Kona is Losing Weight!

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I weighed Kona last Sunday and she was 354 grams. I weighed her again today and she weighed 345 grams! She is losing weight even though she is eating all her foods, going to the bathroom regularly. I don't know why. Do you think I should feed her more? The pictures should give you an example of how much she eats per day.

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daniellenc

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I will try to feed her more and see if she gains any weight. Thanks for the advice.
Also try one plain cooked shrimp every other week unseasoned and finely chopped, Mazuri 2-3 times a week, and all the veggies and greens. You’ll know your portions are good when food is always left over.
 
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I have tried feeding mazuri but Kona won’t even try it. I am think about getting hibiscus powder to get her to try it. Is boiled chicken okay instead of the shrimp? It would be easier because it is what we feed the dogs. Thanks for the fast replies :)
 

daniellenc

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I have tried feeding mazuri but Kona won’t even try it. I am think about getting hibiscus powder to get her to try it. Is boiled chicken okay instead of the shrimp? It would be easier because it is what we feed the dogs. Thanks for the fast replies :)
Any protein works and btw Skurt wouldn’t eat protein or Mazuri for awhile. Just keep offering it eventually they love it over greens and fruits.
 

daniellenc

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The bulk of their diet should be weeds, greens, flowers,and fruit. Mazuri I use as an add in to her or he’s greens 2-3 times a week but if you over do it they’ll stop eating what they should. Skurt loves plain chicken but goes nuts over shrimp. Won’t eat dog or cat food at all but try everything because they do change taste wise. Papaya and mango are fav fruits for skurt. Also, I feel like the less I thought the more Skurt ate lol.

it’s just trial and error. If weight loss continues get a fecal. Parasites and worms are common and an easy fix. Are stools firm and dark?
 
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Sorry, I didn’t mean I would feed the mazuri and chicken daily or have it be the bulk of the diet, I just wanted her to try more things.

The stool is firm and dark. I had weighed her after she went poo, so this could be why there was a huge drop in weight. I will feed her more to make sure I am not feeding her too little. Thank you for all the replies, I really appreciate it.

Kona loves mango too. I give Kona weeds as often as I can - picking them from the yard - but it is getting so cold. I feel bad not letting Kona get her time outside. I can’t wait until winter is over and the temps raise so she can get as much time outside as possible. We are even planning to build a large enclosure for her to spend her days outside in the spring/summer.
 

Relic

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I weighed Kona last Sunday and she was 354 grams. I weighed her again today and she weighed 345 grams! She is losing weight even though she is eating all her foods, going to the bathroom regularly. I don't know why. Do you think I should feed her more? The pictures should give you an example of how much she eats per day.

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That's only a 2 1/2% drop in weight, nothing to be alarmed about...unless it becomes a trend. (Like a 200 pound man dropping 5 pounds - he'd never even notice it in the mirror) Start keeping a log for a while and see how it goes. You will have a much better idea of how things are really going, and the week-to-week changes won't be upsetting if the longer term trend line is up.
 
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That's only a 2 1/2% drop in weight, nothing to be alarmed about...unless it becomes a trend. (Like a 200 pound man dropping 5 pounds - he'd never even notice it in the mirror) Start keeping a log for a while and see how it goes. You will have a much better idea of how things are really going, and the week-to-week changes won't be upsetting if the longer term trend line is up.


Definitely, I have already bought a notebook to track her weight and growth.
 

ZEROPILOT

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Don't do weigh ins any more than once a month.
Weight fluctuations are too common.
However, you should never see a reduced weight twice in a row. That is 2 months in a row.
This would indicate a health issue.
I like to mash up a little banana or some berries in Mazuri for my little ones.
Vary the diet.
 
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Is the mazuri the 5m21 or does it say LS?
Many torts don't like the LS.

Unfortunately, the package had been repackaged and no longer says the type of mazuri that I bought. I am sure bought it as the "original" tortoise diet and am pretty sure I didn't buy the LS tortoise diet. She seems to be eating it now though. She didn't eat much when she first came home with me, she might have not eaten it because of the stress she had been though before hand.
 

daniellenc

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Kona ate her mazuri when I mixed it with the greens! This is the first time! I will defiantly keep offering the food Kona is refusing.
See Kona is like oh ok this IS good. I’ve got grown kids so poor Skurt had to learn. Just keep it up they take to your schedule. No animal will starve to death without you not feeding. Keep offering variety, weigh in November , and breathe. Skurt is currently eating everything. But he had to learn and pretty sure I should be using she cause short tail here. Really that bulldozer will start eating so much you question how much you purchase in winter.
 

ZEROPILOT

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Unfortunately, the package had been repackaged and no longer says the type of mazuri that I bought. I am sure bought it as the "original" tortoise diet and am pretty sure I didn't buy the LS tortoise diet. She seems to be eating it now though. She didn't eat much when she first came home with me, she might have not eaten it because of the stress she had been though before hand.
The simple fact that it was repackaged almost guarantees it's the 5M21 formula.
Because it's only sold in giant, 25 pound bags.
 

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