Tortoise weight gain??

My main concern is that he has only gained 4-5 grams in the last year. Is that ok?

  • Yes

    Votes: 3 75.0%
  • No

    Votes: 1 25.0%

  • Total voters
    4

Cindy63

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2019
Messages
37
Location (City and/or State)
Staten Island
I am no expert. I think and feel that every case is different. Question. "Is there any papers regarding WHERE the Tortoise is coming from"? Or is it just word of mouth from Petco?
No papers but they also couldn't tell me anything about her age
 

dmmj

The member formerly known as captain awesome
10 Year Member!
Joined
Aug 15, 2008
Messages
19,613
Location (City and/or State)
CA
I bought mine from Petco too. Does this mean she's wild caught?
Petco only sells WC they are cheaper to buy so they make more money $$$$$
 

Yvonne G

Old Timer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
95,393
Location (City and/or State)
Clovis, CA
Here in the U.S. there is no paperwork involved when selling tortoises. The pet stores buy them from wholesale distributors by the bunch. The wholesalers get them from 'gatherers' in the tortoise's home country by the hundreds. The pet store tells the wholesaler, "Send me a group of 10" (or whatever) and they get the tortoises shipped to them with an invoice for billing. That's about it.
 

Cindy63

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2019
Messages
37
Location (City and/or State)
Staten Island
Here in the U.S. there is no paperwork involved when selling tortoises. The pet stores buy them from wholesale distributors by the bunch. The wholesalers get them from 'gatherers' in the tortoise's home country by the hundreds. The pet store tells the wholesaler, "Send me a group of 10" (or whatever) and they get the tortoises shipped to them with an invoice for billing. That's about it.
Thank you for the info
 

LaLaP

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2018
Messages
961
Location (City and/or State)
Portland, OR
I sure love my 2 wild caught Russians but thinking about this process that they go through... being plucked out of their home and transported with hundreds of other torts... probably stored in poor conditions... it breaks my heart. Is there any end in sight for this practice? And how is the species being impacted in its wild habitat?
Unfortunately I imagine as long as there is a demand it will keep happening and us new tort owners don't know until we already have one (thanks to Petco lying to us).

Here in the U.S. there is no paperwork involved when selling tortoises. The pet stores buy them from wholesale distributors by the bunch. The wholesalers get them from 'gatherers' in the tortoise's home country by the hundreds. The pet store tells the wholesaler, "Send me a group of 10" (or whatever) and they get the tortoises shipped to them with an invoice for billing. That's about it.
 

Cindy63

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2019
Messages
37
Location (City and/or State)
Staten Island
I sure love my 2 wild caught Russians but thinking about this process that they go through... being plucked out of their home and transported with hundreds of other torts... probably stored in poor conditions... it breaks my heart. Is there any end in sight for this practice? And how is the species being impacted in its wild habitat?
Unfortunately I imagine as long as there is a demand it will keep happening and us new tort owners don't know until we already have one (thanks to Petco lying to us).
I agree. The stress these poor things must have gone through. And I paid alot for mine and now thinking that she was wild caught kinda breaks my heart.
 

Changa

Active Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2018
Messages
152
Location (City and/or State)
Ca
What kind if proof? I've had her for over a month
Some kind of paper, I guess.
It's been month so this good.
I had my Sultcas for 7 mos. They are 2yrs old and 1yr old(my niece couldn't keep them)and not knowing anything on them and Thank God and the help from Tortoise Forum Veterans and They Know what their talking about. the care of our tortoises' They have tortoises.
 

Changa

Active Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2018
Messages
152
Location (City and/or State)
Ca
Lo
Some kind of paper, I guess.
It's been month so this good.
I had my Sultcas for 7 mos. They are 2yrs old and 1yr old(my niece couldn't keep them)and not knowing anything on them and Thank God and the help from Tortoise Forum Veterans and They Know what their talking about. the care of our tortoises' They have tortoises.
Luv u guys Tortoise Veterans
 

RosemaryDW

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Feb 17, 2016
Messages
4,393
Location (City and/or State)
Newport Coast, CA
Good morning! Thank you for all the insight. Rags is still our little boy!. As far as the fruits (apple, banana and cucumbers) they are only giving 1-2 a week as a treat a small amounts.The basil and cilantro are 1-2 a week also. Thanks again!

I understand wanting to give treats! But giving fruit to a Russian tortoise isn’t like a human having a little candy. They would almost never find a fruit that sugary in the dry dry area they come from, certainly not every week, and their bodies can’t digest it. Russians are tough and may not show food problems right away but it is definitely problematic in the long term.

If you have flowers without pesticides, that is a better treat. They have some sugar but not too much. Rose and hibiscus flowers are always popular, as are squash blossoms if you can get them. There may be other flowers in your yard that your tortoise loves; generally speaking there are few “bad” flowers. If you don’t have access to anything, you can try some very cheap dried hibiscus flowers from a Mexican market and see what happens; they will be labeled “jamaica.” You can also offer the occasional bit of sweet potato, yam, or winter squash; the top of a carrot. A small mushroom every now and then; a slice of zucchini. I usually give my tortoise a treat like this once a week or so. I do sometimes give her the end of a cucumber when I slice it so it’s not never, just not often.

Cilantro and basil are great whenever! I’m just jealous. It’s a running joke at my house how ours will never eat cilantro, no matter what I try. :)
 

dmmj

The member formerly known as captain awesome
10 Year Member!
Joined
Aug 15, 2008
Messages
19,613
Location (City and/or State)
CA
Hibiscus flowers = tortoise crack. I give my russians strawberry tops, that way they get some greens with it.
 

DesertGirl

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2017
Messages
366
Location (City and/or State)
Fabulous Las Vegas, NV
Hibiscus flowers = tortoise crack. I give my russians strawberry tops, that way they get some greens with it.

I SO want to feel hibiscus flowers but everything comes from a nursery dripping with poison. If I buy one, is one year long enough to wait for the plant to grow out of all the toxins? Maybe two to be safe?
 

New Posts

Top