how old is my sulcata?

Question

I've had the little guy for just over a month now, and we measured the bottom of the shell and it measures 3" by 2.5"

how old would she be?

they told me she(they think it's a she) was about a year old, but I'm not sure..

she is very healthy and strong and friendly too....

thank you for all your answers, I'm looking forward to MANY years with my "little" one....

Answer 1

Growth rings on scutes to estimate age is an old wives tale. Growth depends on too many factors like lighting, humidity, diet components and frequency, etc. Turtles fed high protein go through explosive growth and can have many rings each year. It can be used loosely as a guide to help confirm some other things you already know if you have other data to compare to.

Sulcatas reach adulthood ( sexual maturity ) around 6-8 years where they can be 40-60lbs. and they will continue to grow if cared for properly. Based on your measurements I would estimate hatchling ( only a few months old ) to 6 months at most. This size is within the range for large hatchlings. But that does depend on whether the tortoise was given proper husbandry such as diet and UVB. I have seen very small turtles that were not kept right that looked less than a year old, when they were in fact older. Many turtle/tortoise sellers like to give the standard "1 year old" obligatory response, as if they are trying to skirt by federal trade/FDA regulations. Never trust anyone who tells you "one year old" like a knee jerk response. That's become the standard line for babies they are trying to sell. Sulcatas are large tortoises, and their young are large in comparison to other hatchling turtles/torts and grow pretty fast. If it were a year old, it would be bigger unless it was kept improperly.

It will also be a while before you know the sex with certainty, so don't get too used to calling it a "she".

I highly recommend you see http://www.anapsid.org/mainchelonians.html

Answer 2

There's too many factors here. It could be as old as a few years, or if well taken care of before you got it, a year, or maybe less. This is why you buy captive bred animals, you can ask when you buy how old it is. Someone's going to probably say something about growth rings on scutes, these are not to be taken as 100% proof of age, We've got a turtle that if you believe those rings, she's 10 years old or so. But we know for a fact that she's about 4. Ask age upon purchase and keep track of if not hatchdays (you know, like birthdays) at least buy days.

Answer 3

The usual measurements we use would be the 'straight line carapace length'- shell back from just behind the head to just above the tail, measured in a straight line, not over the curve. (Easy way- set it on a ruler and look down while its head is pulled in.) We also use weight a lot.

Without knowing when it hatched, there is no way to be sure, but about a year (or 9 months) sounds about right.

For good care info, try http://www.tortoisetrust.org

Answer 4

My sulcatas range in size from 3'' to 4''. They are 2.

Answer 5

I might be concerned approximately intestinal parasites, worms, and so on. if she is consuming OK and energetic however nonetheless now not gaining weight, and so on. I'd get her looked at via a vet- and I am now not a massive fan of going to the vet for each and every little factor. This sounds love it might be beautiful severe to me.