Is this normal growth?

[Romeo Serback]

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.

 

[wellington]

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

 

[wellington]

A steady growth is good. There is no norm really. They will all grow at their own pace. A steady growth is always good.

 

[Romeo Serback]

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]

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]

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]

That's good to know brother. I appreciate as well as respect your input. Thanks!

 

[JanelP]

What a beautiful tort

 

[drew54]

What kind of leopard is this? I love the white coloration. She is beautiful!

 

[Romeo Serback]

What a beautiful tort

Thank you!

 

[Romeo Serback]

What kind of leopard is this? I love the white coloration. She is beautiful!

It's a normal Pardalis Babcocki. I got her from @Elohi. I weighed her last Thursday and she's now 124 grams and I'll weigh her tomorrow again.

 

[drew54]

It's a normal Pardalis Babcocki. I got her from @Elohi. I weighed her last Thursday and she's now 124 grams and I'll weigh her tomorrow again.

She is amazingly beautiful! Can you request one with white on the scutes? She is growing well! Keep the pics coming!

 

[Romeo Serback]

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!

 

[Maro2Bear]

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]

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]

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

Thank you! I got lucky.

 

[Romeo Serback]

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.