Measuring tortoises

[tsemiller]

When I hear of people measuring their tortoise, how are they doing it? Is it just the actual shell you measure ? Is it the underside of the shell? Is it length or breadth? Just so I know I'm measuring properly. Keep a weekly record of his weight but vet wants record of his size to be kept too and felt too stupid to ask how to measure him lol

 

[jaizei]

There are different ways to measure. For smaller tortoises/hatchlings, I like to put them on grid paper and take a picture. I think it is a better representation than just numbers. Using calipers is my second preferred method.

 

[tsemiller]

Is it the length of the underside of his shell I would measure though?

 

[JoesMum]

This is the clasic way of measuring a tortoise. (Ignore the Jackson Ratio bit)
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/measuring.htm

 

[tsemiller]

Thanks - now I can start keeping more accurate records