Aldabra Turtles: An Expensive Pet Choice

The Aldabra tortoise, native to the Seychelles, is one of the largest tortoise species in the world. With their distinctive domed shells, long necks, and ability to grow to over 550 pounds, these tortoises are a fascinating species. They are also one of the longest-living animals, with some living over 200 years. Given their size and rarity, how much do these gentle giants cost?

Captive-bred baby Aldabra tortoises cost more than hatchlings

The Aldabra tortoise is one of the largest tortoise species in the world, with adult males reaching weights of 250kg (550lb) and females weighing in at 159kg (350lb). These tortoises are native to the Seychelles, specifically the Aldabra Atoll, and are the only remaining species out of 18 former species of tortoise that once flourished in the Indian Ocean.

Due to their rarity, Aldabra tortoises are expensive to purchase, with prices starting at around $2800-3000. Captive-bred baby Aldabra tortoises are priced higher than hatchlings, with the former being recommended over the more fragile hatchlings. Captive-bred baby Aldabra tortoises are priced according to their age, with the options of hatchlings, well-started babies, yearlings, and juveniles available.

Well-started babies are recommended over hatchlings as they are easier to care for. They are also more robust, having already grown to around 6 months old and 6-9 inches in size. Captive-bred baby Aldabra tortoises are also healthier, having been raised with perfect humidity, diet, and care, and have flawless, bowling ball-smooth shells.

The price of a captive-bred baby Aldabra tortoise also reflects the costs of shipping, which can be expensive due to the insulated and temperature-controlled containers required to safely transport the tortoise to its new owner.

Aldabra tortoises are one of the longest-living animals

The Aldabra tortoise is one of the longest-living animals on Earth, if not the longest. While it is hard to verify their exact lifespan, Aldabra tortoises are believed to easily surpass 100 years. The tortoises studied so far have outlived their scientists, and proper records have not been maintained.

The oldest living giant tortoise as of 2022 is said to be Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise, at 192 years old. Esmeralda, an Aldabra giant tortoise, is second at 180 years old. An Aldabra giant tortoise living on Changuu off Zanzibar is reportedly 198 years old.

Adwaita, an Aldabra tortoise that died in 2006 at the Kolkata Zoo in India, is reputed to have reached a lifespan of 255 years, making it the longest ever measured. Adwaita was reputedly one of four brought by British seamen from the Seychelles Islands as gifts to Robert Clive of the British East India Company in the 18th century.

Aldabra tortoises are native to the Seychelles, specifically the Aldabra Atoll, a small group of coral islands in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar. They are the largest animal on the atoll and play a similar role to that of the elephant in Africa and Asia. Aldabra tortoises are the main consumers of vegetation and significantly alter their habitat during their search for food. They have been known to knock over small trees and shrubs to obtain leaves, creating pathways and clearings for other animals.

Aldabra tortoises are one of the world's largest land tortoises, with males weighing up to 550 pounds (250 kilograms) and females weighing up to 350 pounds (159 kilograms). They have long necks to aid in food gathering and thick, often bony scales on their hind legs and head.

They are native to the Seychelles

Aldabra tortoises are native to the Seychelles, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar. The Aldabra Atoll, a small group of coral islands, is the only place in the Indian Ocean where a few thousand of these tortoises survived exploitation by sailors. The atoll's isolation and hostile environment protected the species from human interference. Sitting more than 700 miles west of Mahé, the Seychelles' main island, Aldabra isn't on anyone's direct path. The island is quite inhospitable, with a razor-sharp coral shoreline and plenty of mosquitoes. It is also very hot, and tortoises can bake in their shells if they don't find shade during the day.

The main population of the Aldabra giant tortoise resides on the islands of the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles. The atoll has been protected from human influence and is home to some 100,000 giant tortoises, the world's largest population of the animal. Smaller populations of Aldabra tortoises in the Seychelles exist on Frégate Island and in the Sainte Anne Marine National Park (e.g. Moyenne Island), where they are a popular tourist attraction.

The Aldabra tortoise is endemic to the Seychelles and is one of the largest tortoises in the world. Historically, giant tortoises were found on many of the western Indian Ocean islands, as well as Madagascar, and the fossil record indicates giant tortoises were once present on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. The Aldabra tortoise is the last known survivor of a group of giant tortoises once found on Madagascar and the Seychelles Islands.

The Aldabra Atoll is one of the world's largest coral atolls. The shoreline is made of razor-sharp coral rock, and the island has no permanent freshwater. The island's environment is quite inhospitable to visitors, but the tortoises thrive due to the absence of human interference.

They are the second-largest tortoise species

The Aldabra tortoise is the second-largest tortoise species in the world. They are native to the Seychelles, specifically the Aldabra Atoll, and are the largest animal on the island. They are also one of the longest-lived animals on Earth, with some individuals believed to be over 200 years old. The average weight of an adult male Aldabra tortoise is around 550 pounds (250 kilograms), while females weigh approximately 350 pounds (159 kilograms).

The Aldabra tortoise is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae and genus Aldabrachelys. They are characterised by their dark gray to black colouration, highly domed carapace (upper shell), and long necks, which aid in food gathering. The hind legs of Aldabra tortoises are cylindrical and columnar, similar to those of an elephant, and are covered in thick, often bony scales. The head is relatively small and pointed, also covered in scales.

The Aldabra tortoise plays a crucial role in its ecosystem, similar to that of elephants in Africa and Asia. As the main consumers of vegetation, they significantly alter their habitat during their search for food. They are known to knock over small trees and shrubs to obtain leaves and have even been observed hunting and eating a juvenile bird. Aldabra tortoises are also opportunistic feeders and will supplement their diet with small invertebrates, carrion, and even the carcasses of their own species.

In terms of behaviour, Aldabra tortoises are one of the more social tortoise species. While they are easily domesticated and can learn to identify their keepers, males will fight with one another for breeding rights and territory. The breeding season for these tortoises extends from February to May, and females carry the eggs for about ten weeks before burying them in the ground. Clutch sizes can range from four to 25 eggs, with typically only three to five viable young produced per clutch.

The Aldabra tortoise was one of the first species to be protected to ensure its survival. Conservation efforts led by notable figures such as Charles Darwin, in collaboration with the governor of Mauritius, helped establish a captive breeding population and protect the Aldabra Atoll. These efforts have been critical in preserving the species, as they were once exploited by sailors and threatened by introduced species such as rats, cats, and pigs.

They are easily domesticated

Aldabra tortoises are easily domesticated and can learn to identify their keepers in a short time. They are one of the world's largest land tortoises and can reach sizes of up to 550 pounds and ages of up to 150 years old. They are native to Aldabra Island, one of the Seychelles northeast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.

The Aldabra tortoise is the second-largest land tortoise in the world, after the Galapagos tortoise. They can weigh more than 400 pounds, with a shell more than 4 feet long. Males are larger than females, with an average carapace (shell) length of 122 cm (4 feet) and a weight of 250 kg (550 lb). Females have an average carapace length of 91 cm (3 feet) and a weight of 159 kg (350 lb).

Aldabra tortoises have a dark gray to black carapace with a highly domed, thick shape. They have a long neck, which helps with food gathering, and short, thick legs. The hind legs are cylindrical and columnar, similar to an elephant's, with thick, often bony scales. The head is relatively small, pointed, and covered in scales.

In terms of diet, Aldabra tortoises are primarily herbivores, feeding on grasses, leaves, woody plants, and fruit. However, they are opportunistic feeders and will also consume small invertebrates, carrion, and even the carcasses of dead tortoises. In captivity, their diet may include apples, bananas, and compressed vegetable pellets.

Aldabra tortoises are social and can be found in herds, particularly on open grasslands. They are most active in the mornings when they graze and browse for food. To keep cool during the heat of the day, they may dig wallows, seek shade, or submerge themselves in pools or mud holes.

The breeding season for Aldabra tortoises extends from February to May, and females carry the eggs for about ten weeks before burying them in the ground. Clutch sizes can range from four to 25 eggs, with typically only three to five viable young produced per clutch.

Overall, Aldabra tortoises are impressive and easily domesticated creatures that can make fascinating pets for those with the space and dedication to provide proper care.

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