Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Now by abnormal I mean "slow". Or rather closer to nearly "non existent". I've had my sulcata tortoise for over a year now, and he has not grown or gained weight except for maybe literally, a few grams. He eats regularly on a diet of orchard grass/hay, dandelions, rose petals, and hibiscus. He also gets his food calcium dusted, is let outside for atleast a few hours a day, and when he is inside has a UV light. Why has he grown so little?

Have you had him tested for internal parasites? Perhaps he is getting good enough care that with a parasite load he can still maintain but just doesn't get enough nutrients to grow? His he well hydrated? Dehydration could be a cause of not growing.

Have you tried simulating the seasons? Try upping temps and humidity slightly for a little bit to simulate a growing season, increase the light time by an hour or so. Don't make it really humid, but just a little more. It might trick his body into starting to grow. I do this with my tortoise, in the spring and early summer I make his enclosure a bit warmer and a bit more humid, and he always grows a bit more quickly during this time. In the wild it would be warmer and more humid from rains, there would be lots of new plant growth so this would be when they are eating and growing more.

Those are the only things I can think of, anyone else?

I think you've covered it pretty well.
There is one other thing.. genetics.
Some of them grow faster than others simply because that's their genetic make up.
I'm never against vet check ups, there is never anything wrong with a wellness checkup for any pet.
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PHRatz