Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I love looking at the pictures of the Galapagos and Aldabra tortoises. But I haven't read anything about what they are like to keep. I would like to read about the experiences of the keepers of these torts and hear about how much food they consume and how large their enclosures are and how they are able to interact with them. I see pics online and I see them offered for sale every now and then. Anyone want to share?

I have quite a few friends that do keep Aldabras and a few with Galaps.
I've been fortunate enough to see some nice collections.
Both can be destructive as adults only because of their size. They have a habit of taking down fences.
Both of these have the greatest personalities. I king of equate them as goats with shells in that they are grazers and they get big. This means they eat alot and invariably sh... alot. If you prepare for the size you cannot ask for a more rewarding charge but you really have to kow what you are getting into.
They are one of the favorites of mine.
Galaps have a better personality as a general rule but a captive raised Aldab is just as personable.
You can expect a 250 lb tortoise from hatchling in about 20 to 25 years.
email me if you'd like a general care sheet on Aldabs.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

My neighbor has three of the giant species and I can tell that they can really tear up a yard!! They eat and eat and eat and poop and poop and poop. They are very cool tortoises but they are a considerable committment both because they are so large and because they live so long. I wouldn't even consider them if you do not 1) own your house 2) know you are going to live there a long time 3) don't care what your backyard looks like. Another consideration is veterinary care because as adults it becomes nearly impossile to get them into the vet without 2-3 people enlisted to haul the critter.
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Stacey

Hi
i have a couple of galaps and I am working on getting more. Several of my friends have Galaps and aldabras. I agree with ED except I would say Galaps are more like golden retrievers with shells (maybe more intelligent than a golden). R.C paul wrote a book on Galaps and he has had alot of experience with both. He seems to prefer Galops as far as personality also. Galaps evolved with finches that eat paracites and dead skin off of their neck, heads, and legs, so they enjoy being scratched and petted. Mine will amble up to anyone they can corner and stand up hi on their legs and extend their necks for you to scratch them (I call this the boner when they do this). I have an 11 year old female that is going about 250 to 275 pounds. Not all Galaps get this large at this age.
galaps are also more expensive and a lot harder to come by. You also need the permits to get one outside your state. Most Galaps in the private sector are in florida, although, my partners and i will probably have the scales even in a few years.( we are in California).
If you live in an area that gets cool in then winter, it can be a hassel to keep them warm. It's not like you can pick up a two hundred pound tort and put him in the den overnight. I have had my fingers crushed pretty good when trying to lift one and the animal retracted it's leg. I also prefer galaps because they are one of the animals Darwin based his theory of evolution on and ofcource the Galapagos Islands were named after the tortoises (Galapagos means saddle in spanish, some species have saddle shaped carapaces).
Both species seem to be fairly hardy and do well on cactus and yard forage. I supplement mine with seaweed once a week to avoid goiter. If you have the time, money and room, I think they are the coolest reptiles to keep.