How can you tell the age of a tortoise?

Answer 1

Unfortunately, unless the tortoise was very small when acquired or has a known date of birth, it is almost impossible to tell its age accurately. Counting "growth rings" around the scutes may be useful in small tortoises. These rings are formed because the scutes (or shields) are a modified form of skin that is continually renewed. The new scute material grows under the old, and being larger shows at the edges of the scute as a "ring". Unlike trees, however, tortoises (especially well nourished captives) don't get a new "growth ring" every year. On the contrary, several "growth rings" may appear in a single season! In bad years, some wild tortoises may not show any growth at all. When a tortoise reaches adult size (at 10-20 years) growth continues, although new scute rings are almost imperceptible. In fact, in a recent attempted study of the age range of wild tortoises at the Desert Tortoise Natural Area one biologist resorted to using an electron microscope to count the minuscule scute layers found in mature animals!

Once a tortoise reaches adulthood its appearance continues to slowly change. The often beautiful scute-sculpturing of the youngster becomes progressively less distinct. The scutes become flattened, take on a dull sheen and eventually become a more uniform gray color. In extreme old age the scutes may appear sunken in, as calcium becomes depleted from the bony shell that lies underneath them.-

http://www.tortoise.org/archives/agasques.html

Answer 2

Unless the tortoise was very small when acquired or has a known date of birth, it is almost impossible to tell its age accurately.

Counting growth rings around the scutes may be useful in small tortoises. These rings are formed because the scutes or shields are a modified form of skin that is continually renewed. The new scute material grows under the old, and being larger shows at the edges of the scute as a ring.

Unlike trees the tortoises especially well nourished captives don't get a new growth ring every year. On the contrary, several growth rings may appear in a single season! In bad years, some wild tortoises may not show any growth at all.

Answer 3

Easily the most common question that I get asked, particularly by new CTTC members as they proudly show me their beloved Methuselah. Unfortunately, unless the tortoise was very small when acquired or has a known date of birth, it is almost impossible to tell its age accurately. Counting "growth rings" around the scutes may be useful in small tortoises. These rings are formed because the scutes (or shields) are a modified form of skin that is continually renewed. The new scute material grows under the old, and being larger shows at the edges of the scute as a "ring". Unlike trees, however, tortoises (especially well nourished captives) don't get a new "growth ring" every year. On the contrary, several "growth rings" may appear in a single season! In bad years, some wild tortoises may not show any growth at all. When a tortoise reaches adult size (at 10-20 years) growth continues, although new scute rings are almost imperceptible. In fact, in a recent attempted study of the age range of wild tortoises at the Desert Tortoise Natural Area one biologist resorted to using an electron microscope to count the minuscule scute layers found in mature animals!

Once a tortoise reaches adulthood its appearance continues to slowly change. The often beautiful scute-sculpturing of the youngster becomes progressively less distinct. The scutes become flattened, take on a dull sheen and eventually become a more uniform gray color. In extreme old age the scutes may appear sunken in, as calcium becomes depleted from the bony shell that lies underneath them.

Answer 4

The patterns on the shell of a tortoise tell its age.

Answer 5

you can tell by the rings on the shell but a tortoise can live up to 70-100 yrs old the oldest ever was 176 yrs old and he lived in australia

Answer 6

check the rings on his back or belly like it is on a tree and it will tell you each ring represents 10 years

Answer 7

i allways thought it was the marks on his shell but that was english tortice dont know if it is any difference, i had one or 8 yrs and he had 8 spots on shell.

Answer 8

Cut off a leg and count the rings.

Answer 9

if you want to know just because you want to buy the correctly numbered birthday card, i wouldn't worry as i don't think they can read all that well.

Answer 10

Check its birth certificate.