Anyone care to discuss?
What I want to address and discuss are the varying growth rates achieved by different methods of housing and raising babies. Specifically the old "dry" methods compared to the new "wet" methods. For the purposes of this discussion I define "dry" methods as a dry substrate, low humidity, and infrequent soaks. I define the "wet" method as damp substrate, higher humidity, humid hides, and frequent soaks.
Frequently people suggest that "slow" growth simulates what happens in the wild and is desirable. These same people suggest that "fast" growth is bad and associated with all sort of maladies. I dispute both of these assertions and here are the two key points I wish to discuss which explain why I disagree.
1. For years I have been raising groups of tortoises of the same species together. Some grow faster than others for a wide variety of reasons. My fastest growing tortoise also grow the smoothest and appear to be the most healthy and vigorous.
2. Many times I have raised identical groups on the same diet and the same quantity of food. No one can tell me why, but a group raised drier with more "natural" conditions grows much slower than an equivalent group raised with high humidity and daily soaks. Same food in the same quantity. One group processes it more efficiently and grows at a much faster rate. The other group eats the same amount of the same food, but grows much slower somehow. Is this faster growth bad? As long as nutrient, fiber and mineral needs are met, how can it be bad if a tortoise is growing and growing smoothly too? I am not trying to grow my tortoises at ANY speed, fast or slow. I try to feed them well, provide optimal conditions for the species and age, and I don't care how fast they grow. My goal is to grow them HEALTHY, not fast or slow. I just find it fascinating that they grow faster on the same amount of food when they are better hydrated.
Please jump in and share observations of your own tortoises raised one way or the other. I feel I have a unique perspective on this because I have been raising so many groups side by side for so many years, where most people raise fewer or one tortoise, and stick to one method or another, so they don't have the numbers to compare. So please tell me where and why you think I am wrong, or right.
What I want to address and discuss are the varying growth rates achieved by different methods of housing and raising babies. Specifically the old "dry" methods compared to the new "wet" methods. For the purposes of this discussion I define "dry" methods as a dry substrate, low humidity, and infrequent soaks. I define the "wet" method as damp substrate, higher humidity, humid hides, and frequent soaks.
Frequently people suggest that "slow" growth simulates what happens in the wild and is desirable. These same people suggest that "fast" growth is bad and associated with all sort of maladies. I dispute both of these assertions and here are the two key points I wish to discuss which explain why I disagree.
1. For years I have been raising groups of tortoises of the same species together. Some grow faster than others for a wide variety of reasons. My fastest growing tortoise also grow the smoothest and appear to be the most healthy and vigorous.
2. Many times I have raised identical groups on the same diet and the same quantity of food. No one can tell me why, but a group raised drier with more "natural" conditions grows much slower than an equivalent group raised with high humidity and daily soaks. Same food in the same quantity. One group processes it more efficiently and grows at a much faster rate. The other group eats the same amount of the same food, but grows much slower somehow. Is this faster growth bad? As long as nutrient, fiber and mineral needs are met, how can it be bad if a tortoise is growing and growing smoothly too? I am not trying to grow my tortoises at ANY speed, fast or slow. I try to feed them well, provide optimal conditions for the species and age, and I don't care how fast they grow. My goal is to grow them HEALTHY, not fast or slow. I just find it fascinating that they grow faster on the same amount of food when they are better hydrated.
Please jump in and share observations of your own tortoises raised one way or the other. I feel I have a unique perspective on this because I have been raising so many groups side by side for so many years, where most people raise fewer or one tortoise, and stick to one method or another, so they don't have the numbers to compare. So please tell me where and why you think I am wrong, or right.