Reptile & Amphibian Forums

If the pitted parts are original shell from when they are babies, and they add new growth which I'm assuming turns into the rings, can you guestimate age by the rings? I don't mean one ring per year like trees, they probably add more rings per year as babies and less as adults, but can you get an approximation at least?

I sure would like at least an idea of her age even if it's a range, like she's under 5 years, or maybe 5 to 10 or something like that.

Do they get Belly Growth at the same rate as Shell Growth?

Sunshine has green patches on her belly. Hope that's ok.

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Lyns Lair
Frogwatch USA
WNY Herpetological Society

0.1 Cat (Mia)
4.2 Ferrets (Wolf, Shadow, Verdell, Sullivan, Boo, Peach)
1.0 Carpet Python (Bear)
1.0 Malagasy Blonde Hognose Snake (Wilbur)
1.0 Yellow / Everglades Rat Snake (Pumpkin)
1.0 Russian Sand Boa (Fang)
0.1 Normal Corn Snake (Mysty)
1.0 Banded Water Snake (Ripley) coming soon!
1.0 Whites Tree Frog (Trevor)
2.0 Solomon Island Eyelash Frogs (Chompy & Gimli)
0.1 Golden Greek Tortoise (Sunshine)
1.0 AFT Gecko (Cocoa)
5.6 Leopard Geckos (Trouble, Scooter, Simba, Firenze, Teddy, Nala, Mystique, Freckles, Dotty, Zipper, Twister)

You can get a general idea in the case of a wild animal.
As to the new growth, it was definately a prepared diet that was fed to that animal.
With the green on the plastron (I noticed that also) I'm guessing Pretty Pets or one of the other pelleted diets. I don't like those because of the dyes that are added for color but it is that color that sometimes attracts WC animals to eat.
I like the Mazuri Tortoise diet because of the research that went into the development of the product and they (purina) always seem to be looking for ways to improve it.
I've been using it for over 4 years now on about 15 different species including Boxies. I feed it once or twice a week.
You can learn more here.
http://mazuri.com/
(their website seems to be down right now)(9:12 PST)
Here's another site that has a good product and nutritional information.
http://www.herpnutrition.com/
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care