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Wandering_Scholar6 t1_jddouyv wrote

Reply to comment by hangryhyax in A 90-year-old tortoise named Mr. Pickles just became a father of 3. It's a big 'dill' by Two-in-the-Belfry

Also tortoises can generally be kept relatively well in captivity. Simple enrichment and a decent habitat are all they need to thrive.

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hangryhyax t1_jdgb3sl wrote

Yep! While reading about these ones, I saw that their lifespan in the wild is usually 40-50 years; Mr. & Mrs. Pickles have both not only exceeded that, but they’re still procreating!

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Wandering_Scholar6 t1_jdhleio wrote

Is that the average or median or the average of those that live past 1 years or so?

Turtles and tortoises often have low survival rates for the first several years then, if they survive past the cut-off age, they mostly live to be really old. But that can really skew the math on lifespan.

But also yes, if they are thriving past their lifespan in captivity that's a good sign that they can be kept well in captivity.

It can actually become a problem in Zoos because at some point many of your animals are geriatric (because good care and medical attention). Geriatric animals require more care and may not necessarily be the best exhibit animals.

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