The Blossom Thread.

tortadise

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Some cactus too. I get lemongrass, wheat grass, dandelion, and squash leaves to her. But soon she will be outside to graze.
 

tortadise

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image.jpg image.jpg Well s(he) is almost 10" now. She tipped the small scale, and the big one is broken. So no idea what she weighs now. Tanker though for a little over a year old.
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tortadise

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Spunky little thunder thighs for sure. Loves to run off when you come near her/him picking her up pffff. S(he) throws a tantrum. But then again I don't handle the torts very often. Just routine checks ounce a week or so. I can't even measure her by myself. Squirms and runs and throws a fit. It's funny, so in thinking with Greg's theory of the wee ones may be correct. I am going to get her(him) scoped this summer to see what sex it is. I kinda hope a female so I can a better start on a male that's maybe 10 or 20 years old, since males need to be much larger and extremely mature to fertilize.
 

wellington

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Fingers crossed for ya she is in deed a she. I bet her squirming and throwing a fit is quite a sight to see from a little one.
 

ALDABRAMAN

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I'm definitely not doing anything special Greg. I'm really trying not to get fast growth or anything. But boy I tell yah. For sure she's taking off on the growth big time.

I'm definitely not doing anything special Greg. I'm really trying not to get fast growth or anything. But boy I tell yah. For sure she's taking off on the growth big time.

* WOW, our three year old's are usually in the 11" or so range, LOL!

* Growth looks consistent and smooth!
 

tortadise

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Good god really? That's crazy, why would blossom be so big then? I mean the greenhouse is about the same temperature and humidity as south Florida where you are. 80-100% humidity all the time and 80-88 all the time. Her enclosure during the winter is 10x8 so she's not fat. Her outside enclosure is 35x40 and eats nothing but grass. She's super smooth, walks perfect, and stands up like an "H" not showing splay legs. Man I don't want to end up with a accelerated grown tortoise. But can't really tell them not to eat grass I guess. Ha
 

ALDABRAMAN

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Good god really? That's crazy, why would blossom be so big then? I mean the greenhouse is about the same temperature and humidity as south Florida where you are. 80-100% humidity all the time and 80-88 all the time. Her enclosure during the winter is 10x8 so she's not fat. Her outside enclosure is 35x40 and eats nothing but grass. She's super smooth, walks perfect, and stands up like an "H" not showing splay legs. Man I don't want to end up with a accelerated grown tortoise. But can't really tell them not to eat grass I guess. Ha

* Here are two three year olds, both hatched in April of 2011. They are both between 11" to 12" SL and both within the 7 to 8 pound range!

* Brother, you have a monster on your hands, LOL!

IMG_6104.JPG
 

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It could be the greenhouse does not cool into the mid to lower 70's. those "winter" temps likely slow down the metabolism. My aldabra is about the same age as yours and not as large. Living outside except nights. Eating weeds... will not eat grass except for the seeds and seed pods. Mine seems to be growing more quickly now that night time temps are not getting below 75- and highs are approaching 90. This is all pure speculation on my part. Just going along the formula that the alligator farms use- faster growth rate by keeping them at upper temps year round. Also- tortoises are not alligators.
Could also be the Shaquille O'Neal of tortoises.
--Jeff
 

ALDABRAMAN

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It could be the greenhouse does not cool into the mid to lower 70's. those "winter" temps likely slow down the metabolism. My aldabra is about the same age as yours and not as large. Living outside except nights. Eating weeds... will not eat grass except for the seeds and seed pods. Mine seems to be growing more quickly now that night time temps are not getting below 75- and highs are approaching 90. This is all pure speculation on my part. Just going along the formula that the alligator farms use- faster growth rate by keeping them at upper temps year round. Also- tortoises are not alligators.
Could also be the Shaquille O'Neal of tortoises.
--Jeff

* LOL, You may have the future next world record for the worlds largest tortoise!
 

tortadise

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Oh geeze. Yeah so female is probably out of the question on sex then hah. Yeah blossom looks about that size little smaller by a few inches though. Don't think around 8 pounds maybe 6. Maybe it will be an alpha in 50 years
 

ALDABRAMAN

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Oh geeze. Yeah so female is probably out of the question on sex then hah. Yeah blossom looks about that size little smaller by a few inches though. Don't think around 8 pounds maybe 6. Maybe it will be an alpha in 50 years

* That would be special! :)
 

tortadise

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Thanks Greg. She loves the desert willow flowers in the pen. I had to do some cleanup in her pond and removed the pond plants. She's staring at it going man I liked to hide in those. Ha. Still swims in the pond and drinks from it. But I'm thinking of making a Waller pit for her.
 

tortadise

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Man. Can't get straight measurements because blossom is so feisty ha. Keep in mind we do not pick most of tortoises up very often, and mess with them very little. The weekly check and just typical being present is all we do. So they aren't really super tame. Also blossom is still young and should hopefully develop a more gregarious and curious coming up to us attitude. But here blossom is next to my fat foot. Straight growth has seemed to halt for now at 10" but getting more domed and wide. Loves getting in the mud a lot so appears dirty because it is haha.

Fat foot size 11.
And blossom of course running off and away.
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tortadise

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Still haven't gotten blossom on the scale. I tried again with the small gram one, it overloaded after 3500 grams. Sure is a tanker. Holding at 11" still. But is starting to get wider and taller. So new stage of growth in mass is underway and not length. Good thing is, still staying pretty smooth. But most important is blossoms stance. I was worried about the tall thick grass causing hip growth issues. But nope stands straight up and makes the "H" stance which is what is good for the giant species of tortoises.

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