She was already 7 mos old about 570 grams & 5 & 3/4” .

So I can’t comment on weights of younger ones. There is one thing though to watch carefully for & that is how they walk. These torts gain weight quickly , especially since we feed & water them daily. No problem with that , as long as good food , a calcium supplement once a week, humidity,,temps, UV, and plenty of exercise is in their life.

A few good hours of sunlight daily will take care of UV

I asses good development by watching how they walk. Do they walk with back legs pretty much under the shell ? When they stand are the back legs up under the shell in an H shape ?

What you don’t want is to see them walking with back legs splayed out. This indicates possible muscle weakness. Can be caused by lack of exercise and/ or a calcium deficiency.

Other sickness can also affect back legs - but these two are most likely.

I allow mine to wander a pretty good area fenced in to graze just about daily. Sometimes we can overdo making it too easy for them to just sit , eat a pile of food we give them & hide. They need to move some.

Get those chunky thighs working !

Hi Alaskamike, If you see the screenshot attached of a post by @ALDABRAMAN , his 5 inch hatchling weighs in at over 315g. My maths says the two 4 inch AIdabras that I have should, therefore, be about 40 percent heavier (around 260 grams vs 180 ish each).

I believe Aldabramans' hatchlings also grow very slow (and steady) versus many captive breds.

Does anyone have records of their 4 inch hatchlings' weights? Can you bump this on if you know them pls. Thank you!
 

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Alaskamike

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I know it’s tempting to compare one’s baby with someone’s else’s. The problem is that there are no good ways to use this information to tell if yours is average , above, below or “ normal “.

Even if you could compare size & age with a 1,000d others , all it would tell you is where your little one fell on the bell curve. And only in that point in time. Not how healthy they are.

The other thing to keep in mind is - they often grow at different rates , and have growth spurts as well as temporary slow periods. This sometimes panics new keepers.

The best plan is to continue good husbandry techniques and watch that they don’t start to lose weight or exhibit other signs of illness. It’s not unusual for ones your age to double in weight even in a few months.

Also , length of plastron is deceiving because some are higher domed than others. These will weigh more at same length.

Watch how they act & move. Good appetite & bright eyes. These are better indicators of health than weight.

My other idea is to box them up & send them to me ! Just kidding ( kind of :)
They look very nice , I’m sure you can do well by them.
Good fortune to you.
 

TortyDxb

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BIG thank you. All that you've written makes sense and I'll monitor now and see how things develop. They are active, bright eyed and eating well (imho) so I'll take it as the above.

I'll see what I can do about the postal idea, I think everyone this way wants in on the USA in one way or another, so I'd be surprised if the torts were any different. Mazuri is just a rumour for them over here, a mythical delicacy!
 

Sesel

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