So adorable!
I have a Leopard Tortoise that Ive had since the beginning of February and he was hatched on 4/30/19. I did a ton of digging on growth rates, and it seems tortoise growth rates have huge ranges that are influenced by anything from the way they are being raise to genetics. I weighed my tortoise for the first time a couple weeks after I got him, and he was a whopping 84 grams. I have been weighing him daily before his morning bath and he's up to 107 grams now, just over 20 grams in a month. I was really worried that he was so small when I got him but as long as he has steady weight gain I am happy. How heavy is Honey? Here is a good article on growth rates. http://leopardtortoises.com/leopard-tortoise-growth-rates/
Hi, wow that is a lot different to ours! We weighed honey just yesterday and she's only 80 grams at a year old so we are a little concerned ?
Have you been weighing her regularly? Also, how is your enclosure setup, temps etc..
Most people don't start this species correctly, or house them correctly, or feed them correctly. Under ideal circumstances, they can easily reach 600-800 grams in their first year. Few people hatch and start their babies, or raise and care for them with "ideal" conditions, so something around 200-300 grams of growth in their first year is more "normal".
tortoiseforum.org
tortoiseforum.org
Most people don't start this species correctly, or house them correctly, or feed them correctly. Under ideal circumstances, they can easily reach 600-800 grams in their first year. Few people hatch and start their babies, or raise and care for them with "ideal" conditions, so something around 200-300 grams of growth in their first year is more "normal".
The real "danger zone" is the ones that don't pass 50 grams. At 80 grams, your tortoise is not likely to drop dead, and should eventually begin to grow and catch up to "normal" with the right care and feeding.
Most people house them in open topped enclosures and tortoise tables, and it is impossible to create and maintain the correct conditions for this species in one of those type enclosures. They need a large closed chamber, daily soaks, and the right foods. Here is all the right care info. Read these and then come back with all your questions. We will help get you and your tortoise on the right track:
Beginner Mistakes
To comment on Tom's article, go here: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-split-Beginner-Mistakes#axzz1tG8s05M5 Over the years many of us, myself included, have made many of these mistakes, and we have certainly seen them made many times by others. With springtime upon us and many new...Leopards don't eat as much grass, but scroll down to the food list here:How To Raise A Healthy Sulcata Or Leopard, Version 2.0
It's been three years since the original care sheet, http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-63788.html , and I think its time for a review and an update. A lot of new info has come to light over the last three years and new insight has been gained through numerous experiences. What follows is my...tortoiseforum.org
For Those Who Have a Young Sulcata...
Over and over I type up and answer diet questions and try to get people feeding the right stuff, but I find that the "norm" is grocery store food. Grocery store food is expensive, a hassle to obtain, and very low on the list of what is best for sulcatas. These tortoises are GRASS eaters. From...
Overall, that looks like a good set up. I don't see a water dish, and the rims of those food bowls are too high. Terra cotta plant saucers sunk into the substrate work best.
