General Care Discussion :: How Big should my turtle me.

[joeybsmooth]

I have had my little lady for around 2.5 years. How big should she me.

[color-me-envious]

That would vary a lot on how big she was when you got her; not to mention turtles, like people, grow at very different rates sometimes.

[joeybsmooth]

She was baby like the one in your photo.

[color-me-envious]

Hm. Well I'm not entirely sure to be honest. Generally they reach 3-4 inches within a year, but I think the growth rate drops a bit after the yearling mark; don't get me lying, I'm a turtle newbie.

How big is she currently? Does she seem healthy? does she show any signs of rapid or stunted growth?

[joeybsmooth]

She is only about 3.5 .

[shedreamsinred]

How often and how much do you feed her?

How big is her setup? Lights, filter, basking area temp etc?

[joeybsmooth]

60 gal. Both Heat and UVB lights. Basking area in the 90s. Water: 76. Filter Rena xp3. And a head full of a pellets,or Cuttle bone, or whatever . And the veggies in the tank.

[shedreamsinred]

Well, I'm not sure what more you could be doing for her. Perhaps she's just a slow grower.

[Spike 7.62]

color-me-envious has a turtle who is several months old in that picture... if your turtle was that size/age when you got her, think of when that was, and how much time as gone by since then, and I think you will have your answer.

-Spike

[joeybsmooth]

Come to think about she has grown ALOT, in that time almost 3 times the size she use to be.

[color-me-envious]

Yeah, like Spike said, I've had Enbi almost two months now; he's almost doubled in size but I think his growth is a bit rapid so I'm tweaking his diet. He's probably four-five months old total (when I got him even the mark on his shell from the yolk sac was gone; I don't know his exact birth date). I'm sure your lady is just the way she's meant to be. c: If I'm right growth rates drop after the yearling mark anyway so don't fret much. That and while females grow larger I believe they also grow slower than males. Lots of variables to be had in this whole growth thing.

[Spike 7.62]

There are a lot of variables, just like people. Typically, a turtle will grow 4" in it's first year, then about an inch every year after that. Females typically grow to be larger than males. I wouldn't worry about the size, but shell health is a good indicator of proper development.

-Spike