Grazing Aldabras

volcom6981

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Do you keep the hachlings outside all night or bring them back in as the sun goes down.
 

TortoiseDVM

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Do you use it only in their hut? Do you moisten it?

Hey Amanda. Yes only in their hut. And no I don't need to moisten it as relative humidity in Florida is naturally high ( so unfair, right ;) ).
 

TortoiseDVM

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Do you keep the hachlings outside all night or bring them back in as the sun goes down.

I do bring hatchling tortoises in at night when temps fall below 70 as they are more fragile to the elements and they wouldn't fair well with the larger tortoises in the hut.
 

wellington

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I didn't realize yours were large enough to lay and have hatchlings. How many have you had so far? You have three larger ones now correct? Which ones of the three are the breeding couple?
 

TortoiseDVM

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I didn't realize yours were large enough to lay and have hatchlings. How many have you had so far? You have three larger ones now correct? Which ones of the three are the breeding couple?

Oh no... I don't plan on being able to produce Aldabra hatchlings for some 20 plus years ;) I do have other torts that are hatchlings including radiata and Galapagos, as well as the two Aldabra when they were smaller, that I was referring too :)
 

wellington

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Never mind. I looked back at the ages of yours and you don't have any old enough to produce yet. What a member and you are calling hatchlings are not what I would call a hatchling unless I missed you getting more which are hatchlings? My ipad is very slow and doesn't work the best so I am having a hard time going through the whole thread.
 

TortoiseDVM

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Never mind. I looked back at the ages of yours and you don't have any old enough to produce yet. What a member and you are calling hatchlings are not what I would call a hatchling unless I missed you getting more which are hatchlings? My ipad is very slow and doesn't work the best so I am having a hard time going through the whole thread.

Oh I see maybe the other member got my thread confused with Aldabraman's . I answered him about hatchlings in general not specific to current acquired Aldabra hatchlings :p
 

Rustyiron

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My Aldabra, 4 years old, 14' x11', tall back, 22LB.

Is this normal to you? ^_^

101243wouauhrzg6wtht0t.jpg
 

TortoiseDVM

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My Aldabra, 4 years old, 14' x11', tall back, 22LB.

Is this normal to you? ^_^

14261388aosod7so93h8ta.jpg

Nice Aldabra you have there :) There is some natural variation in Aldabra shell shape with some growing taller versus wider. However in captivity the taller variant may not always be the tortoise's natural shell shape. Pyramiding causes a vertical growth plane rather than the natural horizontal growth plane. Intuitively, vertical growth planes would lead to a taller rather than wider shell.

In your Aldabra's case, his shell looks fairly normal for a captive tortoise with mild pyramiding that appears to be correcting. Focusing on the tortoises posture though, notice how splayed out his legs are? Even a relaxed tortoise shouldn't be quite that splayed. Those leg muscles will need to hoist hundreds of pounds soon enough. Early development of those muscles is critical and depends on exercise and appropriate traction (not tile :p )

I encourage you to start a thread on this forum for your Aldabra. Members will enjoy seeing photos of him and you can get quality feedback on husbandry.
 

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