Very large, old Male Red-footed tortoise (now "female"!!)

TeguBuzz

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I was told this male was 21 years old. Let me know what you all think. He eats rather great, moves around fine - but looks much older than that.

Measured him and he's just about 19in in length and weighs between 35-45lbs.

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mike taylor

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He is a looker . Can you take a picture with you holding him for size comparison?
 

lisa127

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His shell is not worn smooth yet.
 

mike taylor

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His shell is not worn smooth yet.
His shell will never be smooth . That's a pyramiding red foot . From being kept in a dry environment as a little one . It's no big problem or anything . HE'S A BEAUTIFUL TORTOISE !
 

Yvonne G

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Wow! He's a beauty, isn't he?
 

lisa127

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His shell will never be smooth . That's a pyramiding red foot . From being kept in a dry environment as a little one . It's no big problem or anything . HE'S A BEAUTIFUL TORTOISE !
I'm talking about his growth rings. In box turtles very 8 old ones have worn smooth. Is that not the case with redfoots? I should have clarified what I meant.
 

Alaskamike

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Many tortoises dog & burrow. The dirt sand & gravel wears their shells smoother.

I've seen this with Sulcata, gopher tortoises , and my box turtles. I suppose there are other things that can wear smooth a shell , like blowing sand hitting the shell.

Depending on environment - those in captivity may not have as much wear.
This is separate from raised shutes from pyramiding - a different issue
 

lisa127

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Many tortoises dog & burrow. The dirt sand & gravel wears their shells smoother.

I've seen this with Sulcata, gopher tortoises , and my box turtles. I suppose there are other things that can wear smooth a shell , like blowing sand hitting the shell.

Depending on environment - those in captivity may not have as much wear.
This is separate from raised shutes from pyramiding - a different issue
Right, the pyramiding was not what I was talking about. My redfoot is pyramid ed as well.
 

TeguBuzz

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TeguBuzz

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His head colors really intrigued me. They seem to have worn away immensely in comparison to photos and other red-footed adults I've seen in my visits to Venezuela a few years back. Individuals that were clearly older red foots still had more color on their heads or more defined looking colors than his. His appear to be very washed away and almost blackened/darkened out with splodges on them.

Could this be from improper care when he was younger or could he just be older than the 21 years I was told? Regardless, this male has found his home under my care - truly a very inquisitive red foot he is. Have only had him a couple of weeks now but he's starting to come around/adapt to me.
 

SarahChelonoidis

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I'm guessing his head colouring is part individual variation and part his dry upbringing. The beak area looks the most unusual to me. It's always nice to see big captive breed adults.
 

TeguBuzz

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I'm guessing his head colouring is part individual variation and part his dry upbringing. The beak area looks the most unusual to me. It's always nice to see big captive breed adults.
That's what I was noticing and thinking as well. Seems to be worn in color as well.
 

TeguBuzz

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Snapped a few more photos. Couldn't get one holding him as I didn't have anyone to take the photo. His skin has a more brown pigmentation to it while the rest of my red-foots are a clear black pigment. Could it be caused by a substrate he was raised on?

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TeguBuzz

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Oh yea, I'll snap another photo of the tail/concave. It's either definitely a male or a female with an extremely longer than average tail and deep concave.
 

TeguBuzz

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Photos aren't exactly picking up the tail too well. You tell me, I'm way more experienced in Sulcata tortoises but compared to my red footed females this red foot has very pronounced concave. I see the photo you attached comparing the two but the tail points to male as well - at least in person. But I may be wrong?
 

Yvonne G

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That's actually a pretty small tail. And the shape of the anal scutes indicates female. Quite often females have indented plastrons.
 

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