Unless you know when a turtle was born, it is almost impossible to know its exact age. Although you can count the rings on a turtle's belly, this method is usually better for determining when the turtle has eaten and when it has not. If your turtle is still small, you can compare it to the size of other turtles in its class to estimate its age.
On a note! Determining age based on external characteristics (size, weight, number of growth lines) becomes increasingly inaccurate as a turtle ages and is highly unlikely in older animals. A turtle's appearance can say a lot about its life with its previous owners, but little about its age.
Height and growth rate of turtles
The growth of the turtles can be seen by the light seams between the carapace scutes. If the turtle grows quickly, the new horny layers along the periphery of the scutes become very light, then processes of pigment cells (dermal melanophores) grow there and pigment is transferred along them, usually in the form of thin rays or dark spots. When these growth rings “age”, the pigmented zones will not differ from the previous ones. This is the cost of accelerated growth in captivity. (c) D.B. Vasiliev.
As young turtles grow, their body shape and shell color change. The shell elongates and darkens. When the turtle grows and becomes sexually mature, if it is a male, then it may have a depression on the plastron, a thicker and longer tail, and long claws. Eye color and nose color may also change.
Parameters of red-eared turtles born and living in nature:
| Age | Newborn | 1 year | 2 year | 3 year | 4 year | 5 year |
| Length (males) | 2.5-3 cm | 5-7 cm | 7-9 cm | 8-12 cm | 10-14 cm | 13 cm |
| Length (females) | 2.5-3 cm | 5-7 cm | 7-9 cm | 9-15 cm | 13-18 cm | 17 cm |
Parameters of land turtles, turtles born and living in nature (using the example of Testudo hermanni):
| Age | Newborn | 1 year | 2 year | 3 year | 10 years |
| Length | 30-34 mm | 48-52 mm | 56-60 mm | 75-90 mm | 13-16 cm (males) 15-18 cm (females) |
| Weight | 10-12 g | 25-35 g | 48-65 g | 95-150 g |
At home, the growth of a turtle depends on the size of the aquarium/terrarium, frequency of feeding, diet, and the addition of calcium to the food.
At what age do they reproduce?
Male turtles living in captivity become mature at the age of 4 years, the reproductive age of female turtles is 6 years. At home, males mate with females in February and March. After this, the female comes to land to lay eggs. In the terrarium you need to create conditions for reproduction.
After 105-150 days, small turtles with a body length of 3 cm are born. The optimal temperature is +21°C.
In one clutch the female leaves from 6 to 10 eggs
What makes determining the age of a turtle so difficult?
Size and weight are only conditionally acceptable for determining the age of Greek land tortoises. Forms of secondary sexual characteristics are also not suitable for determining age, since they are related to growth, which in turn is related to nutrition and maintenance. In some cases, a four-year-old animal raised in an apartment may already be a sexually mature animal, on par with the size of an adult animal taken from the wild.
How to determine the age of turtles: by size and number of rings on the shell.
Turtles are capable of reproducing into old age and regenerating this state. The color and pattern of the shell and plastron can change throughout a turtle's youth and adulthood and go hand in hand with growth as it ages. Wild animals have to deal with extreme weather conditions, thorny bushes and sharp rocks, predators and fires, so their carapace ages faster than those of neat animals in captivity. However, there are some external functions that can at least be used to determine the life phases of a turtle
Puberty
Experts say that the sexual maturity of reptiles depends on its habitat. If the animal lives in the wild, then the female becomes capable of laying eggs at 10-15 years. Males mature much earlier - at 5-6 years they can fertilize their chosen one.
Some reptile breeders claim that their pets themselves began to express their readiness to reproduce at 4-5 years of age. In fact, this should not be allowed. This is simply due to the improper maintenance of the animal.
After all, judging by human standards, a reptile (female) at 4 years old is still in its early adolescence, comparable to a 10-12 year old girl. Like a child, a reptile can be fertilized and even lay eggs. Another question is how this will affect the health of the turtle itself and its offspring.
Therefore, experts categorically prohibit keeping young females under 10 years old together with males.
Since the average lifespan of a reptile is 30-40 years, after 25 years the Central Asian land turtle begins to grow old. But some females are still able to lay eggs.
But at this age, for a reptile to give birth to offspring is a very serious burden on the body. Therefore, this must be prevented. It is best to limit contact between older females and males who have reached their twenties.
In order for pets to live long in captivity, it is necessary to take into account all the nuances of their proper maintenance.
What are turtle growth rings
Turtles that grow in their natural environment regularly alternate between growth and pause phases each year. Therefore, every spring/summer a new growth ring is formed along the growth plates. (photo 1)
Thus, the better the turtle keeper is able to recreate the natural annual rhythm, the more uniformly the growth rings/stripes appear, and the easier it becomes to determine the age of the animal under human care.
Turtle growth rings (photo 1).
Turtle growth rings (photo 2).
Turtle growth rings (photo 3).
More difficult is determining the age based on the growth rings of turtles, which begin to hibernate in a warm terrarium, then hibernate outdoors or in an incubator, and in April wake up again in a heated house. There are several growth phases per year, as is the case with this 5-year-old Testudo Hermanni Boettgeri. (photo 2)
It is almost impossible to determine age based on rings on turtles that did not hibernate from their youth, during their period of greatest growth. In this case, their growth lines are irregular and barely outlined with each other, as is the case with the animal shown in the photo, which spent its youth in the living room without hibernating. (photo 3)
Age of turtles by human standards
In the wild, Central Asian turtles live for about 50 years, but at home only 15. Rare individuals live up to 30 years with very careful treatment and competent care from the owner.
In order to calculate the age of a reptile by human standards, we will start from the following indicators:
According to the indicators taken into account, the approximate ratio will look like this:
| Age of turtle (years) | Age in human terms (years) |
| 1 | 3 |
| 2 | 6 |
| 3 | 9 |
| 4 | 12 |
| 5 | 15 |
| 6 | 27 |
| 7 | 31 |
| 8 | 36 |
| 9 | 40 |
| 10 | 45 |
| 11 | 50 |
| 12 | 54 |
| 13 | 59 |
| 14 | 63 |
| 15 | 70 |
Unlike in the wild, where sexual maturity occurs only at 10 years of age, domestic living conditions, which reduce overall life expectancy, stimulate early maturity, allowing offspring to be acquired before death.
Due to the rapid maturation of the turtle, wear and tear on the body begins early, which is reflected in a change in the ratio after reaching maturity.
IMPORTANT! Due to too many factors influencing life expectancy, the figures presented are not absolute values and are suitable only for approximate calculations.
The methods considered have many nuances, but they allow you to calculate the approximate age of the pet. Before purchasing a turtle, check the age with the seller and be sure to check the information yourself.
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The first years of a turtle's life
Already in the egg, the first growth ring is laid on the vertebral and rib plates of the shell. Growth rings are not yet visible on the plastron. (photo 4). The same animal a year later: (photo 5).
Turtle annual rings (photo 4).
Turtle annual rings (photo 5).
In the first year of life, a second ring is formed on the carapace and plastron. If the fry are kept warm, receive more food and their hibernation takes place in a shorter period than that of older animals, then already in the first year of life the animals can observe the formation of 2 - 3 growth rings. If turtles are in their natural habitat and often burrow into the ground in the fall, where they barely grow in their first winter, only one growth ring can be observed in such individuals in the first year of life.
Turtle annual rings (photo 6).
Turtle annual rings (photo 7).
Until about 12 years of age, you can get a fairly clear estimate of age by counting growth lines for turtles that have been in their natural habitat. (photo 6, 7).
At the age of 5 years, the structure of the growth lines, on the so-called baby plates, begins to disappear and is barely visible after 8 years of the turtle's life. In the harsh conditions of life in the wild, this is certainly likely to take longer than for turtles living in terrariums. Thus, the existing clear structure of the growth line of the children's plates indicates the young age of the turtle, even if the animal is already very large.
What difficulties may arise
Turtles are considered long-lived. These amphibians can live almost 120 years. And if all maintenance measures are followed when keeping them at home, then reptiles can outlive not only their owners, but also their children and even grandchildren.
In captivity, this amphibian animal can be kept in simple conditions; they do not require special care. But you definitely need to equip an aquarium with a large volume, about 150-200 liters. It must maintain a temperature of at least 25-30 degrees.
It is worth noting! Until a certain age, it is almost impossible to determine the sex and age of a land turtle. Full puberty begins at about 6-8 years of age, but visible signs may appear even later than this time.
Middle aged turtle
With age, the growing new growth rings shrink and are so close to each other that their boundaries can only be seen through a magnifying glass. The approximate age of such individuals is about 15 years. The animal has almost reached its final size. (photo 8).
Turtle annual rings (photo 8).
Turtle annual rings (photo 9).
The growth rings on the carapace and plastron begin to gradually level out when the turtle is 30 years old. The horny plates become smoother. This process takes place over several decades. (photo 9).
Basic methods of determining age
To determine the age of a Central Asian turtle, use the following methods:
Method 2 is considered the most reliable, but it also depends on the conditions under which the turtle is kept.
Shell length
The age of a land turtle can be determined by the length of its shell by measuring the distance between the 2 extreme points of the carapace.
The shell of a newborn turtle is only 3-3.5 cm. After a year, the size increases by 2 cm and continues to grow at the same pace until 18 cm. When this figure is reached, growth stops, preventing age determination.
Depending on the length of the shell, the age of the Central Asian land turtle is as follows:
| Shell length (cm) | Age (years) |
| 3-3,5 | less than 1 |
| 3,5-6 | 1-2 |
| 6-8 | 2-3 |
| 8-10 | 3-4 |
| 10-12 | 4-5 |
| 12-14 | 5-6 |
| 14-16 | 5-7 |
| 16-18 | 7-8 |
| at least 18 | more than 8 |
IMPORTANT! If the length of the shell reaches 18 cm, then a more accurate age indicator can only be understood with the help of shell rings.
Armor rings
In order to find out how old a land turtle is, count the growth rings on the scutes of the shell.
Intensive growth and molting of turtles in the first 2 years of life affect the shell pattern, forming ring-shaped grooves on the surface. In a young reptile under 1 year old, 2-3 rings appear on each scale, and by 2 years there are already 6 of them. After this, the intensity drops, and the annual addition of rings is 1-2 pieces.
To determine the number of years, use the following instructions:
EXAMPLE: If the arithmetic mean is 21, then the pet is 10 years old. The formula for calculation will look like this: (21-6)/1.5=10
The disadvantage of this method is the difficulty of counting ring-shaped grooves in older reptiles, which lose the clarity of the lines on the carapace.
Appearance
The ring-shaped grooves and the length of the shell are determined by the conditions in which the reptile is kept. The final indicators are influenced by the quality of feeding water, terrarium parameters and many other factors.
Old turtles 50+
Greek tortoises can live longer than humans. In the photo there are 2 females over 100 years old. (photo 10, 11).
Turtle annual rings (photo 10).
Turtle annual rings (photo 11).
The following external signs may indicate an old turtle:
- absolutely smooth plates without growth rings;
- worn claws;
- artificial irregularities (chips) of the shell and plastron.
In a natural habitat, the aging process of the bone plate and limbs naturally develops faster than in a protected environment in a terrarium.
- "monolithic shell";
- completely healed injuries;
- jagged plastron, more often in males than in females; changing the original color of the carapace to a lighter one;
- erasure and final disappearance of the black pattern on the carapace and plastron.
Turtle annual rings (photo 12).
Turtle annual rings (photo 13).
Turtle annual rings (photo 14).
How to determine the sex of a reptile
When the question arises of what gender, you should look at the tail, the shape of the shell, limbs, head and behavioral characteristics.
- Tail. In males it is thinner and longer, while in females it is short and thick. In addition, males periodically pull out the genital organ. The cloaca in females resembles an asterisk and is located closer to the base of the tail.
- Shell shape. In males it is elongated and narrow with a plastron concave inward. Females are rounder and wider with a flat plastron. It is noteworthy that the latter are usually larger than the former.
- Limbs. Males have elongated claws for courting a partner during the mating period.
- Head. Different species of turtles have sexual differences in the color and shape of their heads, as well as eye color.
- Behavior. Males usually flirt with females, showing their interest in them by chasing, biting on the neck, scratching with their claws.
How to count the rings on a turtle's shell
Select a shield to count. To determine age, you can count the number of rings on the turtle's shield. The scute is the shell that covers the turtle's shell. Keep in mind that the ring usually grows when the turtle is feeding and hungry, so this method should only be used as a rough estimate. In other words, turtles develop rings when they are very hungry or have enough food, not just in winter and summer.
Count the rings. The ring in the scutellum usually consists of a wider ring of one color and a narrow ring of another color, which alternately grow. Theoretically, the wider range represents a period of adequate nutrition, especially during the warmer months. In contrast, the narrower circle represents a period of food shortage, usually in winter. Therefore, by counting the number of rings and dividing by 2, you can approximately estimate the age of the turtle.
- Look for the ring. The scutum does not reflect the age of the turtle, so there is no need to count the scutum. To be precise, you need to find the ring inside the shield.
Estimate age. After counting the rings, guess the age of the turtle. For example, let's say a turtle has 14 rings and every 2 rings represent a year, you can assume the turtle is 7 years old.
- Both farmed and wild turtles have rings.
- After the turtle reaches 15 years of age, the ring will be longer and denser, and at this time it is difficult to determine age.
Count the rings on the turtle's shell.
Measure the turtle's shell.
How many years do land turtles live?
The lifespan of a turtle in nature and at home is different, and depends on the conditions of detention and species characteristics. As a rule, the lifespan of individuals in captivity is 2-3 times less than that of wild turtles, but the opposite situation also occurs.
Life expectancy of land turtles depending on the species and habitat:
| Type of turtle | Life expectancy (years) | |
| Captive | In natural conditions | |
| Mediterranean | 20 – 25 | 50 – 70 |
| Central Asian | 10 – 30 | 50 — 60 |
| Land leopard | 60 – 75 | 50 — 60 |
| Balkan | 50 | 75 — 100 |
| Indian (star-shaped) | 60 – 80 | 40 — 50 |
| Egyptian | 25 – 30 | 30 |
Creating comfortable living conditions will help extend the life of a turtle.
This is first of all:
- equipment for the place of residence, including a terrarium, a house, a feeding trough and a drinking bowl;
- a balanced diet including vitamins and mineral supplements;
- maintaining temperature in the range of +21-35°C;
- daily UV exposure;
- hygiene procedures, including bathing, trimming claws and beaks.
Measure the turtle's size
Measure the size of the turtle. A turtle's size can be used to determine its age, especially when it is very young. Measure it from start to finish and get a general idea of its size. Try to get the turtle to stand still so you can measure it with a ruler. Place tasty food in front of the turtle so that it can poke its head out of its shell.
Find the typical size of turtles of this species. Find out your turtle's species growth chart. Be sure to find your turtle type, even turtles of the same name have different sizes. You can search online or go to the library to find out what kind of turtle you have.
- For example, a southern tortoise usually does not exceed 15 cm, while a large western tortoise can grow up to 20 cm.
- Farmed turtles grow faster than wild turtles. Please note that increasing size may give a misleading idea of the turtle's age.
Compare the turtle with the size chart. Once you find the size chart, see how your turtle compares to the chart. If the turtle is not yet fully grown, you can estimate its age roughly.
On a note! A low quality shell can make a turtle appear older than it actually is. For example, if a turtle has been malnourished for several years, its shell may be rough and uneven, causing people to misunderstand its age. Therefore, when guessing the age, do not pay too much attention to the appearance of the turtle.
Boy or girl?
The sex of a reptile can be determined only after its shell reaches a length of 12-14 cm; at an early age it is impossible to distinguish between them. The best way to determine the sex of turtles is by comparing representatives of both sexes.
The male's claws will be longer and thicker. The ventral part of the shell, the plastron, is concave in males and flat in females. The eyes of females are brighter in color - this is their only decoration, and the only way to attract a partner.
The shape of the shell in boys is long and narrow, while in girls it is round and short.
The cloaca in males is in the form of a longitudinal line, and in females it is in the form of an asterisk. The tail of males is wide at the base and thick along its entire length. In females it is thin at the base and short.
The sex of reptiles is also determined by their behavior: males are more active, show more interest in females, flirt, nod their heads, bite the neck.
To correctly determine the sex and age for breeding turtles in captivity, it is better to seek advice from veterinarians who can more accurately answer these questions.
Lifespan of turtles
The loss of eggs due to nest predators is 40-95%. The survival rate of young animals is 10-55%; at the age of 10 to 15 years, 10-15% die per year. A complete change of generations occurs every 20 years, and animals aged 30 years are already rare. At home, turtles often die from infections and poor maintenance. But on average, small turtles live for 50 years, large ones for 80 years, and very large ones for 150-200 years.
Approximate data taken from observations of herpetologists in Zoos and private collections:
- Central Asian - 40-50 years; red-eared - 40-50 years;
- Indian roofing turtle (Kachuga tecta) - 37 years;
- box turtles - 50-100 years;
- Blanding's turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) - 60 years; desert gopher (Gopherus agassizii), sea turtles - 80 years;
- radiant - 85 years;
- Balkan (Testudo hermanni) - 90 years;
- spur-bearing - 115 years;
- Galapagos, Seychelles - 150-180 years.
The lifespan of a turtle depends greatly on its care. Some people have turtles that are 20-30 years old or even 40-50 years old, but many of them, due to poor maintenance, have many senile diseases and do not live long.
Basic information about redears
Representatives of the breed are aquatic reptiles, but they require an island of land. Such requests can be satisfied by purchasing a special tank - an aquaterrarium, and equipping it properly. In addition, such a container can be selected to match the design of the room, making it a real decoration of the room, and without compromising the comfort of its inhabitants.
When purchasing a cute little turtle, you should take into account that the pet will grow to a very impressive size. Life expectancy (from 30 to 50 years) is related to the living conditions of the reptile; the closer they are to natural ones, the longer the pet will live. The owner should know the age of the “red ear” not out of idle curiosity, but for two important reasons:
- to provide her with the most comfortable conditions;
- determine the appropriate diet and feeding regimen.
Features of gender determination
If a land turtle is purchased for breeding, then it is important to be able to determine not only its age, but also its sex.
After all, for normal fruiting, one male and 2-3 females are usually required. So how to determine the sex of a reptile? The following methods will help with this:
If you are planning to get a land turtle in the future, then you should definitely know how to determine the sex and age of this reptile. This will help you purchase the most suitable young animal that can be used for breeding.
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