Dex's growth rate

[Blakem]

Wow! Crazy gains since last month. As mentioned in another thread, I am not ceasing to be amazed by this species. Very happy with how things are going.

 

[Urtle]

I have a feeling Dex dreads this time of the month Looking great as usual and grown so much since last month! Keep it up Blake!

 

[Blakem]

I have a feeling Dex dreads this time of the month Looking great as usual and grown so much since last month! Keep it up Blake!

That's a possibility. I should get a bowl to weigh him in.

 

[Dizisdalife]

I used a box. Still do, but Chuck gets weighed on the bathroom scale these days. I bring him inside to soak him once or twice a week and then I weigh him before taking him back outside. If you are amazed now by how fast Dex is growing now, you are going to be overwhelmed in a few months. Chuck just turned 3 and he has gained 15 pounds in the last year! Before you know it that 40 grams a week gain becomes 140 grams. He also doubled his length and width.

 

[surie_the_tortoise]

coming along real nice.

 

[Blakem]

I used a box. Still do, but Chuck gets weighed on the bathroom scale these days. I bring him inside to soak him once or twice a week and then I weigh him before taking him back outside. If you are amazed now by how fast Dex is growing now, you are going to be overwhelmed in a few months. Chuck just turned 3 and he has gained 15 pounds in the last year! Before you know it that 40 grams a week gain becomes 140 grams. He also doubled his length and width.

I will be looking forward to that! I'm glad I'm making him an outside area now.

---

coming along real nice.

Thank you.

 

[Shannon and Jason]

Gorgeous tortoise you have there!

 

[Blakem]

Gorgeous tortoise you have there!

Thank you very much, I think so too!

 

[AZtortMom]

Beautiful boy! I'm going to start tracking my kids too. Your boy is so clean! No matter how much I clean them, they go right back into the dirt..geez! great job! I love the upside down pics! I can't help but wonder what he is thinking...not again

 

[EllieN]

also, how do you guys clean there bottoms? A light tooth brush?
[/quote]

Q-tips, toward the end of a good soak. It probably only needs to be done if he gets fecal matter stuck around there.

 

[Blakem]

also, how do you guys clean there bottoms? A light tooth brush?

Q-tips, toward the end of a good soak. It probably only needs to be done if he gets fecal matter stuck around there.[/QUOTE]

Thank you!

 

[Blakem]

I thought it was crazy when dexter gained 30-50 grams, but 200 in 4 weeks?! Wow. I haven't measured yet, I'm currently at work.

Sulcata (Dexter)
Russian (Ezek)

 

[tmbarta]

Ok, I'm just curious. How do you get him to stay still as he's laying upside down? As soon as I start to tip my little girl sideways her legs start flailing and I can't bring myself to turn her over. Yours looks so calm.

I thought it was crazy when dexter gained 30-50 grams, but 200 in 4 weeks?! Wow. I haven't measured yet, I'm currently at work.

Sulcata (Dexter)
Russian (Ezek)

 

[Blakem]

Ok, I'm just curious. How do you get him to stay still as he's laying upside down? As soon as I start to tip my little girl sideways her legs start flailing and I can't bring myself to turn her over. Yours looks so calm.

I take the picture very quickly. I have my camera ready before I weigh him. Just to see how it goes flipped over, I will sit him on the ground. Usually he'll sit there for 15 seconds before flailing.


Sulcata (Dexter)
Russian (Ezek)

 

[Blakem]

It's that time of the month that I look forward to. Dexter is doing really well outside 24/7. Plastron length is 6.5 inches, 5 inches wide and weight 1,071 grams.

 

[Tom]

If you get the right size cup, its much easier to "high center" them on the cup than make them be upside down. Your scale will zero itself if you put the cup on it before you turn it on.

I also use a wide bowl sometimes. Works just as well.

 

[Blakem]

Dexter doesn't move much when being measured, unless it's too long. I will try this next time I am taking measurements. I've heard others do this.

 

[Blakem]

Eating a pile of kale as we speak.

 

[Urtle]

Beautiful yard.... and beautiful tortoise

 

[Blakem]

So, Dexter didn't have much of a weight gain, which is strange. Dexter is now 1,155 grams, 7 inches long, 5 inches wide.