1yo Sulcata

[jfisher1191]

So I picked up a hatchling Sulcata last year around this time. After seeing someone elses locally I feel like my guy isnt growing like he should. After weigh in today he is right around 50g. Overall he seems healthy, has no signs of pyramiding, and is generally active. Just doesn't seem to be growing much if at all.

Setup is a 40g Breeder with Cypress Mulch substrate and the top has been foiled/insulated to retain humidity. Lighting consists of a single 100w MegaRay MVB(13.5 inches from basking spot) and ambient light from the window he is next to. He also has a 150w CHE to get the basking area up to 99*F. Ambient temps on the other side of the enclosure vary on room temp but usually are around mid 70s. Humidity holds a good 75-80%.

Diet has mostly consisted of Kale greens, Collard Greens, and the attempts I have made to get him to eat Mazuri diet blend. He does seem to love Butternut squash and Prickly pear when we get them for him(was told as treats only). Food is usually offered about an hour after lights on give or take and then again just after mid day.

 

[Maro2Bear]

Greetings up there in the North Country of Pa!

Welcome to the Forum. From the sounds of it...id say your overall temps are just too low. Mid-70’s is just not good, and should really never get below 80F, especially in a “closed” enclosure.

Take a read here - https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

Temps, lighting, soaking, humidity are all critical while raising a hatchling.

Try to upload some pix of your enclosure. Good luck.

 

[drew54]

Kale and collards are okay as long as they don’t make up the bulk of his diet. Use a variety of grasses, greens, and weeds. Prickly pear is good for them anytime. If you want to introduce mazuri mash one pellet in with the greens and grasses. He will eat it all if he is hungry. Then just keep introducing a little more each time. I got Nyx to eat grasses, weeds, and other greens just by leaving it in their and essentially not giving her an option. Less than two days I got her eating anything I put in there. The breeder had her just on mazuri and Romain and nothing else. Mind you the breeder wants to fatten them up fast to sell. I would make food available all day to for him to graze.