Sulcata Weight/Size

[LParkey]

Ok, so nobody had ever mentioned to me that I need to be weighing/measuring my tort until I joined this forum. I weighed her today and @ 22 months she weighs 92 grams and is 3.25". Is this a normal weight/size for her age? And also how often should I be weighing/measuring her?

 

[jaizei]

How sure are you on the age? That's very small, even for a slow grower.

 

[LParkey]

I got her in late March 2010, and she was really little. I didn't ask exact date of hatch. She was a bit larger than a golf ball.

 

[Jacob]

Does Sound Very Small,

 

[dmarcus]

Even for a slow growing sulcata that seems to be small for a 22 month old...

 

[LParkey]

What should her size/weight be at this age? And WHAT am I doing wrong?!?

 

[Madkins007]

If we apply the tBMI formula (http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-Tortoise-Weight-Formula-tBMI#axzz1iY4aa1ze), we get

cWTgr= 92
SCLcm= 8.255cm (assuming 3.25 is accurate)
tWTgr= 107.445
tBMI= 0.856, the goal is 1.0

She is pretty underweight, and seems pretty small for the age. Are you sure about the length?

 

[Jacob]

Most Average From 800-1000 Grams!
Do You Have A Natural healthy diet?
Warm Soaks Daily?
Heat, & Humity, uvb?

Tell Everyone Your Current Setup and or Daily Routine

 

[LParkey]

Holy crap ...
She is under a basking light and UVB during the day, night light at night. I was told to soak weekly and did so until joining this forum, since then daily. She eats dandelions, clovers, rose petals, hibiscus during growing months and mostly red leaf lettuce during cold months.
... sadness ...
What do I do?

I recently bought and planted seeds from the site below for a steady year round diet.

http://www.sulcatafood.com

 

[yagyujubei]

If it were me, I would get some Mazuri, and feed regularly. It will turn her around.

 

[Melly-n-shorty]

My leopard tortoise is 91 grams and is only 7 months old so i would say that's pretty small for a almost two year old. I weigh them at least once a week. did you measure strait down the plastron (bottom of the shell) or the carapace (top of the shell)?

 

[LParkey]

I just recently built her a tort table that is 3x4x1.2' before that she was in a 20 gal tank. She's got a UVB bulb and a basking bulb with a rock right below to radiate heat. Tomorrow we are putting plexiglass in the sides and top.

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-Sunshine-has-a-new-house#axzz1iYKrfle8[hr]
I measured her straight across her carapice

 

[Laura]

does she get outside? sunshine is very important... calcium.. and try th mazuri..

 

[Melly-n-shorty]

the plexiglass will help with the humidity. its a good move. I was just wondering on the measurements because it makes a difference for the formula madkins used. keep doing the soaks it will help. start weighing her every day so you can see if she drops weight or starts putting it on with the changes you make. if you do it first thing in the morning before you feed her or give her a soak then do so every time there after so. you want to be consistent as to when you weigh because food intake and soaks can make a difference. how is her appetite? are her droppings runny?

also i see from you last thread she doesn't have a hide. if you have a old tuperwear container you can make one

 

[LParkey]

She gets outside when it's nice enough - I live in OK. I give her calcium powder regularly. I just found a Mazuri dealer 30 miles from us, I'll go get some tomorrow or Friday!

 

[Hallbomber]

My Leopard tort Stella is 160g at 8 months. Every tort is different genetically and based on diet as well as habitat. Lets see some pics to make sure you have a Sulcata. If so, he/she is too small from what I know.

 

[LParkey]

 

[Jacob]

Looks Pyramided, Did You Spray or Create Any Humidity?

 

[LParkey]

I spray her entire substrate 2x daily

 

[Jacob]

Thats Better Than Not Spraying at all, But i Would Try To Wet The Entire Substrate and The Shell As Much As Possible, Maybe6-8 times Daily.