Tortoise breeding

[Beverley]

Hi, just wanted to ask at what age do torts generally start to breed, does it depend on species and are they more likely to breed earlier in captivity than the wild, due to quicker growth. I am not thinking of breeding any torts mine are only babies I was just interested, I reckoned around 15 years, would I be wrong

Beverley

[sandy]

Its size that takes a tortoise into breeding mode not age. In the wild tortoises would start
breeding about ten to fifteen years old, they grow so much slower. In captivity from about
ten years depending on how fast the tort has been grown.
Growing torts fast for breeding is not a good idea, as most grow lumpy and could have
internal problems and have a much shorter life span.

[EJ]

This is another one of those debatable topics...

After years of debate many keepers are finally agreeing that it is size that is the most important factor in breeding tortoises (this has not always been agreed upon). There is some speculation that in some species such as the Aldabra that the age is the most important factor but these have not been bred frequently enough to reallyform an educated opinion.

Eventually most tortoise keepers will come around (as they have with the idea that size is the most important factor in tortoises reproducing) to accept that the growth rate has absolutely nothing to to with either form or age longevity as some suspect. There is no evidence to link the growth rate to either factors.

If you have not already done so you might want to check out this post...

http://forums.shelledwarriors.co.uk/...pic.php?t=8484

You can see that if you search 'rate' in any forum it is a hot topic.

Originally Posted by Beverley

Hi, just wanted to ask at what age do torts generally start to breed, does it depend on species and are they more likely to breed earlier in captivity than the wild, due to quicker growth. I am not thinking of breeding any torts mine are only babies I was just interested, I reckoned around 15 years, would I be wrong

Beverley