Aldabra giant tortoise — Care Sheet & Morphs

Q: How big does an adult Aldabra giant tortoise get?

An adult Aldabra giant tortoise typically measures 0.9–1.2 m.

Husbandry requirements

Aldabra giant tortoise — origin: Aldabra Atoll (Seychelles), western Indian Ocean.

Terrarium temperature gradient

Night min18 °C

Cool side24–28 °C

Warm side28–32 °C

Basking spot35–40 °C

A tropical, sun-loving species that needs a genuine hot spot: a warm basking area and warm daytime ambient temperatures. Do not let it stay too cold at night; cold combined with poorly managed humidity causes respiratory disease. Access to direct, unfiltered sunlight outdoors in the warm season is ideal.

Enclosure (adult)

1500 × 1000 × 100 cm

Planted, secure outdoor enclosure + heated indoor shelter (greenhouse- or barn-type)

A large minimum outdoor area per adult, with considerably more strongly recommended (grass to graze on, shaded areas and a wallow). Solid, buried walls: the animal develops considerable strength and pushes obstacles aside. A heated indoor shelter is indispensable outside the warm season in our climates. PROTECTED SPECIES: listed under CITES and classified as Vulnerable (IUCN). Keeping, transport and transfer are subject to legal documentation (CITES/EU) and to declaration under national regulations.

Humidity

50–80 %

Humid microclimates and a wallow (mud) area are essential for well-being and thermoregulation. Higher humidity in juveniles' shelters and hides, to limit shell pyramiding.

Substrate

Soil / potting compostGrass and natural pastureHayCypress mulch or wood chips (indoor shelter)

A loose, slightly damp substrate that helps maintain hydration. Avoid abrasive or dusty substrates, or those that encourage the ingestion of particles. Keep a humid area for the young.

UVB

Optional

Strong UVB is essential for vitamin D synthesis and mineralisation. Ideally direct, unfiltered sunlight outdoors; indoors, a high-output UVB tube covering the active area, replaced periodically, combined with a temperature gradient and a hot spot.

Water source

Always available

A large, shallow water source available at all times for drinking and bathing; the animal wallows and drinks copiously. Regular lukewarm baths for juveniles (hydration, prevention of bladder stones). Clean water renewed frequently, with safe access (no drowning risk).

Origin

Testudinidae

Aldabra Atoll (Seychelles), western Indian Ocean

Feeding & health

Diet

A grazing herbivore, on a high-fibre, low-protein diet — An opportunistic scavenger in the wild (dead crabs, carrion, sometimes small tortoises, seeking calcium) — DO NOT replicate in captivity

Base diet: grasses, hay, wild plants (dandelion, plantain, clover in moderation), leaves; leafy vegetables as a supplement. Very little fruit. Regular calcium supplementation (cuttlebone, calcium blocks). An excess of protein, fruit or rich pellets promotes pyramiding, stones and overgrowth.

Breeding

Oviparous

Clutch 4–25 eggs/young. Several clutches per year are possible. Spherical eggs the size of a ping-pong or golf ball. Long and variable incubation (depending on temperature). The sex of the young can be influenced by the incubation temperature.

Health watch points

Shell pyramiding (humidity too low, excess protein, growth too fast)
Metabolic bone disease and deficiencies (UVB deficit or calcium/phosphorus imbalance)
Bladder stones and retention (chronic dehydration, excess protein)
Respiratory infections (temperatures too low or unsuitable humidity)
Digestive parasites and subcutaneous abscesses

Morphs & genetics

Registry of 2 documented genes for Aldabra giant tortoise.

Scute AnomaliesDom
Albino (Anomaly)Rec

Pairing calculator

Pick each parent's genotype — clutch probabilities update live. Free, no sign-up.

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Aldabra giant tortoise × Aldabra giant tortoise

Probabilities per gene (independent loci).

Expected clutchSelect at least one gene on a parent.

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the most common questions about keeping the aldabra giant tortoise.

How big does an adult Aldabra giant tortoise get?▾

An adult Aldabra giant tortoise typically measures 0.9–1.2 m (adult carapace length. the world's second-largest tortoise. marked dimorphism: males considerably heavier than females. slow, continuous growth over decades.).

What temperature and humidity does a Aldabra giant tortoise need?▾

A gradient of roughly 24–28 °C on the cool side to 28–32 °C on the warm side, with a basking spot of 35–40 °C. Humidity 50–80 %.

What does a Aldabra giant tortoise eat?▾

A grazing herbivore, on a high-fibre, low-protein diet: An opportunistic scavenger in the wild (dead crabs, carrion, sometimes small tortoises, seeking calcium) — DO NOT replicate in captivity.

Is the Aldabra giant tortoise a good reptile for beginners?▾

Expert level. Very curious, strongly food-motivated and generally docile ('dog-like'). Enjoys tactile contact (neck scratching) but has no awareness of its strength or its mass: risk of being knocked over or crushed. Extreme caution is essential around children, other animals and the enclosure furnishings. Plan ahead: a lifespan of 80–200 yrs.

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