About 8 year old tortoise still pretty small but seems ok

[SamanthaMarikian]

Ive had him for about 8 years since he was itty bitty and he just hasnt beefed up like i expected but he grazes and eats and all that and hes a pretty active guy.(im assuming its gender im not sure) he grazes on what i grow from seed from tortoisesupply.com grazing and browsing mix and supplemental salads when it’s too cold for him outside. We live in southern california. Online i read he could just be a slow grower but idk

 

[SamanthaMarikian]

His enclosure outside is 4x4 i think and its smaller than id like and smaller than what he used to have, formerly about 4x8 but we live in a rental now and this is what i can do

 

[Brewser]

"Slow And Steady Wins The Race"

 

[SamanthaMarikian]

"Slow And Steady Wins The Race"

Yea thats what ive been telling myself because i see younger and bigger ones but i feel they grew too fast from eating too much lettuce etc and i try to limit that for him. When i do give him greens its romaine/green leaf/red leaf, arugala, dandelion greens, and a cruciferous crunch mix from trader joes but all in moderation

 

[viper69]

Sulcata? They have a relatively fast growth rates.

 

[Introvertebrate]

His enclosure outside is 4x4 i think and its smaller than id like and smaller than what he used to have, formerly about 4x8 but we live in a rental now and this is what i can do

That enclosure is in the shade right now. Does he get any direct sunlight, for vitamin D?

 

[Nocturnalnature]

That animal has very nice shell development for a tortoise in captivity.
Weight is the key factor. If it feels like a brick when you pick it up, it’s likely just fine.
Although I’ve never worked with Sulcatta’s, I can tell you that I’ve had Indian Stars, Burmese Stars, Radiated, and Leopards, take much longer than one would think to reach adult size. Admittedly, I aim for slow, even growth, but in my experience it results in a healthier tortoise with nice shell growth.

If you keep it long enough you’ll long for the days when “he” was a wee little lad .