Age

[mlummus]

Is there anyway to tell from these pictures about how old my Frankie is?

 

[Tom]

No.

 

[mlummus]

How can I find out the age?

 

[johnsonnboswell]

No, there is no way to find out the age if you don't know the hatch date. None. The best you can ever do is categorize: hatchling, baby, juvenile, sub-adult, sexually mature adult, old. Even that's iffy.

 

[mlummus]

Okay I'm guessing my tort is a juvenile. It's about 3-4''

 

[Tom]

How can I find out the age?

Contact the breeder and ask when the tortoise hatched.

If it hasn't been mentioned on other threads already, you really shouldn't use colored bulbs for heating and that tank is way too small for your big guy there.

Check these out:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

 

[mlummus]

Oh yes I'm aware... I bought the tort (tank and all) yesterday through a pet store. I didn't have a clue about what I needed and I wasn't planning on buying anything but the tort and everything else had just been returned by a previous owner so everything was discounted. I swear my nose has been in my phone reading countless forums on here since yesterday doing as much research as possible. Im working on building an outdoor enclosure for Frankie and hopefully that will be done soon. I asked the guy at the pet store and he had no clue about the age. So far all the info I got from the pet store has been bogus so yeah that's been fun lol.

 

[Tom]

Oh yes I'm aware... I bought the tort (tank and all) yesterday through a pet store. I didn't have a clue about what I needed and I wasn't planning on buying anything but the tort and everything else had just been returned by a previous owner so everything was discounted. I swear my nose has been in my phone reading countless forums on here since yesterday doing as much research as possible. Im working on building an outdoor enclosure for Frankie and hopefully that will be done soon. I asked the guy at the pet store and he had no clue about the age. So far all the info I got from the pet store has been bogus so yeah that's been fun lol.

You are not alone. I don't understand why the pet store folks can't come to this site and learn the same way you are. I swear we spend half our time hear undoing the damage done by bad pet store advice.

Glad you founds us.

 

[Yvonne G]

If you bought the tortoise at a pet store, he's probably 8 to 10 years of age...almost full grown.

 

[mlummus]

Oh wow. I definitely would not have guessed that old! How quickly/slowly do torts grow?

 

[Yvonne G]

Because Russian tortoises are a small species, most pet store clerks figure they've got to be babies. Not so. If you think about it, it took your tortoise 8 to 10 years to reach the size he is now - almost full grown.

 

[mlummus]

At what point will I know he is full grown?

 

[Yvonne G]

From here on out the growth will be slow. Unless you make a tracing of his outline, you won't even notice it. He is sexually mature now.

 

[Tom]

Males typically get up to around 6".

 

[mlummus]

Okay thank you!

 

[dreamtortoise]

Pretty tort you've got there