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Aldabra Giant Tortoises UK

Index Of Articles On The Website
There is a lot of information on the website, so to make it easier, if you are looking for something specific, we have included an index to the articles, so that you know where to look, in each section to find the answer that you want.
1.HOME
2. ABOUT ALDABRA GIANT TORTOISES UK
INDEX OF ARTICLES ON THE WEBSITE
GLOSSARY OF TORTOISE TERMS
3. HOW IT ALL BEGAN
WHAT’S IT LIKE LIVING WITH GIANTS
4. WHERE IS ALDABRA?
WHERE DID THE TORTOISES COME FROM BEFORE THEY LANDED ON ALDABRA?
EVOLUTION OF DIPSOCHELYS DUSSURRIIERI
RECENT HISTORY
HOW LONG HAS ALDABRA BEEN THERE COMPARED TO THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS?
MOST UNEXPECTED QUESTION EVER BEEN ASKED AT A SHOW
HOW MANY PLANE RIDES DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO ALDABRA?
CAN I REALLY VISIT?
5. ALDABRA TORTOISES IN THE WILD
DO THEY SWIM?
DO THEY HAVE ANY PREDATORS?
HOW DID ALDABRA TORTOISES MANAGE TO SURVIVE WHEN SO MANY OTHER SPECIES WERE POACHED TO EXTINCTION?
HOW WOULD THEY SPEND THEIR DAY IN THE WILD?
WHAT IS THEIR NATURAL HABITAT?
WHAT DOES THE HABITAT ON ALDABRA CONSIST OF?
DO ALDABRA TORTOISES MIGRATE?
ARE ALDABRA TORTOISES TERRITORIAL?
HAVE THEY CHANGED MUCH AS A SPECIES?
ARE THEY ENDANGERED?
HOW MANY SUBSPECIES OF ALDABRA TORTOISES ARE THERE?
ARE ALDABRA AND GALAPAGOS TORTOISES RELATED?
6. CLIMATE CHANGE AND HOW IT IS GOING TO AFFECT
THE ALDABRA GIANT TORTOISE
DIRECT EFFECTS OF A RISE IN SEA LEVELS ON ALDABRA.
DIRECT EFFECTS OF HIGHER TEMPERATURES ON ALDABRA.
OTHER WEATHER ISSUES
7. THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE THREE GIANTS
THE SULCATA OR AFRICAN SPURRED TORTOISE
THE ALDABRA GIANT TORTOISE
THE GALAPAGOS GIANT TORTOISE
8. EVOLUTION
A CHART TO SHOW ALDABRAS EVOLUTION, IN CONTEXT.
9. HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MY TORTOISE?
SOME WEBSITES AND FORUMS THAT MIGHT HELP YOU BEGIN YOUR RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE.
WHERE CAN I SEE ALDABRA TORTOISES IN THE UK?
10. INFORMATION ON ALDABRA TORTOISE REPRODUCTION
INFORMATION ON BREEDING -THE OLD AND THE YOUNG
TURNING TO THE LITTLE GUYS- HOW MANY BABIES SURVIVE TO ADULT HOOD?
HAVE YOU BRED ANY?
ARE OUR ALDABRAS RELATED?
HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SEXES?
DO TORTOISE HAVE PERIODS?
REPRODUCTION
HOW MANY GIANT TORTOISES ARE ON ALDABRA?
COULD TORTOISE EGGS ACTUALLY HATCH NATURALLY IN THE UK?
MY TORTOISE HAS LAID AN EGG SHOULD I HATCH IT?
IF YOU DO DECIDE TO HATCH THE EGG
11. INFORMATION ON TORTOISE BODY
ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR QUESTIONS THAT WE GET ASKED IS- IS IT A TURTLE?
HOW MUCH DO THEY EAT?
DO THEY CHEW THEIR FOOD?
DO THEY HAVE TEETH?
WHY DO THEY EAT POO?
DO THEY DRINK A LOT?
THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
LETS TALK ABOUT POO
DO THEY HAVE EARS?
CAN ALDABRA TORTOISES 'HEAR' THROUGH THEIR FEET?
DO THEY HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF SMELL?
DO THEY HAVE GOOD EYESIGHT?
CAN THEY SENSE THE WEATHER?
WHY DO THEY HAVE A LONG NECK?
DO TORTOISES HAVE CLAWS?
WHY DO TORTOISES HAVE SCALES?
HOW DOES THE SHELL HELP WITH SEED DISPERSAL?
WHAT IS THE SHELL MADE OF?
WHY DO TORTOISES POINT THEIR BACKS TOWARDS THE SUN WHEN BASKING?
HOW MANY SEGMENTS DO TORTOISE SHELLS HAVE?
WHY ARE TORTOISES DIFFERENT COLOURS
CAN THEY FEEL THROUGH THEIR SHELL?
CAN A TORTOISE COME OUT OF IT'S SHELL?
HOW HARD IS A TORTOISE SHELL?
WHY DOES MY ALDABRA HAVE A SPLIT 5TH VERTEBRAL SCUTE?
WHAT IS UNDER THE SHELL?
CAN A TORTOISE DIE IF ROLLS ONTO ITS BACK?
HOW MANY BONES DOES A TORTOISE HAVE
HOW BIG DO THEY GET?
HOW HEAVY ARE THEY?
HOW HEAVY IS THE SHELL?
HOW MUCH DO THEY GROW IN A YEAR?
THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM
WHAT IS THEIR HEART BEAT?
DO TORTOISE HAVE BLOOD?
DIFFICULTY IN GETTING A BLOOD SAMPLE
DO THEY HAVE A TAIL?
DO THEY HAVE A HIERARCHY?
CAN THEY COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER?
ARE THEY INTELLIGENT?
GROSS BUT INTERESTING
WHAT DO THEY TASTE LIKE?
HOW DO YOU COOK A TORTOISE?
12. INFORMATION ON TORTOISE HEALTH
DO SMALLER BREED TORTOISES HAVE TO HIBERNATE?
DO ALDABRA TORTOISES HIBERNATE?
CAN A TORTOISE GO OUTSIDE BEFORE IT IS 3 YEARS OLD?
WHY DO THEY NEED TO SPEND TIME UNDER SPECIAL LAMPS?
DO YOU WORM YOUR TORTOISES?
DO THEY LIKE HOT WEATHER?
CAN A TORTOISE DRINK THROUGH ITS BOTTOM?
HOW CAN YOU TELL IF A TORTOISE IS DEHYDRATED?
WHY DOES MY ALDABRA DANCE AROUND WITH ITS BACK LEGS AND REFUSE TO WALK FORWARDS, IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT?
WHY DO THE TORTOISES STAND UP WHEN YOU TICKLE THEIR NECK?
DO YOU PUT ANYTHING ON THE SKIN?
WHY DO THESE LOOK A DIFFERENT COLOUR TO PICTURES YOU SEE FROM THE WILD?
DO YOU CLIP BEAKS AND TOE NAILS?
DO THEY BITE?
CAN YOU SIT ON THEM?
HOW FAST CAN THEY WALK?
ARE THEY REPTILES?
DO THEY HAVE PERSONALITIES?
WHY DO THEY HISS?
DO THEY TRAVEL WELL? HOW DO YOU TRANSPORT THEM?
HOW DO I KNOW WHEN MY TORTOISE IS NOT FEELING WELL?
13. FEEDING
WHAT DO THEY EAT?
DO YOU FEED THEM TORTOISE PELLETS?
HOW MUCH DO THEY GROW IN A YEAR?
HOW BIG DO THEY GET?
14. WHAT CAN I FEED MY TORTOISE?
HERE ARE SOME OF THE PLANTS THAT GROW NATURALLY IN THE UK AND ARE SUITABLE FOR ALL ALDABRA, SULCATA AND ‘GARDEN TYPE' TORTOISES TO EAT.
MILK THISTLE
OXEYE DAISY
HORSERADDISH
PLANTAIN
OX TONGUE
MALLOW
STICKYWEED
DANDELION
BROAD LEAF PLANTAIN
THISTLE
ELDERFLOWER
POPPIES
ARE BUTTERCUPS SAFE FOR TORTOISES TO EAT?
15. SHOULD I GET A TORTOISE?
SHOULD I GET AN ALDABRA?
HAVE I GOT THE SPACE FOR ONE?
HAVE I GOT TIME FOR ONE?
HAVE I GOT ENOUGH MONEY TO LOOK AFTER IT PROPERLY?
ARE THEY VALUABLE?
DO I HAVE ENOUGH SUPPORT TO LOOK AFTER ONE?
DO YOU WANT A TORTOISE TO LOOK AFTER?
ANY ALTERNATIVES TO AN ALDABRA?
16. WHERE CAN I BUY A TORTOISE?
REPTILE SHOWS
17. SULCATA OR ALDABRA? WHICH SHOULD I GET?
CAN I KEEP THEM TOGETHER?
WHO GETS BIGGER?
WHICH LOOKS NICER?
ARE THEY BOTH CREPUSCULAR?
WHO IS MORE ACTIVE?
WHO IS MORE FRIENDLY?
ARE THEY HERBIVORES?
WHICH ONE IS EASIER TO BUY?
DO BOTH SPECIES DIG AND BURROW?
WHO WOULD WIN IN A TUG OF WAR?
WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?
DO THEY HAVE PREDATORS?
ARE THEY AN ENDANGERED SPECIES?
CONSERVATION
WHY ARE YOU TELLING US TO ONLY KEEP ONE SULCATA WHEN YOU CLEARLY HAVE MORE?
WHICH WOULD YOU RECOMMEND?
SULCATA PLUS POINTS:
SULCATA BAD POINTS
ALDABRA PLUS POINTS
ALDABRA BAD POINTS
18. TORTOISE REHOMING CENTRES
19. INFORMATION ABOUT A10 CERTIFICATES
IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A TORTOISE
IF YOU HAVE HATCHED THE ANNEX A SPECIES TORTOISE YOURSELF, AND ARE KEEPING IT.
IF YOU HAVE HATCHED THE TORTOISE YOURSELF AND YOU ARE SELLING IT OR GIVING IT AWAY FOR A DONATION.
IF YOU PLAN TO BREED YOUR TORTOISES FOR MONEY
IF YOU ARE BUYING A TORTOISE HATCHLING UNDER 100MM
IF YOU ARE GOING TO SELL THIS TORTOISE AGAIN WHILST IT IS UNDER 100MM
IF YOU ARE BUYING A TORTOISE OVER 100MM
HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TSC AND SSC A10’S
FOR A TRANSACTION SPECIFIC CERTIFICATE (TSC)- ANIMALS UNDER 100MM
FOR A SPECIMEN SPECIFIC CERTIFICATE (SSC)- ANIMALS OVER 100MM
20. TO MICROCHIP OR NOT TO MICROCHIP?
TORTOISE FINGERPRINTING
21. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THINGS DON’T GO TO PLAN
HAVE AN EMERGENCY PLAN
22. COMMON TORTOISE AILMENTS AND HUSBANDRY ISSUES
COMMON REASONS YOUR TORTOISE IS FEELING POORLY
INITIAL CHECK LIST FOR IF YOUR TORTOISE IS ILL
SEVERE TORTOISE ISSUES
COMMON TORTOISE AILMENTS
RUNNY NOSE
STOMATITIS
CONSTIPATION
DIARRHOEA
VOMITING
ABSCESSES, CUTS AND GRAZES
DEHYDRATION
SHELL ROT
BRUMATION AND ESTIVA / AESTIVATION
OVERGROWN BEAK AND NAILS
SHELL PYRAMIDING AKA MBD / METABOLLIC BONE DISEASE
TICKS
WORMS
DEPRESSION / LETHARGY
UNDEERFEEDING
OVER FEEDING AND OVER WATERING
IMPROPER DIET
POOR ENVIRONMENT
STRESS
ILLNESS AND INJURIES
DAMAGE TO THEIR SHELL
DROWNING
PREDATION
HOUSEHOLD ACCIDENTS
23. EXOTICS VETS IN THE UK
24. WHAT TO DO IF YOUR TORTOISE DIES
WHAT TO DO IF YOU THINK YOUR TORTOISE IS DEAD
SIGNS OF LIFE CHECKS
IF YOU FIND YOUR TORTOISE AND THINK IT MIGHT HAVE DIED
DO DEAD TORTOISES SMELL?
STAGES OF DECOMPOSITION
WHAT TO DO WITH A DEAD TORTOISE
CHOOSE CAREFULLY WHAT TO DO WITH THE BODY
IF YOU WANT TO KEEP THE SHELL
25. THE EXETER ALDABRA GIANT TORTOISES 2024
THE OUTCOME OF THE INVESTIGATION
26. GENERAL TORTOISE INFORMATION
WHEN WERE TORTOISES FIRST BROUGHT TO THIS COUNTRY?
WHAT WAS THE LARGEST SHELLED ANIMAL FOUND IN THE UK?
DEATH BY TORTOISE
ARE TORTOISE PRODUCTS REALLY MADE FROM TORTOISE SHELL?
DON'T ACCEPT YOU TUBE TORTOISE VIDEOS AS GOSPEL.
27. CAN YOU HELP?
28. WITH THANKS TO
IN MEMORANDUM
29. R U AN ALDABRA KEEPER?
30. ARE YOU A UK ALDABRA KEEPER OR OWNER? IF YOU ARE, YOUR SPECIES NEEDS YOU.
JOIN THE ARMY
APPLICATION FORM
ABOUT THE UK ALDABRA TORTOISE ARMY
31. RECOMMENDATIONS OF WHAT TO CONSIDER PUTTING IN YOUR TORTOISE PEN & HOUSE
IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN PLANNING A NEW TORTOISE HOUSE.
LOCATION-
IN THE PEN
PLANTS
HOUSE
WATER
ROOFING
FLOORING
ELECTRICS
OTHER PETS
32. PASS ON THE KNOWLEDGE
TROLLEY
PALLET TRUCKS
SACK TROLLEY
WATER EQUIPMENT
HORSE AUTOFILL WATER BOWL
HOIST
CUSHION OR TYPRE
33. DID YOU KNOW?
34. THE OLDEST TORTOISES IN THE WORLD
THE CURRENT OLDEST LIVING TORTOISE, IN CAPTIVITY, IN THE WORLD
POSSIBLY THE OLDEST FREE ROAMING ALDABRA GIANT TORTOISE ALIVE
THE OLDEST GALAPAGOS TORTOISE KNOWN
POSSIBLY THE OLDEST TORTOISE EVER
THE OLDEST SULCATA TORTOISE KNOWN
THE OLDEST HERMAN TORTOISE
THE OLDEST SPUR-THIGHED TORTOISE
35.10 BIGGEST TORTOISE SPECIES IN THE WORLD- TO THE SMALLEST
THE SMALLEST BREED OF TORTOISE
36. BREEDS OF TORTOISE IN THE WORLD
37. GIANTS OF THE PAST
MEGALOCHELYS
TITANOCHELON
38. A BIT OF FUN
39. WHAT IS AS HEAVY AS SAMSON?
40. WHEN SAMSON MET...
41. CAN YOU SPOT?
42. CAN THE TORTOISES ATTEND MY SHOW PLEASE?
CONTACT FORM
43. INFORMATION FOR SCHOOLS
DOWNLOADABLE INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS ANSWERING THE QUIZ
DOWNLOADABLE QUESTIONS FOR THE QUIZ
DOWNLOADABLE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS FOR THE QUIZ
DOWNLOADABLE INTERNAL DIAGRAM OF TORTOISE
DOWNLOADABLE NAMED DIAGRAM OF TORTOISE SHELL SCUTES
INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE ANSWERING THE TORTOISE QUIZ
44. HOW CAN WE HELP?
CONTACT FORM
SULCATA TORTOISE
45. DONATE TO THE TORTOISES
46. CONTACT

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