Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Could a leopard be full grown @ 5 pounds? (and @ 5 years old?). Do tortoises take a break from growing and then resume after a year or 2?

Thanks, Ben

By full grown if you mean has reached sexual maturity, it sounds a little small. Tortoises like all reptiles grow throughout their lives. The only thing that would stop them from growing is illness, lack of food or death.
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Tim Madsen

Nobody cares how much you know,
Until they know how much you care.

My leopard is very active, wants to eat all the time, wants to mount my female all the time, and has not grown even a smidgen since I got him! He appears and acts very healthy. I got him from a pet store that had not him that long and was not taking good care of him, but he is certainly back to health now but still not growing.

Ben

I assure you if your tortoise is healthy and eating it is growing. How long have you had it? It can take a year or more for a tortoise to add a inch to it's length. I would keep check on it's weight as a guide to whether it's growing. also pick out a scute margin and count the rings between the scutes, then six months from now count them again. If it isn't gaining weight and is eating well, it could have a parasite problem. That could inhibit growth. Since it was badly cared for in the past I'd get a fecal exame done.
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Tim Madsen

Nobody cares how much you know,
Until they know how much you care.

Tim,

Thanks for your advice, I will probably need to have him checked by a vet some time. He has never shown any signs of illness in the 15 months I have had him. I have wieghed him every week since I got him and I promise he has gained no weight - and yet has remained active physically and in appetite.

I still should take him to the vet!

Regards, Ben