Simon's Growth Thread

[mikeylazer]

So I figured since Simon is going to be around for a while, I might as well start a growth thread for him, weighing him once a week and measuring his straight line carapace length twice a month. He is currently kept on 50/50 soil and cocoa coir with a patch of sphagnum moss to wipe his feet before he eats and drinks. He has a humid hide bin just like on Neal's thread. His basking temp is around 105, his warm side is mid to low 90s and his cool side is 88. He feeds on a variety of greens including many greens in spring mix ESPECIALLY the escarole, as well as some kale and mustard greens on his nighttime meals. He also gets one nugget of Mazuri every morning. His humidity is kept at 50% around the entire enclosure.

Week 1: March 18th, 2015 - 2.25" 48grams
Week 2: March 25th, 2015 - 2.30" 49grams



Are those spots on his plastron normal or should I be worried?

 

[teresaf]

gorgeous! They're so cute when they're babies. I just got my first leo too. Mine was already 3 years old, 10 inches long so i don't need to deal with the higher humidity but Im still trying to set up everything else. He was an impulse buy. LOL

By the way, Simon is an awesome name. I named my Burmese Black Mountain torts Simon and Helga! (After a couple of Basset hounds that we had when I was a babe).

 

[lismar79]

Beautiful baby

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Cute little baby

I'll enjoy following along with your results. I've only done it the "high humidity" chamber way, so when someone does it differently, like moderate humidity with a humid hide, I like to see how it goes


(Since this is a online forum and you are reading text I add this: I'm in no way mocking you or trying to compare methods in a condescending way...I'm genuine in saying I'm interested)

A few others that used humid hides with moderate humidity in the enclosure stopped posting...so keep up on your updates!

 

[gingerbee]

Beautifiul!! They all get such beautiful patterns on their shells as they grow!!!

 

[mikeylazer]

Cute little baby

I'll enjoy following along with your results. I've only done it the "high humidity" chamber way, so when someone does it differently, like moderate humidity with a humid hide, I like to see how it goes


(Since this is a online forum and you are reading text I add this: I'm in no way mocking you or trying to compare methods in a condescending way...I'm genuine in saying I'm interested)

A few others that used humid hides with moderate humidity in the enclosure stopped posting...so keep up on your updates!

Okay good to know! The one thing that I have noticed is that he hates his humid hide, but I do put him in it when I can no matter how fast he walks out...

 

[Levi the Leopard]

In my experience, all my leopards hated all hides lol
I ended up ditching hides and keeping a lot of plants...they looooved hiding in the plants!

 

[mikeylazer]

In my experience, all my leopards hated all hides lol
I ended up ditching hides and keeping a lot of plants...they looooved hiding in the plants!

Okay I do still need to invest in more plants... Would them not being in a humid hide potentially ruin the results of moderate humidity...

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Okay I do still need to invest in more plants... Would them not being in a humid hide potentially ruin the results of moderate humidity...

I guess my comment was more for "sharing" not advice. I have no idea how plants in a moderately humid set up would do. I've never done it that way.

 

[mikeylazer]

So the good news is that Simon had a successful visit to the vet after his lack of eating and loss of about 5 grams in a week. The good news is that he is eating normally again and is definitely on a huge growth spurt right now eating 2 full meals a day. He has gained 5 grams over the past 5 days and is now heavier than he was his little vet trip! He is putting on the grams and I couldn't be happier. Here is the current spread for him.

Week 1: March 18th, 2015 - 2.25" 48 grams
Week 2: March 25th, 2015 - 2.30" 49 grams
Week 3: April 1st, 2015 - 2.30" 45 grams
Week 4: April 8th, 2015 - 2.40" 50 grams

 

[sherminator]

My year old loves his hide but pulls out all the humid making substrate unfortunately. Just keep the plants moist and that should keep a good humid spot to rest and sleep. I have to do that now near his hide opening for increased humidity. Great growth spurt

 

[J.P.]

my leopards use their hide. after they are done with eating, roaming, soaking, or whatever tortoise business, they always go in their hide and sleep. maybe your totoise goes out because it wants to do something else.

 

[mikeylazer]

Today is a big day for Simon! (And i mean that literally. He wieghed in today at 61 grams! He has gained 10 grams in a week and his growth lines keep growing and im beginning to see some marbling on areas of his shell! Is 10 grams wayyyyy to much for one week or is this good healthy growth?

Here is his spread:

Simon:

March 18th: 2.25" 48g
March 25th: 2.30" 49g
April 1st: 2.30" 46g
April 8th: 2.40" 50g
April 15th: 2.47" 51g
April 22nd: 2.52" 61g

 

[cmacusa3]

Great news!

 

[J.P.]

That's great!!! congrats.

Growth spurts are quite common. If i plot the growth rate of my small collection of 4 leopards, only one will show a somewhat straight curve, the rest will be jagged due to irregular perios of sudden growth.

 

[mikeylazer]

Here is an update for my 9 weeks of having simon! He is really starting to take off! Also he is starting to marble on a various parts of his shell and he is feeling quite dense if i do say so.

Simon:

Week 1: March 18th 2015: 2.25" 48g
Week 2: March 25th 2015: 2.25" 49g
Week 3: April 1st 2015: 2.30" 46g
Week 4: April 8th 2015: 2.40" 50g
Week 5: April 15th 2015: 2.47" 51g
Week 6: April 22nd 2015: 2.52" 61g
Week 7: April 29th 2015: 2.55" 64g
Week 8: May 6th 2015: 2.6" 67g
Week 9: May 13th 2015: 2.62" 71g

 

[mikeylazer]

12 WEEK UPDATE:

Simon:

Week 1: March 18th 2015: 2.25" 48g
Week 2: March 25th 2015: 2.25" 49g
Week 3: April 1st 2015: 2.30" 46g
Week 4: April 8th 2015: 2.40" 50g
Week 5: April 15th 2015: 2.47" 51g
Week 6: April 22nd 2015: 2.52" 61g
Week 7: April 29th 2015: 2.55" 64g
Week 8: May 6th 2015: 2.6" 67g
Week 9: May 13th 2015: 2.62" 71g
Week 10: May 20th 2015: 2.65" 75g
Week 11: May 27th 2015: 2.67" 81g
Week 12: June 3rd 2015: 2.7" 86g

I can't beleive how well he is growing! Its exciting and I cant wait until I see a "100" on that scale!

 

[mikeylazer]

So now that Simon has his two little siblings with him, I was not sure how his weight would be affected by the possible new stresses I introduced o him. At first I expected him to be a little more skittish and a possible lack of appetite, but my chart shows differently! I also added the two new guys weights on here and as you can see they havent gained very much weight, but have produced new shell growth and Mr. Saturn definitely eats more than Sonia who is picky (Simon still eats the most).

Long story short, SIMON BROKE 100g!

Simon:
(Birthday- Jan 21st 2015)
Week 1: March 18th 2015: 2.25" 48g
Week 2: March 25th 2015: 2.25" 49g
Week 3: April 1st 2015: 2.30" 46g
Week 4: April 8th 2015: 2.40" 50g
Week 5: April 15th 2015: 2.47" 51g
Week 6: April 22nd 2015: 2.52" 61g
Week 7: April 29th 2015: 2.55" 64g
Week 8: May 6th 2015: 2.6" 67g
Week 9: May 13th 2015: 2.62" 71g
Week 10: May 20th 2015: 2.65" 75g
Week 11: May 27th 2015: 2.67" 81g
Week 12: June 3rd 2015: 2.75" 86g
Week 13: June 10th 2015: 2.77" 92g
Week 14: June 17th 2015: 2.80" 99g
Week 15: June 24th 2015 2.82" 105g

Mr. Saturn:
(Birthday April 21st)
Week 1: June 10th 2015: 2.00" 39g
Week 2: June 17th 2015: 2.10" 42g
Week 3: June 24th 2015: 2.18" 42g

Sonia:
(Birthday April 21st)
Week 1: June 10th 2015: 2.10" 34g
Week 2: June 17th 2015: 2.10" 32g
Week 3: June 24th 2015: 2.17" 34g