Sulcata hatchling losing weight?

lionheartHC

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I've been weighing my hatchling a few times a week since I got him on 7/6/20. Since the day I brought him home he's always had a steady diet and the same routine. As of 8/6/20, he seems a lot different. He used to eat anytime I would put fresh food in his enclosure and as of lately he's eating less but still eating everyday. Is it normal for hatchlings to hit a period where their eating habits change? His enclosure is kept at 80% humidity at all times with an ambient temp in the mid 80's to low 90's. I soak him for an hour total each day and give him one hour of outdoor UVB exposure. His diet consists of everything he should be eating. I just want to be on the safe side, I know @Tom has raised hatchlings and I'd love to hear his input.

7/6 - 35G
7/14 - 37G
7/17 - 36G
7/19 - 38G
7/20 - 44G
7/22 - 42G
7/24 - 45G
7/26 - 47G
7/28 - 48G
8/1 - 50G
8/3 - 54G
8/6 - 56G (this is where I noticed a change in eating habits)
8/8 - 55G
8/9 - 53G
 

lionheartHC

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Messages
88
Location (City and/or State)
OH
I've been weighing my hatchling a few times a week since I got him on 7/6/20. Since the day I brought him home he's always had a steady diet and the same routine. As of 8/6/20, he seems a lot different. He used to eat anytime I would put fresh food in his enclosure and as of lately he's eating less but still eating everyday. Is it normal for hatchlings to hit a period where their eating habits change? His enclosure is kept at 80% humidity at all times with an ambient temp in the mid 80's to low 90's. I soak him for an hour total each day and give him one hour of outdoor UVB exposure. His diet consists of everything he should be eating. I just want to be on the safe side, I know @Tom has raised hatchlings and I'd love to hear his input. My little guy also seems to be spending more time sleeping in his hide which wasn’t the norm for him the past month.

7/6 - 35G
7/14 - 37G
7/17 - 36G
7/19 - 38G
7/20 - 44G
7/22 - 42G
7/24 - 45G
7/26 - 47G
7/28 - 48G
8/1 - 50G
8/3 - 54G
8/6 - 56G (this is where I noticed a change in eating habits)
8/8 - 55G
8/9 - 53G
 

Tom

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I've been weighing my hatchling a few times a week since I got him on 7/6/20. Since the day I brought him home he's always had a steady diet and the same routine. As of 8/6/20, he seems a lot different. He used to eat anytime I would put fresh food in his enclosure and as of lately he's eating less but still eating everyday. Is it normal for hatchlings to hit a period where their eating habits change? His enclosure is kept at 80% humidity at all times with an ambient temp in the mid 80's to low 90's. I soak him for an hour total each day and give him one hour of outdoor UVB exposure. His diet consists of everything he should be eating. I just want to be on the safe side, I know @Tom has raised hatchlings and I'd love to hear his input.

7/6 - 35G
7/14 - 37G
7/17 - 36G
7/19 - 38G
7/20 - 44G
7/22 - 42G
7/24 - 45G
7/26 - 47G
7/28 - 48G
8/1 - 50G
8/3 - 54G
8/6 - 56G (this is where I noticed a change in eating habits)
8/8 - 55G
8/9 - 53G
Where did you get the baby? How old is it?
 

lionheartHC

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Messages
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Location (City and/or State)
OH
Where did you get the baby? How old is it?

I bought it from a breeder that really didn’t give much information aside from the fact that they were soaked daily. I was told that he just hatched (yolk sac was not healed when I got it but has since closed completely and hardened).
 

Tom

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I bought it from a breeder that really didn’t give much information aside from the fact that they were soaked daily. I was told that he just hatched (yolk sac was not healed when I got it but has since closed completely and hardened).
So it was a new hatchling and you've had it about a month...

Daily soaks should have prevented the usual organ failure from chronic dehydration.

Are you following the care sheet? If yes, I think the thing to do is wait a little while and see what happens. There can be small changes in weight, and food preferences too. I normally weigh only once a week because a big meal, a drink of water, or a large poop, can all change the weight significantly. This could count for the difference in a few grams that you are seeing.
 

lionheartHC

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Location (City and/or State)
OH
Where did you get the baby? How old is it?

I’ve read your post on breeder failure syndrome several times and I’m trying not to think the worst. If this were to be the case, is it probable that my little guy won’t make it? Or can they fight through it sometimes?
 

lionheartHC

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Messages
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Location (City and/or State)
OH
So it was a new hatchling and you've had it about a month...

Daily soaks should have prevented the usual organ failure from chronic dehydration.

Are you following the care sheet? If yes, I think the thing to do is wait a little while and see what happens. There can be small changes in weight, and food preferences too. I normally weigh only once a week because a big meal, a drink of water, or a large poop, can all change the weight significantly. This could count for the difference in a few grams that you are seeing.

Got it Tom, thanks for the info, I’ll weigh him at the end of the week. I’m going to up his soak times too and see if that helps anything. I really appreciate all the valuable information you share on this site!
 

Tom

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I’ve read your post on breeder failure syndrome several times and I’m trying not to think the worst. If this were to be the case, is it probable that my little guy won’t make it? Or can they fight through it sometimes?
I don't think this is the case with yours, IF, the breeder was soaking daily. Even if it is the case, many of them survive and pull through.
 

lionheartHC

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I don't think this is the case with yours, IF, the breeder was soaking daily. Even if it is the case, many of them survive and pull through.

You’re the best, thanks again sir.
 

lionheartHC

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I don't think this is the case with yours, IF, the breeder was soaking daily. Even if it is the case, many of them survive and pull through.

Just wanted to follow up and get your thoughts Tom. My Sulcata is eating daily and romping around as usual. It just seems like he stopped growing. There was a clear pattern of his weight gain for over a month that just all of a sudden stopped and he’s stuck around 53-54 grams. Should I be concerned? No weight loss but stayed stagnant this week.
 

Tom

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Just wanted to follow up and get your thoughts Tom. My Sulcata is eating daily and romping around as usual. It just seems like he stopped growing. There was a clear pattern of his weight gain for over a month that just all of a sudden stopped and he’s stuck around 53-54 grams. Should I be concerned? No weight loss but stayed stagnant this week.
Yes. There should be steady weight gain. Do you believe that the baby was soaked daily? How was it housed? What substrate? What was the incubation media? I'd try to get this info if possible. That will give us some clues. I don't want to jump to conclusions yet.
 

lionheartHC

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Yes. There should be steady weight gain. Do you believe that the baby was soaked daily? How was it housed? What substrate? What was the incubation media? I'd try to get this info if possible. That will give us some clues. I don't want to jump to conclusions yet.

I actually tried to reach out to the “breeder” at the beginning of the week for more context but he won’t respond. :( Unfortunately, all I know is that he told me that it was soaked daily. When I received it it pooped out vermiculite for an entire week if that gives you any insight. I’m leaning more towards negligence given the fact that I’m getting the cold shoulder.
 

Cleopatra 2020

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I've been weighing my hatchling a few times a week since I got him on 7/6/20. Since the day I brought him home he's always had a steady diet and the same routine. As of 8/6/20, he seems a lot different. He used to eat anytime I would put fresh food in his enclosure and as of lately he's eating less but still eating everyday. Is it normal for hatchlings to hit a period where their eating habits change? His enclosure is kept at 80% humidity at all times with an ambient temp in the mid 80's to low 90's. I soak him for an hour total each day and give him one hour of outdoor UVB exposure. His diet consists of everything he should be eating. I just want to be on the safe side, I know @Tom has raised hatchlings and I'd love to hear his input.

7/6 - 35G
7/14 - 37G
7/17 - 36G
7/19 - 38G
7/20 - 44G
7/22 - 42G
7/24 - 45G
7/26 - 47G
7/28 - 48G
8/1 - 50G
8/3 - 54G
8/6 - 56G (this is where I noticed a change in eating habits)
8/8 - 55G
8/9 - 53G
as it was explained to me if you weigh your tort everyday don't drive yourself crazy A good rule of thumb is to weigh them once a week I weigh mine on Sunday mornings before her silk when she first gets up that way she hasn't taken up any water weight this is an accurate analogy would she can judge at the end of the month some weeks they might lose some weight but it's nothing to be alarmed about the monthly totals is what you want to look at if you're losing weight month to month then there's an issue
 

JoesMum

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Looking at your numbers they are varying by 1 or 2 grammes but the trend is upward.

You are also weighing pretty much daily.

At that size a poop or a pee can make a massive difference to weight.

Like humans, weight changes throughout the day simply based on what’s been eaten and excreted and rhe amount of exercise taken.

You have to be scientific about this and try to make sure that you weigh at roughly the same time of day every time. Straight after an early morning soak, before a feed, is a good time.

Also try not to weigh too often. It makes you neurotic, I promise. Once a week is plenty.
 
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