Size Chart?

[MistyChee']

Is there a sizing chart anywheres for sulcatas? I just want to make sure my little ones ate on the right track.

 

[ascott]

I am giving your thread a bump...I know that there was this exact thing somewhere here on the Forum...hope my bump will be seen by the right person...anyone remember that thread????

 

[MistyChee']

Thanks ascott! : )

 

[LuckysGirl007]

Hmm....if there is I would LOVE to check it out also. If there's not.....Tom????????

 

[DesertGrandma]

Is this the one you are referring to Angela?

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/Thread-Tortoise-Weight-Formula-tBMI#axzz26VfHOJt8

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I believe this thread was more about determing if your tortoise is at a healthy weight.

 

[lovelyrosepetal]

FYI after reading all through this chart I see that it is not meant for hatchlings. I guess it is for a little older tortoises. Maybe there is another chart for babies? Tom, do you know if there is a growth chart for baby tortoises?

 

[Tom]

Sorry. I know of no growth chart for sulcatas. Some of them reach only 80 grams by their first year, while others reach 1500 grams. There is such a huge variety in the ways they are fed and kept, as well as how they are started, that any "average" would be meaningless.

In my experience, if all goes well, most hatchlings should be somewhere in the neighborhood of 800-1000 grams in their first year. If they were started dry and dehydrated, you might only get 200-400 grams in the first year. Just throwing out some general numbers here. These are some typical normal ranges that I have seen.

 

[lovelyrosepetal]

Then I must assume that as long as they are growing, acting normal, pooping and eating fine, that you don't need to worry too much? That is what I am taking from everything that I have read and from what Tom has just posted. Correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Tom]

I think that is correct. What I like to see is a nice steady weight gain from week to week. When they stay at the same weight for a week or two, then I start to worry. A gram or two a week is good gain for a hatchling, but it should accelerate as they gain size. I have some 16 week old babies that gained 30-40 grams over two weeks recently, for example.

 

[MistyChee']

As always, thanks for the information!

 

[LuckysGirl007]

FINALLY found a gram scale tonight! Will be weighing the babies in the morning...they were already sleeping when I got home. Will be posting weights tomorrow!