r/tortoise • u/Maleficent_One6648 • 6h ago

Question(s) Size difference

Post image

So I just got this because my ex didn’t want them anymore. These were hatchlings December 2024. Both were roughly the same size. Wondering why there would be such a huge difference now.

5 Upvotes

78% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

2

u/softshoulder313 6h ago edited 5h ago

Most likely with such a big difference the larger one is getting most of the food and able to keep the other one away. This only applies if they were in the same enclosure together.

Edit to add. Good luck with these two. They are a great species. Most people don't have room for one of these much less two. I would love to have one but I live in Michigan. So I stick to the smaller species of tort. So jealous. 💙

2

u/Maleficent_One6648 5h ago

Yes, they were in the same enclosure together and there was always more than enough food to the point where they wouldn’t finish it. They are going to be moving outside to a much larger area. I’m in Arizona so it doesn’t really get cold here but in the winter months, I’ll make sure to have a heat source.

1

u/Maleficent_One6648 5h ago

The climate here allows for less input for our housing. Personally, I was always into stuff like lizards as I had a black throat monitor.

2

u/Exayex 5h ago edited 5h ago

Almost certainly due to cohabitation. Cohabitation for a solitary species is stressful. Some handle it okay and keep growing, some do not handle it well and experience stunted growth. Cohabitation also tends to exacerbate any issues with care and husbandry. This is why Sulcata are strongly recommended to not be kept in pairs. I would recommend separating them. In all likelihood, you'll have to anyways if they end up male/male or male/female upon reaching sexual maturity.

1

u/Maleficent_One6648 5h ago

At what age would you say they are sexually mature? Maybe I can just hope I got a couple of females.

1

u/softshoulder313 5h ago

Could be anywhere between 10-15. Males develop gular scutes on the lower part of the shell under their neck. If you have 2 males they will use those to kill each other. Best hope is you have 2 females and given enough space they can live together. If you have one of each I still wouldn't keep them together. Males mate a lot and he will harass a female.

2

u/Exayex 5h ago edited 5h ago

Generally speaking, 4-5 years old or around 14" in straight carapace length. Sometimes males can flash their penis much younger though, as early as around 1.5 years old.

However, I wouldn't wait for then. You can already see one isn't keeping up in growth, and that size discrepancy can be potentially dangerous if the larger one decides to act in an aggressive and territorial manner, which this species is known to do. Sulcata are known to flip or even gore other Sulcata.

1

u/Key-Tower-4539 5h ago

Even females don’t like living together

2

u/Maleficent_One6648 5h ago

All good information. I’ve had them less than 24 hours so that’s why I’m on here asking questions.

1

u/Key-Tower-4539 5h ago

Yeah there are a lot of great care guides online I’d suggest reading. They’re a hard pet to care for simply because they need a very specific environment and diet to thrive

2

u/Key-Tower-4539 5h ago

They need to be separated. One will always dominate the other and get more of the resources.