Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Not many people here keep aldabras but i'll ask anyways, I've had my aldabra about a month, I love the guy, he's no where near as destructive as a sulcata, seems to be much calmer, but anyways, how often should a aldabra be fed? he's around 7" range, i feed sulcata's this size every other day but I wasn't sure if anyone that has kept aldabra's, how there feeding sch. was. This guy will eat to no tommorw, I just don't want any pyramiding, which could start from over feeding as one of the factors. Some input would be great, thanks

Andy
RedoFootMan@yahoo.com

Perhaps see previous posts about pyramiding. Humidity was found to be more of a factor than diet, although malnutrition can also cause shell abnormalities.

Ian

Sorry, I have not had the privilege to work with Aldabras. Regarding pyramiding, be sure to read well respected tortoise breeder Richard Fife's article on that topic in Reptiles magazine several months ago. He sticks his neck out and states that pyramiding can often be prevented by providing humidity...I have found it to be true with my European/Asian tortoises. I feed a lot, more than some would suggest but have good results and no pyramiding. Good luck, he is really a cute little guy. EJ, what do you say? Vic

Quite a few people and the National Zoo here (Thailand) keep them. I hope to acquire one in the future also. They all feed them daily. There are few cases of pyramiding that I have seen from those that keep them here. Those cases I have seen are not that bad. They are kept outdoors; conditions here are high humidity and high temperatures; example: today 90°F and 89% humidity, but average humidity is about 75%. I have been to the Seychelles a couple of times where they naturally occur (used to, they are all captive specimens now). The Seychelles are also hot and humid. The biggest problem that I have seen from the specimens here is calcium deficiency, not receiving enough calcium to keep up with their rapid growth, resulting in the shell not being as hard as it should be.

How much do they cost in the US? I had never seen one in the US before.

Michael

I've read to use calcium with a 2:1 ratio, which i have, i have been using it once a week like i do on all my other tortoises, but being these are such rapid growth, should i up it to twice a week maybe? thanks

Andy

The ratio is to balance calcium with phosphorus, and you are correct with using a 2:1 ratio. Even better, cut out all the phosphorus as they will recieve that in other foods. Due to the size and rapid growth, it is the total amount of calcium recieved that is also important. I agree that perhaps supplementing a bit more often might be applicable for aldabras.
Ian

2:1 is the textbook ratio. Many here (where I live) do not give calcium supplements, but give them calcium rich foods. There are two reasons for this: 1) Until recently, they have not had a good supplement to give them. 2) They are afraid that the calcium will result in pyramiding. I give a light sprinkling of supplements every other day to all my hatchling and juvenile tortoises along with a cuttlefish bone to gnaw on if they want more. My Star Tortoises constantly bite into cuttlefish bone and often have a bit of a milk-stache of cuttlefish bone powder on their beaks. At one time or another I have observed all of my Geochelone tortoises biting into the cuttlefish bone.

Michael

>>I've read to use calcium with a 2:1 ratio, which i have, i have been using it once a week like i do on all my other tortoises, but being these are such rapid growth, should i up it to twice a week maybe? thanks
>>
>>Andy