Size and feeding

[Shauna Kaye]

I have a sulcata I've had almost a year it still has the shell beak. It hasn't seemed to have grown much in the past year. I was just curious as to what others are feeding theirs and their growth rate as well. I know they all have different growing patterns just wanted to see others stories.

 

[ascott]

it still has the shell beak.

What does his mean? You will want to feed the tort baby a couple of times a day, each time offer the tort a pile that is equal in size to the entire tortoise....if the tort is chowing that down rapidly then adjust to offer a little more until you have the right size for the tort to get full....also, if the tort is allowed to graze on clean grass then that is way beneficial...

 

[Tank'sMom]

Is that a recent pic of the 1 year old tort?

 

[Tom]

Looks like your tortoise had a very dry start.

Read these:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/hatchling-failure-syndrome.23493/

 

[Shauna Kaye]

Is that a recent pic of the 1 year old tort?

Yes that pic was taken the other day

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Shauna, and welcome to the forum!

I think you need to make some drastic changes to the way you're taking care of your little sulcata. At a year of age he should be way bigger than he is - at least 3 times, maybe 4 times bigger.

Do you see that first scute right behind his head? That is not normal. It was either an injury (burned by the light), or maybe chewed off by a rodent???

I think if you go back and re-read all the care sheets that Tom wrote about taking care of hatchling sulcatas, and make drastic changes in your tortoise-keeping, you can turn this little guy around. Forget everything you 'thought' or was told and start again with a new frame of mind. Read "How to raise a healthy hatchling sulcata". You'll find it at the top of the Sulcata section.

In my opinion, once you get that baby into a humid environment and start feeding him better and soaking him daily, you'll see a very big change in his growth.

 

[Tank'sMom]

I'm glad you came here. I hope that the care sheets help you and there are lots of people here to help you if you have questions too!
Welcome!

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

I seccond that opinion! You need some proper humidity ASAP!