Our hatchlings weight
- Thread starter jabbamama
- Start date
I am surprised he eats the hay. Welcome to the forum. There is a lot of bad information out there. The care guides and advice here is the most current and proven effective available.
It is never to late. My Leopard was almost 4 years when I found this forum. I have changed everything I thought I knew. Although he is pyramided, he is now healthy and happy.
remember not to feed just one thing to your tort variety is the best. i make sure there is at least 7 different types of plants when i feed my torts.
I'm sometimes too pushy and not tactful enough. I want to tell you what I think with a minimum of typing. This is all intended to help.
Most people do "research" before getting a tortoise, but the problem is that every care sheet is just one person's opinion that they typed up on the internet. A lot of it conflicts. How is a new tortoise owner supposed to now which advice to follow? I suggest looking at results and trying to discern the level and quality of experience. I've hatched and raised hundreds of sulcatas. I've done all sorts of experiments to see ow they grow best and why. I met a tortoise researcher from Africa who was able to help me understand why the old info was wrong, and why what I was doing was working. I hope that you will read and follow my care sheets and other threads, but if you don't, I understand.
If your baby is 38 grams at 2 months or even worse 6 months, there is a problem. I don't know how your baby was started, but this is the most likely explanation: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/hatchling-failure-syndrome.23493/
I thank you for your honesty and concern... I am certainly going to follow your advice.
With the exception of size, none of the other hfs symptoms fit jabba... He is very active, has clear and clean eyes, is not lethargic, and drinks, poops, and urinates every day.
If I begin changing his diet tomorrow , giving him a mix of wheat grass, collard, and turnip greens, will he recover? Is this a good mix until my own grass grows?
With the exception of size, none of the other hfs symptoms fit jabba... He is very active, has clear and clean eyes, is not lethargic, and drinks, poops, and urinates every day.
If I begin changing his diet tomorrow , giving him a mix of wheat grass, collard, and turnip greens, will he recover? Is this a good mix until my own grass grows?
Use as many different items from the list as possible. It is winter here too. Each time I go to the store I buy at least 4 different kinds of greens, escarole, endive, kale, bok choy, collard and mustard greens, occasionally romaine...and a different combination each time. I add grass, hibiscus leaves, rose of Sharon, hens and chicks and cactus pads, oh and pumpkin and squash that I have already. They get different combinations and foods as much as possible. Your baby is not so much sick as just stunted. These are things you need to do to keep him healthy and give him the best chance to grow.
As part of a varied diet yes. It is high in calcium, but has oxi..something that binds to calcium. I fail to remember the specifics and scientific explanations. Sorry.
Here is a thread with better information than I can give.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/kale.34137/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/kale.34137/
Endive and escarole are 2 of the best options. Stores are carrying dandelions around here sometimes too. I am always excited to find them.
I would lean more toward endive, escarole and spring mix. Supplement it with the wheat grass and add in a soaked ZooMed pellet or some Mazuri once in a while.
There is no way to know if your tortoise will recover. If his kidneys were damaged due to chronic dehydration as a hatchling, he may or may not pull through. Some of them make it and some don't. Just give him daily soaks, the best temperatures and care you can offer and hope for the best.
Do you know how this baby was started? Where did you get it?
So everything I have read and been told about not giving them lettuce is wrong? I'm just asking because we want to do what is best for him and after reading everything I am terrified of losing him.
We got him from a reptile convention. All the breeder told us was that he was 3-4 months old and was a good eater. He was eating spring mix when we got him.
We got him from a reptile convention. All the breeder told us was that he was 3-4 months old and was a good eater. He was eating spring mix when we got him.
Iceberg lettuce is worthless, and romaine is slightly better. The nutritional value is different in different lettuce. Weeds and grass is best. Winter time though we have to compromise and do the best we can. Some Mazuri is beneficial as well.
