Normal growth? Help me :(

[thegame2388]

Interesting, as mine is surely less than 12"; so in that case, I shall wait a bit longer until he naturally burrows on his own.

We'll see with time.

 

[Alaskamike]

Great thread, shows the extent to which we go sometimes to create the right environments. To me this is part of the fun of tortoise keeping, especially with the larger breeds. Sulcatas are a challenge, guess that why I like 'em.
Now I'm on my second burrow for my rescue "Tiny" who was 24 months when I got him and 2.3 lbs. First burrow was a rubbermaid container with bottom cut out and a side opening buried with top at ground level. I could remove the top and see him in there. He took to it right away.
That one lasted all of 8 months and I needed a bigger one (he's 8 1/2 lbs now), so I dug it up this spring, and made a 2'X2" wood box, and buried that one 2' down. Now he sleeps in there all night, and comes out when he feels like it. All winter he used the above ground heated box, but once it got hot he went back to the 'cave'.

I made the opening 12" x 12" in the buried box, so maybe that one will last a couple years - we'll see hahaha
Covered the tunnel down into it with plywood so it could not cave in. I wish I had a camera I could run down in there to see if he has modified it any, it has an open floor so he can dig more if he wants to.

 

[thegame2388]

7/16/15: 2883g
7/23/15: 2947g

 

[Tom]

I made the opening 12" x 12" in the buried box, so maybe that one will last a couple years - we'll see hahaha
Covered the tunnel down into it with plywood so it could not cave in. I wish I had a camera I could run down in there to see if he has modified it any, it has an open floor so he can dig more if he wants to.

C'mon Mike! We need pics of all this!

 

[Alaskamike]

C'mon Mike! We need pics of all this!

Funny Tom, not nearly as elaborate as one of yours. You can see how I did it on this page -
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/tiny-tales.100944/page-7

If I figure out how to get a camera down there I take some photos of the inside now that he's dug around a bit.

 

[thegame2388]

One annoying aspect is that he doesn't eat the mazuri when I place them. He'll go to the side of the house, cool off, and just stays there until 9PM where I put him back in the box. I figured Sulcatas shouldn't be TOLD to be fed but it's getting frustrating.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

i'm not a sulcata owner , but I understand that some torts don't like mazuri.
Feed a mixed diet and sneak the mazuri in, if you need to.

 

[thegame2388]

i'm not a sulcata owner , but I understand that some torts don't like mazuri.
Feed a mixed diet and sneak the mazuri in, if you need to.

Oh no, mine loves Mazuri but sometimes he'll eat 75% of one pebble soaked in water and then he'll move on to the next.

Worst is when I put his food in the middle of our backyard, but then he'll just go to the side of the house and stay there until 9PM without coming to the food area.

 

[Tom]

Darn stubborn tortoise! Why doesn't he do things YOUR way???

 

[thegame2388]

Darn stubborn tortoise! Why doesn't he do things YOUR way???

LOL well the problem is that the food dries up and then he'll never come back and eat it!

 

[thegame2388]

UPDATE:

August 10th: 3133g
September 5th: 3583g

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Really beautiful tortoise.
Great photos.
Thanks.

 

[Dessy]

Im not an expert but hes beautiful

 

[thegame2388]

Thank you all!!!

 

[Oxalis]

He can definitely eat right off the pavement, no paper plate necessary.

Very pretty!!

 

[thegame2388]

Two months later: 4518g.

He's getting bigger.

 

[Oxalis]

Two months later: 4518g. He's getting bigger.

Hilariously cute!

 

[thegame2388]

Hilariously cute!

Yeah that's his growth over 1.5 years!

 

[Tom]

Nice.

 

[Jodie]

That's great! He looks amazing.