underweight

[bikerchicspain]

Ive 6 torts 3 of them are ok in weight but the other 3 the largest are slightly under weight as Danny knows, how can i get them up to weight? i put more food in and they dont eat it all, They are all healthy and running about like madmen henri was still trying on with mini so i seperated them but still not fatten up, any ideas please?

 

[egyptiandan]

Have you done any worming lately Yvonne?

Danny

 

[Stephanie Logan]

Can torts just be skinny, like people? A range of acceptable weight, so to speak?

 

[bikerchicspain]

Yes i do a test on them every month as i work with vets i have access to the equipment, they are all clear but even so i did worm them 3 months ago with panacur and metronidazole. I will get another test done tomorrow just in case, they hate me when i have them wormed they sulk all day in there hiding places..

 

[Yvonne G]

I don't know how thin your torts are, but (Just my 2cents here), males are usually a bit skinnier than females.

 

[bikerchicspain]

Calculations done by Ahailey as danny showed me, miya is 129gr and she should be 134gr, mini is 900gr when she should be 1009 and Henri is 534gr when he should be 632, but his weight could be due to him being sexually frustrated.

 

[alfiethetortoise]

Mmm, i dont really know anything to help your plight. Except i feed alfie some dried tortoise food and that seems to make a difference to weight gain (better gain if i feed it one-two times a week than if i only use once or dont bother).

Sorry to jump your thread but i have never had alfie's poo tested, or done worming. Should i be doing this? I took her to the vet, and she said she was fine, no problems. But then Alfie probably is the only 'tortoise in the village' so to speak. And wo knows about before then....

 

[bikerchicspain]

I think its a good idea to get them tested every now and then especially if they are outside all you need to do is a cotton wool bud smear it wish fresh poo and get your vet to have a look. About the dry food i tried that once and they looked at me enough to say go and eat it yourself and go get my fresh food. ok so i spoil them..

 

[alfiethetortoise]

Alfie is inside, the weather is too cold here. Maybe ill call in by the vet and see what they say! And what exactly are they testing for?

Alfie loves that dried stuff, wolfs the lot. Have you tried Squash? I guess if you left it long enough and tey were hungry they would eat it?

 

[bikerchicspain]

Any kind of internal parasite

 

[Stephanie Logan]

...Henri is 534gr when he should be 632, but his weight could be due to him being sexually frustrated.

About the dry food i tried that once and they looked at me enough to say go and eat it yourself and go get my fresh food. ok so i spoil them..

And to think there are people out there who do not believe tortoises are very "emotive"...I'm not even going to ask for details on that first observation!

 

[TortieGal]

I think its a good idea to get them tested every now and then especially if they are outside all you need to do is a cotton wool bud smear it wish fresh poo and get your vet to have a look. About the dry food i tried that once and they looked at me enough to say go and eat it yourself and go get my fresh food. ok so i spoil them..

Have you tried Mazuri and soaked it first? My Sulcata loves it.

 

[Meg90]

I have the same problem. My adult male Greek is underweight as well. He just wont EAT as much as I would like. I put extra in every day, but it doesn't make a ton of difference. I have been trying to get him to take mazuri soaked and sprinkled over his greens to bulk him up, the girls love it! (ages 4 mos and 14 mos). I feed extra treats too, to try and help him gain (bell pepper, squash etc). He hates the mazuri. He'd rather make "art" with it, all over his bin.

If you find the secret, let me know!

 

[bikerchicspain]

What is Mazuri and can i get it on the net without ordering from the states, shops here dont really cater for reptiles?