Lrodmyre
Member
Hi All,
I have rescued turtles for many years and have acquired a hatchling Indian Star tortoise. Have had it a couple of months now. My question/concern is its weight. When I received it, it weighed 29.0 grams. I weigh it every Wed. and its weight fluctuates from 29.5 to 34.5 grams. Up and down.
I made it a vivarium - 6'x3'.
Substrate is 4" of organic garden soil, a little sand, cypress much, all mixed. Topped with reptibark so I can see the poo.
Temp is kept at 87 degrees during the day, 79-80 at night. 80% humidity.
I have an RBI heat panel on the ceiling. 4' zoo med t5 ho strip uvb. Basking Mercury Vapor uvb at 100 degrees.
My husband is the administrator of an organic warehouse so he gets me lots of organic dandelions, tortoise approved salad greens, Mazuri once to twice a week, mixed with ground up hays. I grow tortoise grazing seeds from Carolina Seed supply and the Arizona tortoise compound, white and red clover, millet, oat grass, etc. I continually keep a 3" by 5" seed starter container with the tortoise grazing seeds grown in there and she eats them besides her dish of food.
My granddaughter name it Bella, so for sake of what it is, we call it a "she".
I am just concerned about the weight thing. She can go from 34.5 grams down to 30 grams up to 32 grams down to 30 grams again. She eats, poops, walks around, basks under the basking light, sleeps in her little house in the afternoon, comes out, eats again. Sleeps in her house at night, comes out in the morning, warms up under the basking light, then eats. I soak her everyday for at least 30 minutes in 85 degree water. Change it to stay warm.
I took her to my reptile vet when I first received her, and she checked out fine. They didn't do a fecal check. I'm wondering if I should have that done just to be on the safe side? I just think after a couple of months she should be at a consistently higher weight.
I apologize for the length. Just trying to give you a clear picture. I am attaching a picture of the vivarium.
Thanks for your help! Glad you are here!
I have rescued turtles for many years and have acquired a hatchling Indian Star tortoise. Have had it a couple of months now. My question/concern is its weight. When I received it, it weighed 29.0 grams. I weigh it every Wed. and its weight fluctuates from 29.5 to 34.5 grams. Up and down.
I made it a vivarium - 6'x3'.
Substrate is 4" of organic garden soil, a little sand, cypress much, all mixed. Topped with reptibark so I can see the poo.
Temp is kept at 87 degrees during the day, 79-80 at night. 80% humidity.
I have an RBI heat panel on the ceiling. 4' zoo med t5 ho strip uvb. Basking Mercury Vapor uvb at 100 degrees.
My husband is the administrator of an organic warehouse so he gets me lots of organic dandelions, tortoise approved salad greens, Mazuri once to twice a week, mixed with ground up hays. I grow tortoise grazing seeds from Carolina Seed supply and the Arizona tortoise compound, white and red clover, millet, oat grass, etc. I continually keep a 3" by 5" seed starter container with the tortoise grazing seeds grown in there and she eats them besides her dish of food.
My granddaughter name it Bella, so for sake of what it is, we call it a "she".
I am just concerned about the weight thing. She can go from 34.5 grams down to 30 grams up to 32 grams down to 30 grams again. She eats, poops, walks around, basks under the basking light, sleeps in her little house in the afternoon, comes out, eats again. Sleeps in her house at night, comes out in the morning, warms up under the basking light, then eats. I soak her everyday for at least 30 minutes in 85 degree water. Change it to stay warm.
I took her to my reptile vet when I first received her, and she checked out fine. They didn't do a fecal check. I'm wondering if I should have that done just to be on the safe side? I just think after a couple of months she should be at a consistently higher weight.
I apologize for the length. Just trying to give you a clear picture. I am attaching a picture of the vivarium.
Thanks for your help! Glad you are here!