Hi guys I was wondering if anyone could help me. I've recently purchased 2 baby Sulcata's which are both boys and from the same clutch of eggs. I've had them for a year so far and one is doing really well and the other is still quite small. Have any of you heard of dwarfism in tortoise at all? They both eat the same and are now housed seperately.
Size
- Thread starter Lyn
- Start date
No, not a dwarf, Lyn. The reason you have a large one and a small one is because the less dominant tortoise is trying to stay out of the more dominant tortoise's way. The larger tortoise has told and is telling the smaller on to get out of his territory. Of course, he can't do that, so he stays small and inconspicuous. If you separate them, the smaller one's growth will take off.
Yeah they live seperate and don't even see each other in the garden. I'm hoping he starts to catch up soon but I just wondered. I did see a thread on here about a pair of leopard torts that we're different sizes. Thank you for the reply
Low UV, wouldn't account for the size difference. Someone is getting more food.
Here is a thread explaining the concept Yvonne mentioned more:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/pairs.34837/
You might also want to read this one and consider how your babies were started:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/hatchling-failure-syndrome.23493/
Here is a thread for how best to raise them:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
Here is a feeding thread:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/
And finally some things NOT to do:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
If you take the time to read all of these, you will have a much better understanding of what is going on.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/pairs.34837/
You might also want to read this one and consider how your babies were started:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/hatchling-failure-syndrome.23493/
Here is a thread for how best to raise them:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
Here is a feeding thread:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/
And finally some things NOT to do:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
If you take the time to read all of these, you will have a much better understanding of what is going on.
And by the way, they can't be sexed until at least two or three years old in most cases. Sometimes even longer. Temp sexing with incubation temperatures does work with lab grade equipment, but in the real world it often proves unreliable.
