Age guess?

[rodders]

Hi folks,
Firstly thank you for this forum. I have been using it for a year now to improve things for our tortoise Rodney Trotter (Rodders) and you’ve all helped with many things.

My girlfriend found Rodders 2 years ago on the street where we live just outside of London. No one claimed him so we took him in. It’s been 2 years since finding him, he’s currently 20cm in length and weighs 1100g. Wondering if anyone had an idea of how old he could be? Pics attached (aware of his pyramiding). The third picture is from when he was found 2 years ago.

 

[Ink]

Such a beautiful tortoise!

 

[Markw84]

I would guess your tortoise is 4 years old now, maybe 5. I know you say you are aware of the pyramiding, but do you realize it has gotten much, much worse since you've had the tortoise. It was slightly pyramiding when you found it and I would say it is extremely pyramiding now. Have you read through the care sheets here? Please read through this...

The Best Way To Raise Any Temperate Species Of Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies and care for adults? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. What is...

www.tortoiseforum.org

 

[rodders]

Thanks Mark, 4-5 is what I was thinking as well. Thanks for your comment and I know his pyramiding is worse now. I feel guilty about it but we were sold the normal lies from a pet store where we sought advice when he was found. I’ve been reading a lot on these forums recently, including Tom’s caresheet, and have been rectifying a lot of the issues with his diet and habitat.

 

[Markw84]

Thanks Mark, 4-5 is what I was thinking as well. Thanks for your comment and I know his pyramiding is worse now. I feel guilty about it but we were sold the normal lies from a pet store where we sought advice when he was found. I’ve been reading a lot on these forums recently, including Tom’s caresheet, and have been rectifying a lot of the issues with his diet and habitat.

That's great. This is the best place by far to get the most up to date and tested methods.

Keep in mind pyramiding is caused by the new keratin at the scute seam drying/curing/aging too fast. So it is mostly humidity and IR exposure that creates the extreme pyramiding. I also believe excessive UVA also contributes - which is a primary aging factor with skin and hair which is also keratin. Growing tortoises spend very little time in the sun in the wild. When the do, it is early morning, or early evening when the UV and IR levels are quite low. Give your tortoise lots of natural hiding spots created by live plants.