Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My sulcata tortoise, Jack is three times as large as my friends
sulcata. They were born at the same time. I estimate they are
nearly 2 years old now. Is Shammy's growth normal? Also, it
doesn't move around very much.

Only difference I can think of. Jack lives in a tank with granules
he can dig in. Shammy lives in a tank with felt. Could it be lack
of stimulation? The tanks are just about the same size.

how long are these torts? how much do they weigh in grams?
if you find this out I can compare it to my growth log
my sulcata has been growing very slow it is almost five and is about 9 inches. it grows what I call seasonal. in the late spring to early fall he'll be outside alot and will grow and eat like a weed. in the other colder months he will eat only what I give him plus some grazing hay and he won't grow much at all.
but he is healthy. yours look very healthy good growth! I would not worry about it.

THOSE TWO LOOK REALLY NICE GOOD SHELL GROWTH
NOT EVERYBODY OR EVERY TORTOISE GROWS AT THE SAME RATE
THEY ARE INDIVIDUALS JUST LIKE US
SOME ARE BIGGER THEN OTHERS
I HAVE 60 YEAR OLD ADULTS RAISED EXACTLY THE SAME WAY THE WHOLE TIME
ONE FEMALE IS HUGE THE OTHER IS SMALLER
BOTH HAVE PERFECT SHELL GROWTH
I HAVE SOME OTHER FEMALES THAT ARE TWICE AS BIG AS THE OTHERS AND ARE 20 YEARS YOUNGER
THE SMALLER ONES USUALLY LAY ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF EGGS
I HAD A 16 INCH 9 YEAR OLD LAY 72 EGGS HER FIRST YEAR ALMOST AS MANY AS THE OLDER MATURE FEMALES
AS LONG AS THEY HAVE GOOD SHELL GROWTH AND ARE PUTTING ON WEIGHT
I WOULD NOT WORRY YOU ARE DOING FINE
THEY DON'T STAY SMALL FOR LONG
JEFF
PLANET REPTILES

An African spurred tortoise's growth rate depends on the temperature of the enclosure and the amount of food they are fed. You can easily double or triple the grow rate but increasing the temperature and amount of food. Growth is not related to the tortoise's age nearly as much as it is to the temperature and diet of the tortoise.

Richard