Aging a sulcata tortoise is often a topic of conversation in tortoise forums and other online groups…
How old do you think my tortoise is?
Well, if you purchased your tortoise as a hatchling from a breeder, the breeder would be the best source to find out how old your tortoise is.
If you adopted your tortoise, the previous owners MAY have told the rescue how old the tortoise is.
If you have no one to ask, or if no one has a clue, you can guess at the age of your sulcata tortoise based on the size. But, you want to keep in mind that sulcatas grow at different paces. A one year old sulcata could easily weigh three pounds, but it could also weigh a half a pound. A five year old sulcata could be four-inches or 26-inches.
Depending on how the sulcata was raised, the rate at which is grew will vary. If the owners housed the sulcata in a dry environment, it likely grew much slower than one in a humid environment. If the owner, or breeder, fed the sulcata a low-fiber diet, the growth was likely stunted.
Also keep in mind that males and females grow differently. Females are often smaller than males, so this can play a part in guess the age of your sulcata, as well.
Sulcatas need a high humidity enclosure and a diet with high-fiber. That said… How old is your sulcata tortoise?
How to Tell The Age of a Sulcata Tortoise
Count the rings. Some people claim that counting the rings on a tortoise is about like counting the rings on a tree. The larger sections of growth equal a year. But, this isn’t necessarily true. The “rings”on a tortoise, mark periods of growth. And sulcata tortoises can have large growth spurts really fast, you may find a large space that equals a few months of fast growth, versus a year of growth.
Ask a qualified reptile veterinarian. This could work, but you could have a tortoise that was not fed or housed properly… This tortoise would likely be smaller and malformed. A tortoise with a shell condition, like dents, scarring, missing scutes, etc., may appear to be much older. No matter how good your vet is, he may age the tortoise younger or older than it really is. Appearance isn’t always a factor on age. Bad health can wear down the body, just like people who suffer chronic health conditions may look older than they appear (depending on the condition).
