Question for the advanced owners.

[Edizzle888]

Rocky & Apollo 7-8 months old from the same clutch.
Apollo is 215 grams
Rocky is 75 grams

I've had them since they where 1-2 months old. Rocky has gained 40 grams and Apollo 170.
I have followed all the rules on raising them that Tom has posted (they are kept separate)

The question is...is Rocky out of the woods yet ?since he seems very healthy and acts like he should. Should I just consider him small or still might have issues later? Just from your experience with runts.

Thanks

 

[Yvonne G]

Size differential in pairs is USUALLY due to a stronger personality intimidating a less dominant personality. But because you mentioned that you don't keep them together, I don't have a clue. Just go over your husbandry and make sure the lighting, heat, food, water, etc. is all what it is supposed to be. Sometimes that's all we can do. Maybe @Tom has some words of wisdom for you.

 

[Edizzle888]

He does have his own enclosure. Has always since I got them

 

[Edizzle888]

I mean I don't care if the little fella small forever.

 

[Edizzle888]

So just if by this age I can consider him normal just small. And not in danger of dying from being a runt is the main question

 

[Yvonne G]

He's probably not as sensitive as a newly hatched baby would be, but because of his small size, he will dehydrate quickly under the hot lights, so you need to continue to soak daily.

 

[Edizzle888]

Will do.

 

[Bogie=babyDINO]

I have a 7 month old as well and he is a runt too. I've been really worried about his growth but I've been reading threats that say as long as they are gaining weight weather it be a little or a lot that's a good sign. What is a bad sign is when they stay the same weight. My little one was 72g for 3 months. I got really scared and upped his mazuri intake so he got more protein. 2 weeks later I weighted him at 81g!! Yay!! I think he is over the hump! Just make sure your little one is gaining weight and not staying the same.

 

[Bogie=babyDINO]

Theads* not threats! Haha

 

[Edizzle888]

That's great! He gains about 2-3 grams a week. His bro gains like 20-30 grams a week lol

 

[Bogie=babyDINO]

Oh you should be fine then. He's just going at his own pace. His brother is trying to beat a record or something lol

 

[Alaskamike]

I know a family where one brother is 5'6". And the other 6'2". Presumably from same parents
Sometimes we forget that tortoises are a bit promiscuous and one clutch can have eggs fertilized by different males. Add to this natural genetic variation and .... Well, differences are inevitable.

 

[Edizzle888]

That's very true. Just paranoid lol since I have read so much negative stuff about the ones that don't grow much

 

[Careym13]

I have 2 yearling Leopards that are housed separately (they weren't always, but have been for a while now) and one is 300 grams and they other is 220-230...depending on the day I weigh him. They are clutch mates and their diet and husbandry is exactly the same. The funny thing is, when I got them at 3 months old, the now bigger was was actually noticeably smaller. So, I guess they just grow at their own pace. The smaller guy eats and gains weight, just not as fast as the other one.