When most people think of tortoises, they think massive. Huge.
Oh so big. Like a very small vehicle or a very large rock.
In these cases, they are usually thinking about the giant Galapagos tortoises, which can weigh nearly 1,000 pounds at maturity and live 170+ years.
Malti won’t ever get that big (WHEW).
But….the red footed tortoise is considered “medium sized” by tortoise standards. So at 3 years old and 6 inches long and 5 inches wide, she still has quite a bit of potential growing yet to do.
In fact, every time I study up on redfoot tortoise growth projections, they seem to get bigger. The last time I checked, I read she could grow as long as 16 inches. But just now, the forecast has grown yet again to 18 inches.
Sometimes I look at Malti, who already seems so massive compared to the silver dollar-sized hatchling I first laid eyes on, and I think, “What have I done?”
I mean – she already looks gigantic!
But from all I can tell, her actual size now is nothing compared to her potential size later. And she loves to eat, so she just keeps growing.
Weight-wise, an adult redfoot tortoise that measures 18 inches long could potentially weigh up to 25 pounds (which is why I am even now starting to lift 20 pound free weights during my workouts).
And remember….
Love & Feathers & Shells 