Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I started giving my 2.5 year old this 3 times/week. He
only gets 3 of them soaked in water along with fresh greens.

I started using this several months ago and I have noticed
a big jump in weight over the last few months. He went from
about 425 grams to 550 grams. This is the biggest jump I think
he has taken since I got him as a hatchling.

Is it just a coincidence or is it the Mazuri?

Linda

It could very well be the Mazuri. Ironicly, some people see this as a bad thing. If you don't see the skin 'pooching out' between the head and legs you're looking at a very healthy tortoise. I personally like the weight the stuff puts on the tortoise.

3 times a week might be excessive but it does not sound like you are feeding a great deal at each feeding.

When you feed the tortoise, do you remove what is not eaten?

What kind of temperatures does the tortoise have access to?

What kind of water does the tortoise have access to?
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

I do feed Peabody every day but I do not give him alot of
food. For instance, 3-4 small leaves of greens, about a
tablespoon of veggies or other stuff depending on the food
of the day. I mix it up. There is never any leftovers. He
finishes everything within about 5-10 minutes. I grow
pothos and he begs for a small piece every night at dinner
time. He always gets a small bite.

He has a plantholder for a water dish. It has about
an inch of water which he can get into. His temps range
from 75-80 in warm areas of his enclosure with 85-90
directly under the lights. His hide box is cooler at
70-73. He always sleeps in there at night. He gets
soaked once a week while cleaning his enclosure.

Do you think his weight is excessive for his age? Shell
length is probably about 5". He is very active and does
not look fat. He really loves to eat though! His shell is
not completely flat. There is minimal pyramiding and I cannot
figure why as I don't think I overfeed. I think it may be due
to fluctuations in humidity.

Linda

I do feed Peabody every day but I do not give him alot of
food. For instance, 3-4 small leaves of greens, about a
tablespoon of veggies or other stuff depending on the food
of the day. I mix it up. There is never any leftovers. He
finishes everything within about 5-10 minutes. I grow
pothos and he begs for a small piece every night at dinner
time. He always gets a small bite.

He has a plantholder for a water dish. It has about
an inch of water which he can get into. His temps range
from 75-80 in warm areas of his enclosure with 85-90
directly under the lights. His hide box is cooler at
70-73. He always sleeps in there at night. He gets
soaked once a week while cleaning his enclosure.

Do you think his weight is excessive for his age? Shell
length is probably about 5". He is very active and does
not look fat. He really loves to eat though! His shell is
not completely flat. There is minimal pyramiding and I cannot
figure why as I don't think I overfeed. I think it may be due
to fluctuations in humidity.

Linda

Try shifting the temperature range to 80 to 100F and see how the tortoise responds.

Have you tried a humid hiding place?

Outside of that it sounds like you are doing great.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

Yes, his whole enclosure is cypress mulch, microwaved to
remove bugs. His sleeping area that stays cooler is actually
a hide. It is a rubbermaid container that has a side cut
out for entry and contains mulch. This is the most humid
but does tend to dry out quickly. I moisten this 2X/day.
His enclosure is open on one side at the top for fresh
air flow. This allows things to dry out quickly I guess.

What about his size...OK?

Thanks for your help
Linda

The size should never be a concern because all tortoises in captivity are going to grow at different rates depending on nutritional supplies and the environmental conditions to process those supplies.

If you have a healthy animal you are doing well.

The suggestion I always use is that the tortoise should weigh about the same as a water balloon of equal size. The lung normally takes up about 10 to 20 % of the body weight so subtract that and that is your ideal weight to size.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

I know it's not a red foot, but my young sulcatta has very mild pyramids, and I assumed it was normal for a fast growing baby to have some amount of pyramiding. I've assumed this mainly because I've continuely provided the best nutrition and environment available and the tort is very active and happy. Is this assumption correct? I must admit that I am a little paranoid with pyramids as they do indicate health problems when larger.What's your point of view?

ps, beautiful pic at the beginning of this thread

pyramiding is not an indication of an unhealthy tortoise. What it does indicate is that you have conditions that are promoting it.

This is where most tortoise keepers go wrong and that is where they are providing the ideal conditions. If you are providing a choice of foods, temperatures, water availability and micro habitats you are providing the ideal conditions and you shouldn't be getting any pyramiding. You have to keep in mind that the 'ideal' conditions is going to vary from individual to individual and species to species and so on.

Overfeeding or too much protein does not cause pyramiding. What does cause pyramiding is an imbalance in the dynamic that takes place between environmental conditions and nutrition.

If you are not providing a humid hide, start there. Also increase the temperature of the hot end by 10 degrees at a time to a max of 110F if it is not there already. Also make sure the tortoise is well hydrated by soaking it daily for the fist year and every other day after that.
-----
Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

n/p