Grazing Aldabras

TortoiseDVM

Active Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2014
Messages
92
Location (City and/or State)
Florida
After lurking on this forum for at least a year now, I have finally joined!

I have 3 Aldabras ranging from 5 years, 2 years, and 1 years old.

Much of this setup, from the beach sand hut, grazing pasture, to the 5 year old Aldabra, I owe a debt of gratitude to Aldabraman.
 

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TortoiseDVM

Active Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2014
Messages
92
Location (City and/or State)
Florida
Thanks for the welcome... I should have joined long ago :) In the mean time I've gained a lot of insight from this forum.
 

ben awes

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2013
Messages
436
So glad you joined. This forum is fantasitic. I have a 22 month old Aldabra and love seeing what other folks are doing. I love your set-up and your little house. I would love to know the size of your enclosure (yard) and the size of your house AND, if you would, the size and weight of each of your torts!

Thanks so much
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
TFO Admin
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
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Jan 23, 2008
Messages
93,390
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
Hi, and welcome to the Forum!

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TortoiseDVM

Active Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2014
Messages
92
Location (City and/or State)
Florida
So glad you joined. This forum is fantasitic. I have a 22 month old Aldabra and love seeing what other folks are doing. I love your set-up and your little house. I would love to know the size of your enclosure (yard) and the size of your house AND, if you would, the size and weight of each of your torts!

Thanks so much

Thanks for the welcome! Great to meet others raising young Aldabras too. I would be glad to post measurements in a few days.
 

TortoiseDVM

Active Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2014
Messages
92
Location (City and/or State)
Florida
This is Tico, the largest of the crew. He was named after my first ship of duty, the guided-missile cruiser USS Ticonderoga CG-47. He is of Aldabraman stock and turned 5 years old last April. He is over 18" and a solid 56 lbs! Tico is one of the unusual Aldabra tortoises that lacks a nuchal scute!ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1405723036.161571.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1405723068.177194.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1405723095.527065.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1405723156.360667.jpg
 

TortoiseDVM

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5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2014
Messages
92
Location (City and/or State)
Florida
This is Kennedy, named after the aircraft carrier CV-67. She hatched in 2012 from a pairing between Bob Clark's female and a male from the Tulsa Zoo. Kennedy is 10" and a solid 11 lbs. She* has an interesting shell shape that is rounded with countered angles.ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1405724279.443850.jpg
 

TortoiseDVM

Active Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2014
Messages
92
Location (City and/or State)
Florida
This is Gilligan, he/she is a 2013 import from the La Vanille Crocodile park of Mauritius. Gilligan is now 7.5", being imported at 4" a year ago. Gilligan is the shyest of the crew, however by far the most active in his grazing/ sleeping patterns.ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1405724946.867587.jpg
 

TortoiseDVM

Active Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2014
Messages
92
Location (City and/or State)
Florida
The Aldabra green space measures 38' by 65'. I feel that is adequate for their current size with another 6 acres to grow into on the property.The greens consist of Bahia and weeds. Kennedy and Gilligan like to find refuge in the tall grass islands. ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1405725672.103169.jpg
 

TortoiseDVM

Active Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2014
Messages
92
Location (City and/or State)
Florida
The Aldabra Caddy Shack had actually evolved from Gilligan's original enclosure before we moved to this property. The side panels were pre-constructed and measure 4' by 4'. they were connected with 135 degree angle irons to form an octagon. A smaller octagon with 2' sides was raised with a center beam to raise the roof to 6.5'. Construction around the angle irons helped a lot with the angles and deconstruction when we moved. Last winter I remodeled it to the Aldabra Caddy Shack with stain sealed plywood sides, Ondura roofing, foil insulation, hanging brooder hoods with 250 watt red lights, and soft white beach sand. The Aldabra's did enjoy the Caddy Shack during the cold winter nights, but it is mostly abandoned for the summer.ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1405727102.801188.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1405727129.802784.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1405727153.252331.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1405727184.419136.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1405727215.975525.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1405727357.219409.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1405727409.752628.jpgImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1405727464.769208.jpg
 
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