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Lovechell69

Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2018
Messages
51
Location (City and/or State)
Arkansas
I was given a baby sulcata November the 11th of 2018. She weighed 52 grams. I weighed her yesterday and she’s now at 116 grams. How do I know if I am feeding her too much and is she growing too fast? I had to get a bigger log hide and cave because she’s gotten taller. She seems healthy. No problems eating loves soaking daily and lays in her water dish on her own. She’s active. I can’t wait until spring weather gets here so she can be outside in natural sun and learning to eat more of a sulcata diet. I feed her twice a day. She eats well but never eats everything. I have a vet that only treats sulcata’s and even rescues them. I’m not big on vets with exotic animals but I feel confident she will be great if Amara ever needs care. She knows a lot of what I’ve read in the archives here and what members helped me with when Amara was sick and well. She knows about baytril and the dangers of vitamin A. She knows about carrot baths and nasal flushes. She even has one that is hers and got her into rescuing. I met her when I took my dog to one of the vets that doesn’t specialize in exotics. I was so happy and blessed to find a vet that holds my views and those I’ve read here I forgot to ask her about watching her weight and if she’s gaining too fast. Nobody here has failed me here and a lot are long time sulcata moms and dads. So from November 11, 2018 until March 12, 2019 she went from 52 grams to 116 grams. She wasn’t taken care of at the exotic pet store my wife got her from. Her environment was horrific. They were feeding her cabbage only. They had her on reptile carpet so they wouldn’t have to clean up a mess. Lighting and humidity were a joke. I understand people treat pets as food equals love and I don’t want that to be the case. I want to give her the happiest healthiest life I possibly can. I’m 49 so I know I need preparations for her when I pass. I didn’t just arrange anyone. Only the best the knowledgeable loving person who will give her what she deserves and needs. I knew what I was getting into as far as how long she will live how big and cost. I’ve learned a lot here about the day to day needs. Is she growing too fast or too slow? I’ve read your not supposed to kiss your sulcata anywhere but Amara has three personalities. Don’t bug me. I’m going to be funny and entertain and the third affectionate. She nudges my nose and rubs her nose on mine. She comes to me when I call her baybe yes its how I spelled it. The internet has never been accurate. I have found very good information and opinions that work great here. She likes to play with her cuttlebone when she’s not sharpening her beak. So please if you can answer to the best of your experience and knowledge please do.
 

ascott

Well-Known Member
10 Year Member!
Joined
Apr 10, 2011
Messages
16,138
Location (City and/or State)
Apple Valley, California
I was given a baby sulcata November the 11th of 2018. She weighed 52 grams. I weighed her yesterday and she’s now at 116 grams. How do I know if I am feeding her too much and is she growing too fast? I had to get a bigger log hide and cave because she’s gotten taller. She seems healthy. No problems eating loves soaking daily and lays in her water dish on her own. She’s active. I can’t wait until spring weather gets here so she can be outside in natural sun and learning to eat more of a sulcata diet. I feed her twice a day. She eats well but never eats everything. I have a vet that only treats sulcata’s and even rescues them. I’m not big on vets with exotic animals but I feel confident she will be great if Amara ever needs care. She knows a lot of what I’ve read in the archives here and what members helped me with when Amara was sick and well. She knows about baytril and the dangers of vitamin A. She knows about carrot baths and nasal flushes. She even has one that is hers and got her into rescuing. I met her when I took my dog to one of the vets that doesn’t specialize in exotics. I was so happy and blessed to find a vet that holds my views and those I’ve read here I forgot to ask her about watching her weight and if she’s gaining too fast. Nobody here has failed me here and a lot are long time sulcata moms and dads. So from November 11, 2018 until March 12, 2019 she went from 52 grams to 116 grams. She wasn’t taken care of at the exotic pet store my wife got her from. Her environment was horrific. They were feeding her cabbage only. They had her on reptile carpet so they wouldn’t have to clean up a mess. Lighting and humidity were a joke. I understand people treat pets as food equals love and I don’t want that to be the case. I want to give her the happiest healthiest life I possibly can. I’m 49 so I know I need preparations for her when I pass. I didn’t just arrange anyone. Only the best the knowledgeable loving person who will give her what she deserves and needs. I knew what I was getting into as far as how long she will live how big and cost. I’ve learned a lot here about the day to day needs. Is she growing too fast or too slow? I’ve read your not supposed to kiss your sulcata anywhere but Amara has three personalities. Don’t bug me. I’m going to be funny and entertain and the third affectionate. She nudges my nose and rubs her nose on mine. She comes to me when I call her baybe yes its how I spelled it. The internet has never been accurate. I have found very good information and opinions that work great here. She likes to play with her cuttlebone when she’s not sharpening her beak. So please if you can answer to the best of your experience and knowledge please do.


LOL....so, while I have had the urge, several times, to want to kiss a tortoise (just as Gregg @ALDABRAMAN how silly I am about that) but have to hold back for both of our sanity and safety....hell, I have had many times I want to boogie to Florida and sit with Gregs lady and tortoise all around while I have cups full of Margaritas and feeding Aldabras goodies...I digress...ok so back to reality I go.

Let me say right from here, I do not house Sulcata. That does not mean I am an idiot, just that I do not house this species. If you have a tortoise that is a "large" species, then please do expect that the tort grows "rapidly" once in a desirable situation. I would offer all that the tort wants to eat, I would offer an "optimal" set up with warmth, area for movement and a great variety of foods are all good. If the tort has a growth stint then awesome, why not? right?

Relax, have fun offering what you can and want to and form a bond with the tort and enjoy....torts are a fun, fascinating creature..each species has its own personality...while a specific species has a normal set of behaviors, the fun starts when you get to "know" your own tort. Have fun..:)
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,264
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
Don't worry about the rate of growth. Worry about the health of the new growth. If your tortoise is in a large, warm, humid enclosure, getting soaked daily, and being fed the right foods, then all should be good. They all grow at wildly different rates and for a wide variety of reasons. The growth rate of yours is well within "normal", if not a little on the slow side.
 

Lovechell69

Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2018
Messages
51
Location (City and/or State)
Arkansas
Don't worry about the rate of growth. Worry about the health of the new growth. If your tortoise is in a large, warm, humid enclosure, getting soaked daily, and being fed the right foods, then all should be good. They all grow at wildly different rates and for a wide variety of reasons. The growth rate of yours is well within "normal", if not a little on the slow side.
Unfortunately Amara had a bad start. She was a gift from my spouse who didn’t know about pet stores. When I got her the only information I had was what they had given my spouse. I went to the store to ask and see for myself. I don’t want to think about her care before the store. She came down with a respiratory infection not quite three weeks later. I had lost a box turtle because a vet had given a overdose of vitamin A so I didn’t want to go on the hunt for a different exotic vet which in the hardcore farming country of Arkansas is difficult out of panic. I found the archives here. Carrot baths nasal flushes raise temps humidity and baytril so I did it all as well as having members in this forum give opinions knowledge and support. Amara had lost weight when she got sick so taking that into consideration and the two replies I feel like we’re good lol. Now if the weather would behave like spring Amara is going to experience life outside with me for the first time. I’m excited for her
 
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