Aldabra Giant Tortoises UK

 

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 5^TH 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