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I have 2 sulcatas that are 11 1/2 months old. They dont seem to be growing really at all, they seem to be almost the same as when they hatched. They arent much bigger than a golfball. They measure about 3 inches long. Is there a reason they have not grown or are they at a normal size? These are my only two so I dont have anything to compare them too. I tried searching for answers but there are none out there.


Thanks
Dave

How do you have them setup? Lights? Temps? What are you feeding them? Any supplements? How often are they fed and how much?

They have a large area to live in with a heat lamp and hay and leaves when they are indoors and then in the day time when weather permits they are outside in a kiddie pool that I converted into a pen for them. They eat mainly grass and mullberry leaves. They also eat whatever weeds have grown in the lawn. They get their calcium from a Zoo Med Turtle Bone. Do some sulcatas take a little while to grow?

On a unrelated note: What shape is there shell supposed to be? A friend has an older sulcata and its shell is more comparable to a rectanglular shape then a circle. Is that normal?

tortoises should be more of a rounded shape. the rectangular one you are refering to is probably pyramiding. this is a result of too much protien, not enough calcium/UVB exposure, and some even say not enough humidity.

does your tortoise have access to UV light when it is inside? it is recommended that they have 8-12 hours of UV exposure on a daily basis.

also...how do your tortoises shells feel? are they soft and plyable, or are they pretty firm? at this point they should have a pretty solid shell. how is their apetite as well?

My tortoises are still round. Their shells are nice and hard. My tortoises have an amazing appetite.

The rectangular one belongs to my friend that lives up the road. His is more of a rectangle. If I can I will get a photo of it. That one has a rather hard shell at all. It weighs quite a bit but it just seems a bit different then other Sulcatas I have seen. I am thinking the problem is that he kept it totally confined to a tank for the first 4 or 5 years. It also isnt as big as other ones I have seen.

Can you post pics of your little ones? Maybe with something for size comparison?

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On the right is a ball thats just a bit bigger than a golfball. On the left is a regular soda pop cap.

So is this a dead thread now or what??

I was looking for some help.

Dave Scoundrel Wrote:I have 2 sulcatas that are 11 1/2 months old. They dont seem to be growing really at all, they seem to be almost the same as when they hatched. They arent much bigger than a golfball. They measure about 3 inches long. Is there a reason they have not grown or are they at a normal size? These are my only two so I dont have anything to compare them too. I tried searching for answers but there are none out there.


Thanks
Dave

sounds like they should be a bit bigger, u need to make sure u have the right uva uvb lighting.....

Hi Dave,

I would think that they should be a little bigger, but like everything else, tortoises grow at their own pace. Slow and steady growth is always best. No need to rush things. One of them looks a little lumpy on the carapace but over all there is no pyramiding started so thats good. The one just likes like he has a dip in his shell on one side?

Are you providing a UVB light source? Are you only feeding grass and mulberry leaves or are you providing a varied diet? They really need a bit of a varied diet of weeds and grasses if they arent allowed to graze. You should be taking Timothy or Orchard hay and chopping it up to mix in at each feeding so they are getting plenty of fiber.

Have you been to http://africantortoise.com/? If not there is a great general care sheet as well as an edible plants and edible landscaping page there.

Edible plants- http://africantortoise.com/edible_plants.htm

Do you notice that one is more dominant? Maybe eating more than the other? Some torts will bully other torts and sort of cower them down and although your not seeing it, its there mentally.

Please measure each one and start keeping a record of their lengths and weights. If you dont know how to measure properly here is a link to a good page that shows you how. http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/measuring.htm You should measure them at least very 2 weeks so you can tell if they are growing or not.

Hope this helps, somehow your post was buried and I missed that you had replied with pics.

Dave, I don't know what to tell you other than what everyone previously stated. I do think they should be larger. Mine are 3 yrs old and are 8, 10, 12 inches approx. Although each varies in size, they have been growing noticeably. Slow growth is best to avoid shell problems. So, just make sure they are receiving a good diet and proper lighting!

Don't Sulcatas get really big? Like the type you can see in zoo's?

Yes they do get big. Males grow up to 30" and reach weights of over 120 pounds. Females reach 20 to 24" and weigh from 65 to 75 pounds.

Some you see in Zoos are Galapagos tortoises (largest) or Aldabras (2nd largest) these get really big, but Sulcatas are considered the 3rd largest, I believe.

Dave Scoundrel Wrote:I have 2 sulcatas that are 11 1/2 months old. They dont seem to be growing really at all, they seem to be almost the same as when they hatched. They arent much bigger than a golfball. They measure about 3 inches long. Is there a reason they have not grown or are they at a normal size? These are my only two so I dont have anything to compare them too. I tried searching for answers but there are none out there.


Thanks
Dave