Growth rate in different species?

[pagan queen]

Is there any difference between how fast different species grow? For instance, do Hermans grow at a slower or faster rate than Iberas given optimal conditions?

[EJ]

Egyptians can reach reproductive size in 4 to 5 years. Leopards can reach reproductive size in 4 to 5 years but the Egyptian is 4 inches SCL and the Leopard is 8 to 9 inches SCL at reproductive age.

I wouldn't think the rate of growth between the two species would be any different given they were raised alone in seperate enclosures with identical nutritional input along with identical environmental conditions. There might be a little varience due to genetic makeup.

Reptiles are totally dependent on their environment for their metabolic rate to function properly. In captivity their nutritional is totally dependent on their keeper wether they are keept outdoors or not. These are major factors in development.

Originally Posted by pagan queen

Is there any difference between how fast different species grow? For instance, do Hermans grow at a slower or faster rate than Iberas given optimal conditions?

[pagan queen]

The reason I ask is because I have seen that some people post questions about size and weight of their hatchlings or juveniles with the age. I know the important factor is that the weight is right for the size but the torts always seem to be small.
This post from Watermellon (I hope you don't mind) illustrates perfectly.


Phoebe is 57mm and 56grams.

Daisy is 56mm and 53 grams.

They are both approx 18 months old.
Not sure what the torts are.

My small tort is roughly the same age and is so much bigger but the Jacksons ratio shows that her weight for size is fine.
She is 177grams and 92mm.
So I was wondering if the growth rate in different species was the factor in the size difference.

[Watermelon]

I dont mind Wendy Interesting question!

Mine are thb's. x

[EJ]

In reptiles age and size have nothing to do with each other.

What I said originally should have given you an idea for the reason of the size difference.

Factor in personality(which is really genetics) and if the tortoise is with another...and... if you limit food.

Some tortoises don't bask as much as they should. Some tortoises are timid eaters. Some tortoises do not have the opportunity to have the proper environmental conditions or nutritional input.

Originally Posted by pagan queen

The reason I ask is because I have seen that some people post questions about size and weight of their hatchlings or juveniles with the age. I know the important factor is that the weight is right for the size but the torts always seem to be small.
This post from Watermellon (I hope you don't mind) illustrates perfectly.


Phoebe is 57mm and 56grams.

Daisy is 56mm and 53 grams.

They are both approx 18 months old.
Not sure what the torts are.

My small tort is roughly the same age and is so much bigger but the Jacksons ratio shows that her weight for size is fine.
She is 177grams and 92mm.
So I was wondering if the growth rate in different species was the factor in the size difference.

[Watermelon]

My tortoises eat a lot and get fed a lot and they bask most of the day. In 9 months Phoebe has put on 30 grams and in 7.5 months Daisy has put on 25 grams.

[EJ]

That's pretty consistant between the 2.

Originally Posted by Watermelon

My tortoises eat a lot and get fed a lot and they bask most of the day. In 9 months Phoebe has put on 30 grams and in 7.5 months Daisy has put on 25 grams.

[pagan queen]

So the fact that my tort is on her own could be the biggest factor in the size difference as the rest seems to be the same as Sophie's torts except that my tort is in a viv. That shouldn't be a big factor as she only went into one in September 2011 and I was already seeing a difference in sizes of other peoples torts.

[EJ]

Are you saying the one in the viv is growing faster?

I also forgot to ask how big the tortoises are?

Originally Posted by pagan queen

So the fact that my tort is on her own could be the biggest factor in the size difference as the rest seems to be the same as Sophie's torts except that my tort is in a viv. That shouldn't be a big factor as she only went into one in September 2011 and I was already seeing a difference in sizes of other peoples torts.

[pagan queen]

Originally Posted by EJ

Are you saying the one in the viv is growing faster?

I also forgot to ask how big the tortoises are?

Yes, my tort is in a viv and is 92mm. She has grown 8mm since going in the viv, and gained 30g