Is this normal growth?

Romeo Serback

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20180830_175127.jpg My Lerato has been gaining weight weekly. I weigh her every Thursday early evening after her 20 min of sun, 30 min soak, and big poop. I feed her once a day about two times her size and I vary her diet with cactus, hibiscus leaves/flower, wheat grass (she doesn't seek this out, but it's cut small so she eats it accidentally), endive, spring mix (no spinach), weeds and grass, and ZOOMED grassland food 3x a week. I alternate vitamins and calcium and skip Sunday from both altogether. I keep her closed enclosure at a minimum of 85°F 24 hrs a day with basking at 95-110. I use a 100W MVB and a 60W CHE that's on a thermostat. My question is this? Is this too fast a growth? I do mist her and her enclosure daily. 20180830_174531.jpg20180830_171253.jpg 20180830_172700.jpg 20180830_172613.jpg20180830_174354.jpg20180828_165810.jpg
 

wellington

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She looks good. However, once a day for a hatchling is not a lot. If she eats it all, she should be given more. In the wild they will graze throughout the day. They should have that in captivity as a hatchling too
 

Romeo Serback

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She looks good. However, once a day for a hatchling is not a lot. If she eats it all, she should be given more. In the wild they will graze throughout the day. They should have that in captivity as a hatchling too
She never finishes all her food in one sitting. Since I work 730-4 M-F, I prepare and put her food out at 5-6 pm and I leave it all in there until the next day the same time and she'll finish 90-95% of her food, so I'm sure she gets enough. She's not starving by no means. Lol On the days that I'm off, I feed her twice. Once about 8-9 am (when the light turns on at 730), and another time around 4 p.m.
 

Romeo Serback

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A steady growth is good. There is no norm really. They will all grow at their own pace. A steady growth is always good.
I have been reading a lot of threads and ages compared to weights. I've notice that some owners have torts that are a year or so only weighing barely 100 grams. Lerato was hatched April 21st. She's currently 4 months and a week old. That's why I question if this is normal. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that she's growing. I just want to make sure she's not growing too fast.
 

wellington

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I had a batch of four hatch out last November. All lived in same enclosure and fed the same and together. One looked like a giant compared too the runt. I personally don't really know if there is a rate considered too fast at this age. They usually go in growth spurts, then they will not gain at all and maybe even lose a little before picking back up again. As long as a good diet is given, hydration, exercise/appropriate size enclosure and correct temps and humidity, all should be good.
 

Romeo Serback

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She is amazingly beautiful! Can you request one with white on the scutes? She is growing well! Keep the pics coming!
With @Elohi, she let me pick her from a group of babies. I was fortunate that she was around. She might change colors, but I'm not sure. I saw the mother and she's just as beautiful and she looked exactly like my Lerato when she was a baby!
 

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Maro2Bear

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View attachment 249972 My Lerato has been gaining weight weekly. I weigh her every Thursday early evening after her 20 min of sun, 30 min soak, and big poop. I feed her once a day about two times her size and I vary her diet with cactus, hibiscus leaves/flower, wheat grass (she doesn't seek this out, but it's cut small so she eats it accidentally), endive, spring mix (no spinach), weeds and grass, and ZOOMED grassland food 3x a week. I alternate vitamins and calcium and skip Sunday from both altogether. I keep her closed enclosure at a minimum of 85°F 24 hrs a day with basking at 95-110. I use a 100W MVB and a 60W CHE that's on a thermostat. My question is this? Is this too fast a growth? I do mist her and her enclosure daily. View attachment 249966View attachment 249968 View attachment 249967 View attachment 249969View attachment 249970View attachment 249971


That last pix, deep in the grass, is a great shot. Nice lil guy you have there, good luck!
 

drew54

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With @Elohi, she let me pick her from a group of babies. I was fortunate that she was around. She might change colors, but I'm not sure. I saw the mother and she's just as beautiful and she looked exactly like my Lerato when she was a baby!
They are all beautiful. I'll keep her in mind later in the future. Thank you for the pics and info
 

Romeo Serback

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They are all beautiful. I'll keep her in mind later in the future. Thank you for the pics and info
It was a very reasonable price too! And she keeps her babies in a closed chamber as well. To get a baby started off well is half the battle.
 
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