Should I keep?

[CarterEvan]

Hello,

Ive had my tortoise since September of 2015 and have made many mistakes along the way. The tortoise has seen hardly any growth and weighs 35 oz. I believe my lack of humidity, bulb placement and diet were detrimental to my tortoises youth and growth.

I since then have drastically improved his temperatures, humidity, and diet for around 3 months now.

Even though his life conditions have improved, he has not grown hardly at all. Should i consider putting him up for adoption so someone with more experience can help him?

I'm not sure what else I'm supposed to do at this point. Thanks for any input or advice that can be provided!

 

[keepergale]

Assuming you still want a tortoise just be patient. It can take some time for the husbandry improvements to be reflected in a growth surge for your tortoise.

 

[CarterEvan]

Assuming you still want a tortoise just be patient. It can take some time for the husbandry improvements to be reflected in a growth surge for your tortoise.

Thanks. I absolutely want to keep him but i just don't want him to suddenly get sick and die when theres the possibility someone out there could've helped him better than i could have.

 

[mike taylor]

If you are on here you care . So just read up and fix what you can and enjoy your tortoise .

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I've said it before. And it's true.
Once you get the hang of tort keeping, it gets pretty easy.
Hang in there unless your little guy is truly sick.

 

[CarterEvan]

If you are on here you care . So just read up and fix what you can and enjoy your tortoise .

thanks for the advice!

 

[CarterEvan]

I've said it before. And it's true.
Once you get the hang of tort keeping, it gets pretty easy.
Hang in there unless your little guy is truly sick.

thanks! i don't think he's very sick. he's just very small and doesn't grow.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

To worry is normal.
It's actually a very good sign that you two will be ok.

 

[Yvonne G]

It takes time. May I know what foods you are offering? This might be a clue as to why he's not growing.

 

[CarterEvan]

It takes time. May I know what foods you are offering? This might be a clue as to why he's not growing.

He gets spring mix with a generous amount of grass clippings sprinkled on top along with dandelion leaves mixed in. i also sprinkle calcium with D3 twice a week. I hope to be able to grow plants when i am able to move him outside during the summer.

 

[J.P.]

even after you corrected the husbandry, it will take time before the tortoise recovers. only after recovery will you see growth.
don't worry, as long as it eats/poops/sleeps regularly, you'll eventually see it flourish. and he/she is no lightweight at 35oz.

 

[Tom]

He gets spring mix with a generous amount of grass clippings sprinkled on top along with dandelion leaves mixed in. i also sprinkle calcium with D3 twice a week. I hope to be able to grow plants when i am able to move him outside during the summer.

You need much more variety than that, and he needs a vegetable based protein source if you want him to grow. Most leopards don't care much for grass. You need more broadleaf weeds, succulent, leaves, flowers and some Mazuri would help too.

I see you joined in August and got your tortoise a month later. What happened? If you were here getting the right advice, why was your humidity low, diet wrong, and bulb placement not right? I'm just curious. What were you feeding before the spring mix with grass clippings?

Here's a list of good foods:
Mulberry leaves
Grape vine leaves
Hibiscus leaves
African hibiscus leaves
Blue hibiscus leaves
Rose of Sharon leaves
Rose leaves
Geraniums
Gazanias
Lavatera
Pansies
Petunias
Hostas
Honeysuckle
Cape honeysuckle
Leaves and blooms from any squash plant, like pumpkin, cucumber, summer squash, etc...
Young spineless opuntia cactus pads

Weeds:
There are soooooooo many...
Dandelion
Mallow
Filaree
Smooth Sow thistle
Prickly Sow thistle
Milk thistle
Goat head weed
Cats ear
Nettles
Trefoil
Wild onion
Wild mustard
Wild Garlic
Clovers
Broadleaf plantain
Narrow leaf plantain
Chick weed
Hawksbit
Hensbit
Hawksbeard

Other good stuff:
"Testudo Seed Mix" from http://www.tortoisesupply.com/SeedMixes
Pasture mixes or other seeds from http://www.groworganic.com/seeds.html
Homegrown alfalfa
Mazuri Tortoise Chow
ZooMed Grassland Tortoise Food

 

[CarterEvan]

I joined earlier but I supposed I didn't do as much research as I should. I pulled information from various websites and some said he would be alright with my original diet and humidity. I really should've looked here before anywhere else.

also do you know where I can get those plants and leaves??

 

[Linhdan Nguyen]

Thanks. I absolutely want to keep him but i just don't want him to suddenly get sick and die when theres the possibility someone out there could've helped him better than i could have.

I was in a similar position about a month ago, but everyone here is very helpful and encouraging, and it does take some time for your tortoise to "get better", so just be patient

 

[Kasia]

I joined earlier but I supposed I didn't do as much research as I should. I pulled information from various websites and some said he would be alright with my original diet and humidity. I really should've looked here before anywhere else.

also do you know where I can get those plants and leaves??

Go outside and find a non polluted area/ place that has not been fertilised and peek them out from grass/trees. In a sunny day take your torty for a trip with you to keep you company In a large city area it's maybe better start growing your own food.

 

[JoesMum]

Go outside and find a non polluted area/ place that has not been fertilised and peek them out from grass/trees. In a sunny day take your torty for a trip with you to keep you company In a large city area it's maybe better start growing your own food.

No! Do not take torty with you.

I agree that picking weeds from an unpolluted area is great, but leave your tort at home in his enclosure.

1. Torts don't travel well and don't like change.

2. There's a high risk of him escaping. Fully warmed up, a tort is surprisingly fast and it only take a momentary lapse of concentration.

3. In public places, you really have no idea what's been going on. Your tort is quite likely to pick up a load of parasitic worms and end up sick.

Leave tort at home. You bring the weeds to him.

 

[CarterEvan]

Just now saw your replies and thanks for all your help!