underweight?

[skuttle]

hi guys. can i ask what the right weight or average weight for a 3 inch cherry head. mine is 80 grams. is he underweight? thanks

 

[pfara]

http://www.tortoiselibrary.com

There's a formula to figuring out a general weight in the link provided above. It should be under "Healthy weight and size" in the health section. It says that it's not very accurate for hatchlings or babies, but I've been using it just to get a general idea since I've had my hatchlings; it seemed to give me numbers I felt comfortable with.

I don't think a weight and size chart has ever been compiled on the forum. It would definitely be nice, but I can see people freaking out to strive for the "perfect" tortoise. As long as your little one has constant growth and weight isn't dramatically decreasing, he eats/drinks fine, is fairly active, and has healthy, frequent poops, then you shouldn't be worried about comparing one tort to another. Remember, they all grow at different rates just like people. Take care

 

[Yvonne G]

I go by how it feels in my hand. If the tortoise feels like a rock of the same size, its weight is ok. If it feels like a shell full of air, it is underweight.


(I know, I know....real scientific!)

 

[skuttle]

I go by how it feels in my hand. If the tortoise feels like a rock of the same size, its weight is ok. If it feels like a shell full of air, it is underweight.


(I know, I know....real scientific!)

honestly her shell is rock hard. but when i carry her it seems okay by the feel of it. but somthing telling me when i carry her in my hands that her shell is not full or shall i say fat

 

[Alan RF]

I go by how it feels in my hand. If the tortoise feels like a rock of the same size, its weight is ok. If it feels like a shell full of air, it is underweight.


(I know, I know....real scientific!)

honestly her shell is rock hard. but when i carry her it seems okay by the feel of it. but somthing telling me when i carry her in my hands that her shell is not full or shall i say fat

Sounds the right weight for the size. I had a kind forum member work mine out for my RF and he was overweight !! However, within a month his shell grew bigger! Now I just monitor his weight regularly.

 

[Redstrike]

The Donoghue formula that others have been referring to is very easy to use and provides an excellent reference. You can take it a step further by calculating a Body Mass Index (BMI) as Mark Adkins has so kindly written about at his website (tortoiselibrary.com - Pfara linked this above).

If you need help with the calculations, send me PM.