General Care Discussion :: What is timeline of turtle growth?

[Nettle]

I was just wondering the inches a turtle should be by the time they reach so-and-so years. I have no idea how old my turtles are.

[megcornell]

It really depends on health, diet, genetics, and environment. Any of those factors can really inhibit growth if they are improper. On the opposite side, overfeeding can cause a turtle to grow too fast.
A very basic rule of thumb is that most hatchlings grow about 4 inches in their first year and about one inch a year afterwards.

[marisa]

I don't think a turtle "should" be a certain size at so-and-so years, but there are some guidelines to help you judge if your turtle is growing too fast or two slowly. They grow the fastest in the first 3 years of life and then grow more slowly after that. Many captive turtles who are fed (and sometimes overfed) a diet relatively high in protein are often around 4 inches by the time they're a year old. However, a smaller size is better (and recommended) if the turtle is healthy. If your turtle is an inch smaller at around a year, and is healthy, then that's fine.

[Tiny]

Ok- I was told that there was a good chance that the tutle I thought was six months old in July may actually be a lot older. She was maybe 2inches in July, but now she's a good 6inches. Should I be concerned?

[evlock]

I am glad you asked this question...since I got on here today to ask the same thing, but decided to do a search first. My 7 year old male RES is only 4 1/2". I know that for some time we were not doing everything right, so that explains a great deal, but I am wondering, if he will now start to catch up, or if he is an adult in turtle terms, and will always be small. Thanks for your insight.

Evalie

[TheComputerGremlin]

I believe I've read that males reach 5-8 inches, and females 8-12 inches, so you just have a small male. Yes, he's probably full grown and an adult and that's the size he'll be forever! Don't worry, just means he'll be a little cutie always! (Don't try to play catch-up and overfeed, just feed him pellets every other day and veggies every day.)

[evlock]

I believe I've read that males reach 5-8 inches, and females 8-12 inches, so you just have a small male. Yes, he's probably full grown and an adult and that's the size he'll be forever! Don't worry, just means he'll be a little cutie always! (Don't try to play catch-up and overfeed, just feed him pellets every other day and veggies every day.)

Thank you! And he is a little cutie! No worries on the over feeding...it actually never occurred to me. Now if I could just get him to eat more vegies. He loves strawberries, but those are only a once in a while food. It would help a great deal if they even had red or green leaf lettuce here. No zucchini either. Although there is another type of squash similar to zucchini...that is what I have been trying. I am going to have to be as diligent in searching for his vegies as I have been with his tank set up.

Evalie

[TheComputerGremlin]

Do you have romaine lettuce, or another darker, hardy lettuce? That's basically what the red and green leaf lettuce is, as far as I can tell. Otherwise, I suppose it can't be too bad to feed him large grasses or dandelion greens as long as you know it's pesticide free. And you can try sweet potato or carrot or pepper if squash is hard to find. Good luck! I think we take advantage a lot of what we have here in the states when we say what's best for them.

[octpusgirl8]

If you find greens that you aren't sure about, research the oxalic acid levels and the calcium:phosphorous ratio. High levels of oxalic acid (like in spinach) interfere with calcium absorption, and foods with more phosphorous than calcium also cause problems. Carrots are a good veggie to feed occasionally, but they have too much sugar to be an everyday food.

[evlock]

If you find greens that you aren't sure about, research the oxalic acid levels and the calcium:phosphorous ratio. High levels of oxalic acid (like in spinach) interfere with calcium absorption, and foods with more phosphorous than calcium also cause problems. Carrots are a good veggie to feed occasionally, but they have too much sugar to be an everyday food.

Thank you very much for this information. It will help a great deal. I may have to actually import some dandelion seeds, and grow them...how weird is that?

Evalie

[octpusgirl8]

That's so funny! I bet they're going to be some premium dandelion greens!

[evlock]

That's so funny! I bet they're going to be some premium dandelion greens!

What will be funnier is trying to explain to my father in law why I need him to go in the yard and pick some dandelions that have gone to seed, put them in an envelope, and mail them to me. Just one more reason for him to think I am more loony than he currently does.

Evalie

[evlock]

If you find greens that you aren't sure about, research the oxalic acid levels and the calcium:phosphorous ratio. High levels of oxalic acid (like in spinach) interfere with calcium absorption, and foods with more phosphorous than calcium also cause problems. Carrots are a good veggie to feed occasionally, but they have too much sugar to be an everyday food.

Octopusgirl8, I have been looking at the market for greens which can be found all the time. One which is called melokhiya, has the following information on nutrition.

The leaves are rich in betacarotene, iron, calcium, and Vitamin C. The plant has an antioxidant activity with a significant α-tocopherol equivalent Vitamin E.
In your experience, would this be acceptable, or should I keep looking? The Arabs eat this all the time, but I have never tried it. We have Romaine lettuce and iceberg lettuce, and that is it other than a green called jargeer, for which I could find no info. I appreciate your help...even if it's just to say you have no idea.

Evalie

[marisa]

The nutrititional content sounds good to me, especially the fact that the plant is high in calcium. It actually sounds somewhat nutritionally similar to dandelions. Is the spelling you gave correct (I couldn't find anything when I did a search)?

Can you post a picture of the plant? Is it native to Saudi Arabia?

From what I gather, jargeer is some sort of medicinal plant or herb.

Romaine lettuce is fine as part of the diet, but no iceberg (it has virtually no nutritional value).

[PintoD]

dosent the size of the tank also has something to do with their growth? I started with that little laggon thing and changed tanks a few times and every time they just grew a bit more.