Hi,

I have two horsefield tortoises that I have had for nearly 4 years. I was told they were about 2 when I got them from a garden centre in Devon. At the time I knew nothing about the problems with tortoise trafficing. They have always been very happy and healthy and hibernate each year and never loose much weight.

One has a very smooth pale shell and the other is not smooth but he has always been like that.

I came across a report done by Traffic Europe called Ranching and Breeding of Horsfield Tortoises in Ukbekistan. In the report is quotes some sizes compared to ages as follows:

New Hatchling = CL of 3.2 - 3.5 cm

2yr old = CL of 5 - 6 cm

11 - 14yr old = CL  of 11 - 14 cm

Does anyone have a views on these sizes?

My tortoises measure 13cm (female) and 14cm (Male), which by the above sizes puts them more like 11 - 14 years old.  In which case, Humphries efforts to mate may be more than just juvenile lust!!!!

Any thoughts greatly received. Sorry it was so long winded.

Hi

I can only offer advice from my own experience. My little one who will be 5 in August is 12.5 cm, I know that tortoise in the wild are much smaller and I would hazard a guess that those sizes are based on wild caught (or should I said Captive bred in europe hmmmm)
Jane, Keya & Molly