Your tortoises is 3 years old and 40 pounds? That is under weight. Maybe that has something to do with it.
I don't have sulcata, but all torts grow at different rates depending on various things, so there are no definite age/size charts. If you can post some pics of him, his enclosure and the video mentioned above you'll get good feedback and advice from very experienced keepers.
He's suppose to gain 20 pounds a year. At least thats what I'm told. But i think the first year he should only gain 10 pounds. So he should be... 50 pounds. But all tortoises grow at different rates so I don't think its because of the weight. And its only 10 pounds off so...
Sulcatas are fast at growing and putting on weight. You have a leopard and leopards dont weigh or get as big as a sulctata.
Yes my ex-roommate has a Sulcata, who is possibly 8 years old and if I had to guess since the last time I saw him in January might be 60#, that would be a growth of 7.5#/year.
Lets ask @Tom what he thinks it should weigh.
This is way off base my man. Around 10 pounds a year is really good growth with the right temps, hydration, and diet. 40 pounds at 3 years old is on the large end of the spectrum. Mine don't even grow 10 pounds a year once I move them outside.
I can't say I've ever encountered this. I'd like to see the video. A problem in the step could be MBD, but this is unlikely if your tort lives outside in the sun shine. Could also be dehydration related like a stone or constipation. What's your soaking routine and what do you feed?
Thank you. He isn’t underweight and is actually large for his age.
where did you hear they should put on 20lbs a year?
he grazes grass, get cucumber snacks daily, and mazuri LS soaked once a week. I don’t soak him but I do fill his mud puddle up and shoot him with a hose daily. He has access to clean water for drinking and soaking but mostly stomps through it
He is beautiful and looks really smooth. Keep up the good work.
These answers make dehydration or MBD seem highly unlikely. What has your calcium supplementation routine been during all this fast growth over the last three years? Cuttlebone available? Powdered calcium? Ever feed opuntia pads, mulberry leaves, grape leaves, or other high calcium foods?
Yup. He eats all those. I put powdered calcium on his mazuri once a week.
Seem's like he has a lil hitch in his giddy-up (sorry, not making fun of it...)
I would to do it that way. Mazuri is carefully balanced nutrition. Adding calcium upsets that fine balance. Better to add the calcium to greens or other foods that might be lacking in calcium.
