Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i went to zoo atlanta with my boyfriend this past weekend... i've been a few times since i was 3 or so, and i've always seen what i beleive may be the same giant aldebra tortoises. i should've taken a camera, because these guys are awesome. this is the first time i've been to the zoo since i got my own tortoise, so now, of course, i paid special attention to them... one was poking through the grass and eating dried oak leaves that'd fallen from the trees, and one was taking a nap with his head stretched waaaay out. any of them we got close enough to would look RIGHT at us (one in particular even followed us a little, it seemed). SO CUTE!

are they very "social" at all in captivity? they way they were looking at us reminded me of how my little redfoot will sit and watch us.

just had to babble about them. it'd be wonderful to have the space to keep one (or more) of these beautiful giants!

Not really because I tend to be high priced... at least that's what I hear.

You really can't imagine a couple of those in your back yard.

I had no interest in obtaining a large tortoise until a deal fell in my lap. These guys have quickly become another one of my favorites.

The picture you described fits the Aldabra, in general, to a T.

I can sit an watch them for hours. They are so animated and carefree... and who says only fish are relaxing and is quite a rush.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

i poke through the classified ads occasionally, and, while more expensive, yours looks nicer (shell growth and such). did you breed them, out of curiosity?

those big guys look wonderful, and the way they look at you with their big, dark eyes is amazing. i'm DEFINITELY taking a camera next time.

i wonder if they ever get to eat the odd dead bird as yours do?

.. that he has.. to feed his 'DABS'.. and others!!!

You gotta love 'em!

Terry

They are amazing and I can't say that enough.

If the tortoises you saw are free ranging you can be pretty sure that if they have the opportunity to snack on a bird (or whatever else that moves) they will. They eat everything.

The guys I sell are bred on a farm in Mauritius where there is a colony of 102 adults.

Most of those you see on the market come from the same place but I do know of one group that came in this year from the Seychells.

(and I do not have a trained hawk)
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

... a few other torts as well. the aldebras live in a corral in the children's section of the zoo, with a greenhouse they can go into that appears to have heaters in it (for the winter, i assume? the greenhouse is new, and i'm not sure if they put them anywhere else in wintertime). they're also fed in the greenhouse.

in the reptile house they had a few (3 or 4?) star tortoises, as well as a couple of tiny hatchlings; one spider tortoise, a pair of pancake tortoises (very active!) and two or three pancake hatchlings, and a hatchling of another species that unfortunately i can't recall.

not bad, considering that zoo atlanta isn't exactly huge, and puts most of its money into more popular species like gorillas, tigers, pandas, and such. the whole zoo has been remade and remodeled from its dismal early days... except the reptile house. i wish some corporate sponsor would support that for a change, but as i said, i guess reptiles aren't exactly the most popular attraction with most people.