Sulcata Growth

[LindsayBee]

Hi! My family has had Sheldon since 2001 (he was just a babe when we got him), so he's about 13 years old now. My dad built a custom wooden enclosure that he was able to live in for the past 12 years - about the size of a plastic pool. He had everything he needed (my dad did and does all his research on our random pets - we also have a variety of healthy chickens, exotic fish, birds, etc), so we don't think this has anything to do with his living arrangements. He has his own little enclosure outside with special African grasses too that he grazes in for hours everyday! He's never been sick or had any problems. Why is he so small? Shouldn't he be a gentle giant by now?

I am attaching a picture of him in his new enclosure, you can see the little thermometer on the side. W can still pick him up with one hand, but carry him with two. I pet his head with one finger, his back foot (bottom) is the width of an inch. We know he should be bigger, but he is happy and appears healthy! He even comes when called!

Please help!

 

[wellington]

Please read Toms threads below in my post on how he should have been raised and you may find the reason. Also, sand is not good for them, it can cause impaction. Also, you should try to get him outside a lot more and the size of a plastic pool is good for a hatchling and juvenile.

 

[LindsayBee]

Please read Toms threads below in my post on how he should have been raised and you may find the reason. Also, sand is not good for them, it can cause impaction. Also, you should try to get him outside a lot more and the size of a plastic pool is good for a hatchling and juvenile.

Tom's threads?

Thank you.

 

[Maro2Bear]

LindsayBee, there are three small links to articles beneath wellington's post. End of Pyramiding, Beginner's Mistakes, and Closed Chambers. Lots of good information in those Posts.

 

[lismar79]

They are at the bottom of wellingtons signiture. Beginner mistakes etc...
Read this one for sure:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

Hopefully you can correct a few of these things and your tort will live a long happy healthy life. It is great that you found this site to learn & your tort sounds like a sweety!

 

[Tom]

Here are a few threads that will give you some insight. Things were done all wrong in years past and many people still haven't figured it out. These are not desert animals. In fact babies hatch during the monsoon season where things are hot, humid, rainy and marshy in some areas. There is green growing food everywhere and lots of water to drink. During the hot dry season, they are all underground in damp, warm humid burrows. Simulating these things has been key to starting healthy babies. Many of the babies from the old dry routine managed to survive, but many were stunted from the chronic dehydration like yours. The sand may also be partially blocking your tortoises digestive tract. Do you feed anything other than the grass? These things are all just guesses based on things we've seen here before and that I have personally witnessed for decades.

Check these out:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/hatchling-failure-syndrome.23493/
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/the-end-of-pyramiding.15137/

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Lindsay, and welcome to the Forum!

In my opinion, if your tortoise had been made to live outside 24/7 as soon as he reached about 6 to 8" in a straight line from front to back, he would be much bigger by now.

In order to grow strong, smooth and healthy, tortoises need (from hatching) humidity, varied and healthy diet, lots of exercise and plenty of good sunshine.

Many people keep sulcatas outside in northern states where the weather isn't always the best. You have to work around it.

Your tortoise looks great, just small.

 

[LindsayBee]

Thanks, everyone. I feel so bad that we made these mistakes. I was only 11, but my childish instincts should have been more adequate!

What would you recommend we do in order to get him on the right track? Mazuri? Cuttle bone? Outdoor enclosure?

It's going to take some convincing on my part to get my parents on board because I'm "not a vet," but I'll be inheriting Sheldon when they pass and I want him to be as well off as he can be!

 

[lismar79]

All of the above. Switch out sand too. Also, diet beside mazuri is important as well. The beauty of it is that now you do know so use it now to improve his life. He will thank you and you will have a wonderful friend for a really long time

 

[LindsayBee]

Here are a few threads that will give you some insight. Things were done all wrong in years past and many people still haven't figured it out. These are not desert animals. In fact babies hatch during the monsoon season where things are hot, humid, rainy and marshy in some areas. There is green growing food everywhere and lots of water to drink. During the hot dry season, they are all underground in damp, warm humid burrows. Simulating these things has been key to starting healthy babies. Many of the babies from the old dry routine managed to survive, but many were stunted from the chronic dehydration like yours. The sand may also be partially blocking your tortoises digestive tract. Do you feed anything other than the grass? These things are all just guesses based on things we've seen here before and that I have personally witnessed for decades.

Check these out:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/hatchling-failure-syndrome.23493/
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/the-end-of-pyramiding.15137/

He eats lettuce, grass, clovers, dandelions, and a certain plant leaf my dad gives him (I can't remember the plant. We give him those at "treats" because he shouldn't eat a lot of them).

So, if not sand, then what?

My parents are out of town so I'm experimenting with all your suggestions. Introduce him to a water dish - oh my goodness, he was so happy!

 

[lismar79]

Good job on the water! Everyone has their own preference for substrate. This is mine :

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0010OSIHW/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

I mix this on the bottom layer to hold humidity with reptibark (fir bark) on top. You can also use cypress but not pine. Pine is not good for torts.

 

[biochemnerd808]

I like either top soil or coconut coir (sold as 'Eco Earth' bricks in pet stores, but garden centers have it for cheaper in larger bricks). Both hold moisture well, without becoming too soggy.

 

[Tom]

So, if not sand, then what?

Please see paragraph 9:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/