Dillon:

Does it boil down to preference when aiming for a quality specimen Aldabra as far as high peak dome or round and wide like 209 versus 212 listed on the site? Which one would turn out to be a nice specimen? As well as smooth shell or pyramiding? 

I am also curious if I bought a hatchling right now and then next year got another hatchling, would they be able to be in the same enclosure? If no why not?

Sam:

Hi Dillion, let me try to give you an overview.

You're right, picking the perfect Aldabra comes down to personal preferences. Most people see smooth shells as the ideal choice. In fact, the Chinese are infatuated with it.

A big, smooth shell tortoise is an impressive animal, but the fact of the matter is that it is nearly impossible to maintain a perfect smooth shell throughout its growth period. Shell smoothness is most closely related to humidity. The higher the humidity, the better the chance of it growing smooth.

Koreans are famous for growing smooth shell aldabras. One trick they use is that they rub them everyday with vaseline, then they have to wash it off.

But I feel this is going to an extreme; there are other considerations and to focus on one attribute but I think this is limiting the experience. When I started collecting, I did the same thing. I kept acquiring animals that fit what I thought were the perfect animals. Over time I liked the diversity and the rareness of particular shaped animals.

One of my favorites is the High Peak like ID#209, this is one of the rarer shell-shapes. I always imagine what they will look like when they are adults. These animals grow very tall, making them look like giants, but they never grow perfectly smooth and some show some pyramiding. Because of their rarity, I will hold these back and grow them for a while and sell them at a premium price. Not everyone likes that look, but some people do. It's a care of beauty in the eye of the beholder.

Some people like the Imperfect shell shapes. That's where they have an odd number of scutes. They like them just because they are different and they are less expensive. These people look at it like a dog with different colors and they're just mutts and dont fit into the "perfect " consideration of "what is perfect" and that's what they like. 

ID#212 is another case of an unusual shell-shape. Wide and round, when they get older, they are like road blocks. They get so wide. But they're not very tall. Other shell-shapes are Fast-Back and Short-Back. After collecting for a while I wanted them all now. ID#212 also has some pyridmiding but many people like this especially in a wide tortoise.

Check out some of these videos I have made about shell shapes and go with your gut, in the end if you collect more than one you will probably want a different style to start with.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69t1gN6eJVg&t=5s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNd59hr6ILU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTENYgDpW9k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxorFe-lwAE

Let me know what you think.

Dillion:

I am also curious if I bought a hatchling right now and then next year got another hatchling, would they be able to be in the same enclosure? If no why not? 

Sam:

All it comes down to is size.  You would not want to raise two animals with a big size disparity. If you bought a 4" animal today, next year it would be 8", that's too much of a size difference.

Wmost people do is raise a 4" and next year by an 8". The only issue is you will pay more for a. 8".

Today that size difference in cost would be $800 more or less depending if you a buying a perfect. If you bought an 8" imperfect then the cost difference is more like $500.

Hope that helps.