Not gaining weight

[kyel3840]

I have 1 tortoise that's only gained 3 grams and the other 2 are the same weight for the third week in a row. I have them in an enclosed chamber and soak them daily. It's 86 ambient and 100 degree basking with an Arcadia 12% for uvb. The humidity stays between 90 and 93%.

 

[kyel3840]

I feed them endive, escarole, dandelion greens, collard greens, mazuri, cilantro and kale on occasion

 

[wellington]

It's possibly it is getting bullied and not being allowed to eat as much as it wants. Even though you have more then a pair, there can still be bullying. What size is the enclosure? I used a 2x4 for just one leopard hatchling.
Set him up by himself and see if things change. I would also keep a very close eye on the other two.

 

[kyel3840]

They are in an 8x4x2

 

[kyel3840]

This is the enclosure

 

[Relic]

I would try and incorporate either live plants or artificial plants to make the habitat more natural - it is very open, and that openness might increase the stress level of the tortoises and inhibit feeding. Perhaps even try feeding in a "secluded" situation: under an overhanging plant, partial hide box, etc. I think the key is to try a variety of feeding schemes until you hit on one that works.

 

[Markw84]

Your enclosure looks way too dry. What are you using for substrate? I definitely prefer fine grade orchid bark. I know you believe your humidity is at 90%, but with a temperature in the enclosure of 86°, if your room temp is 84° or lower, you would have condensation on the glass doors. Humidity makes a huge difference in the way a young tortoise will do.

Depending upon your room temperature, with the enclosure on the floor, ensure that the corners and all spots in the enclosure do not ever go below 80°. It doesn't look like the enclosure is insulated. Next to a drafting fireplace and door, there will be a significant heat loss there. Do you check all sections of your enclosure with a heat gun?

As mentioned above, plants they can hide beneath makes a huge difference as well. A young tortoise would never be out in the open naturally. It would remain hidden deep in grass clumps and dug in beneath bushes. The overhanging branches of a boston fern, for example, not only provides cover, but it also creates a hide where the humidity will stay at almost 100%.

Make the changes and ensure the humidity and temps are correct throughout the enclosure and see how they do for a few weeks. There is also a chance that your tortoises were also started too dry by the breeder. Can you post some good pictures of your tortoises to see how they have grown to this point? That would help give an idea of their start.

 

[Emily Contreras]

what humidity measurer are you using?? It doesn't look that humid in there but it might just be the picture. Usually the glass gets foggy or starts to drip.

 

[Emily Contreras]

My enclosure was really open. I noticed mine stopped eating a lil, I put some live grass patches, he started gaining some weight

 

[kyel3840]

That was a pic when I just set it up it has condensation on the glass now. I use cypress mulch as bedding.

 

[kyel3840]

This was just before I turned the heat up a little. That's the lowest the humidity gets in there

 

[Emily Contreras]

This was just before I turned the heat up a little. That's the lowest the humidity gets in thereView attachment 256576

Hmm thats really weird. Is he eating good?

 

[kyel3840]

He eats but not really that much

 

[Emily Contreras]

He eats but not really that much

Do you soak daily and give him an hour of sunshine (when its warkm outside) My baby didn't eat in his enclosure untill i let him outside and put plants. So maybe give him an hour of sun?

 

[kyel3840]

Lately it's been cold outside here. I live in Oklahoma. So right now he just gets his uvb from the Arcadia 12%. I soak him for 30 minutes every morning

 

[Emily Contreras]

Lately it's been cold outside here. I live in Oklahoma. So right now he just gets his uvb from the Arcadia 12%. I soak him for 30 minutes every morning

hm. Weird everything seems right. maybe you should just wait for him to pull through.

 

[kyel3840]

I went and bought some wheat grass to put in the enclosure in a few spots