Shell and Size

[TortNZ]

Hi All
I’ve had my tort for 5 months now. Such a pleasure to have around ?
I wanted to check in With you to check if her shell is growing nicely. I think I have the enclosure all correct ( lights, substrate, humidity). The only thing I still struggle with is her food. I have started giving her weeds and flowers mashed up with Komodo diet as that is the only way she eats them.
Evo is now 16 months old and as of today 210 g. Now I know she is growing to fast. But I’m not sure how to slow it down. I have attached a short video of the amount of food she gets.
My questions:
Should I feed her every second day?
Is her shell OK or has she got pyramiding as the font looks a little raised or is it maybe her spine?
She sleeps most of the day tucked away in her humid hide.It’s to cold 5-10c through the day outside. How can I get her moving a little more?
Sorry about the amount of pix and thanks for your help.
A ??

 

[TortNZ]

Please ignore the first pix and the cat pix. Cheers

 

[Maro2Bear]

Greetings. All looks good to me, and i would feed daily. Theres been lots of discussion about skipping days of food, etc, and in the end it’s always agreed upon that daily feeding is normal. Skipping days isnt normal. You could double or triple the size of your enclosure for my crawl space. Just wondering if your substrate is too dry? (it might be fine, just looks dry).

 

[g4mobile]

I use coco coir and cypress mulch or fir bark on top for less mess. I dump water in a couple times each week and give it a good stir. It keeps humidity above 80% very easy. Try mixing Mazuri original formula with greens, such as green leaf lettuce, dandelion greens, etc. and offer food every day. I would also throw cuttlebone in the enclosure. Your tortoise will eat the cuttlebone as needed when they require more calcium.

 

[Jodipg82]

Hi All
I’ve had my tort for 5 months now. Such a pleasure to have around ?
I wanted to check in With you to check if her shell is growing nicely. I think I have the enclosure all correct ( lights, substrate, humidity). The only thing I still struggle with is her food. I have started giving her weeds and flowers mashed up with Komodo diet as that is the only way she eats them.
Evo is now 16 months old and as of today 210 g. Now I know she is growing to fast. But I’m not sure how to slow it down. I have attached a short video of the amount of food she gets.
My questions:
Should I feed her every second day?
Is her shell OK or has she got pyramiding as the font looks a little raised or is it maybe her spine?
She sleeps most of the day tucked away in her humid hide.It’s to cold 5-10c through the day outside. How can I get her moving a little more?
Sorry about the amount of pix and thanks for your help.
A ??

Looks good but your substrate seems dry...i have found the Fir Bark is so nice and hold moisture without getting nasty. I tried the coco coir but my leo hatchings eyes were really bothered by it . Your tort is beautiful!!

 

[Tom]

Time for a much larger enclosure. Something with taller sides will help hold humidity much better.

Also time for a larger water dish. Get the 10" size. (25cm).

Your substrate looks too dry and too fluffy. Dampen it and hand pack it down. Or you can switch to orchid bark at this size.

Also time for a larger humid hide. Something darker and opaque might be more comfortable and inviting for your tortoise.

The growth looks good, but not perfect. Using a better type of enclosure and dampening the substrate will help with this.

Cut out the Komodo diet. Just feed the weeds and flowers, and if the tortoise chooses not to eat, so be it. Offer the correct foods (Weeds, leaves, flowers, etc...) and let the tortoise choose how much it wants to graze daily. Soak daily during this time period as the soaks will keep the tortoise hydrated and also stimulate appetite during this time when it may choose to be picky and wait for the Komodo pellets.

 

[Jovon]

Please ignore the first pix and the cat pix. Cheers

Dude I got unlucky with my tort bc she doesn’t really like me ( probably cuz she was adopted) and if I had turned her over in my hand she would have rolled over and try to get outta my hand.?

 

[TortNZ]

I use coco coir and cypress mulch or fir bark on top for less mess. I dump water in a couple times each week and give it a good stir. It keeps humidity above 80% very easy. Try mixing Mazuri original formula with greens, such as green leaf lettuce, dandelion greens, etc. and offer food every day. I would also throw cuttlebone in the enclosure. Your tortoise will eat the cuttlebone as needed when they require more calcium.

Yes, I dampen it every second day and spray down daily. Can’t order Mazuri here, will have to order from the USA but at the moment all international parcel post is suspended. I sprinkle calcium on his food as he has not been touching the cuttlebone. Thanks for your advise ?

 

[TortNZ]

Looks good but your substrate seems dry...i have found the Fir Bark is so nice and hold moisture without getting nasty. I tried the coco coir but my leo hatchings eyes were really bothered by it . Your tort is beautiful!!

Thank you very much ??

 

[TortNZ]

Time for a much larger enclosure. Something with taller sides will help hold humidity much better.

Also time for a larger water dish. Get the 10" size. (25cm).

Your substrate looks too dry and too fluffy. Dampen it and hand pack it down. Or you can switch to orchid bark at this size.

Also time for a larger humid hide. Something darker and opaque might be more comfortable and inviting for your tortoise.

The growth looks good, but not perfect. Using a better type of enclosure and dampening the substrate will help with this.

Cut out the Komodo diet. Just feed the weeds and flowers, and if the tortoise chooses not to eat, so be it. Offer the correct foods (Weeds, leaves, flowers, etc...) and let the tortoise choose how much it wants to graze daily. Soak daily during this time period as the soaks will keep the tortoise hydrated and also stimulate appetite during this time when it may choose to be picky and wait for the Komodo pellets.

Hi
Yes, I will try to reorganise my living area but have already purchased a bigger enclosure. Have a cover for the current one with a small opening cut out at the top. Just take it of for a bit. Will get bigger drinking dish and black hide for new enclosure. Thanks for the advise.
I soak my tort daily for 30 min for hydration but I did not know that this will also stimulate their appetite. Thanks for this info.
are tortoises more picky in winter?Many thanks for your advise. ??