Slow Growth?

[drewby07]

Hi guys! i've been lurking here for a little while, but this is my first post!

I purchased this little guy/girl June 26. I purchased from a "flipper" in FL...so I don't know any history before I got him. He/She has been a great eater from the start. I have a nice moist hide and also an outdoor "play area" for sunning time several times a week. He/she eats a good variety of grass, mulberry leaves, weeds, spring mix (occasionally) and pelleted grassland tortoise chow, moistened with water. In addition to the moist hide box, the enclosure has a water dish sunk into the substrate to allow soaking whenever he/she wants it.

I admittedly do not have a UV light, but plan on getting one since fall is here and colder outdoor temps will soon prevent outdoor time.

I have been seeing pictures here of growing sulcatas, but mine doesn't seem to be growing a lot. I think I can see new shell growth, but he/she still seems small to me. The belly still seems to have some give to it, as does the scute over the tail. I know the shells are flexible when they hatch, but should it have firmed up completely by now?

I've attached pics of my little guy / girl. Let me know what you think! (excuse the close up of the face...looks like someone needs to wipe their mouth!)

 

[NinjaTortoises]

Well looks like a baby, get it checked for worms asap, but if he is still a baby then i think its ok but if hes older than it could be worms, another member had a tortoise who was 9 or 11 months old and still was the size of a baby and it died, turned out it had a massive case of worms

 

[wellington]

Yes, I would think the shell would be hard by now. However, they do always have a slight give to them. Is it mushy or more like a slight give? Also the slow growth may have to do with the way it was raised before you got it. Check out the threads below in my post. They are a great way to raise a smooth sulcata. Also, what are your temps and substrate? The diet sounds good. Do you soak him/her every day or how often?

 

[Tom]

Hello and welcome.

Do you have a weight?

I have some that were hatched around that time and they are now 134-151 grams. The group three weeks older than that weigh between 189-243. The group three weeks older than that are between 216 and 283 grams.

Just for comparisons sake...

 

[Seejai]

Well looks like a baby, get it checked for worms asap, but if he is still a baby then i think its ok but if hes older than it could be worms, another member had a tortoise who was 9 or 11 months old and still was the size of a baby and it died, turned out it had a massive case of worms

I just got a baby. Seems perfectly healthy, but there isn't a reptile vet in the area. Is having them checked for worms necessary and routine? If so I can do it myself (I'm a biology major, I SHOULD be able to make a slide a find worms..). Is it something that should be done regardless or are there symptoms I can wait for before taking his poo to the lab? I've actually been wondering about this.

 

[Tom]

There is a whole technique to doing a fecal float and checking for worms and pathogens. You will be better off paying the $25 to let someone with lots of tortoise experience do it for you, or have them spend a few months teaching you how to do it and what to look for.

 

[Seejai]

There is a whole technique to doing a fecal float and checking for worms and pathogens. You will be better off paying the $25 to let someone with lots of tortoise experience do it for you, or have them spend a few months teaching you how to do it and what to look for.

Is it a standard procedure though, or is it something you do when there are symptoms?

 

[sibi]

Hi and welcome. Whenever there are issues (growth, diet, etc) especially since this tort looks like it could be 1-2 months old, then checking for worms and getting it treated could be a matter of life or death. If it isn't routine for most tort owners, it should be! The chances of the tort having worms that deprive it of all its nutrients is so serious that I personally won't take that chance of not going to a vet and having it checked out. Btw, any vet can detect and treat worms--they don't have to be specialists w/torts to treat it. Also, most important, you said you purchased your tort June 26th? Was the pic you provided taken then (June) or is it a recent pic? If the pic was taken recently, that would make your tort about 4 months old. If he's 4 months old, then I agree, he's way too small and looks like a newborn. If, on the other hand, the pic was taken when you first got him, then it doesn't really represent what he looks like now, and you'll need to update his pic. Having a soft shell isn't uncommon for baby torts even at 4 months old, but it shouldn't be so soft that it feels mushy. Please update your info.

 

[drewby07]

Hi guys, thanks for the replies! replies to questions are below:

- the shell isn't SOFT per se....but does have some give. like maybe the same give as pressing on a tennis ball?
- Substrate is clean soil / coco coir. Soon to be switched to cypress mulch.
- Temps are in the 90s in the basking spot and room temp on the other end of the enclosure.
- I have not had it checked for worms.
- last weight (last week I believe) was 45 grams. Has steadily gained a few grams a week in the couple of weeks I've been weighing him/her
- The pics were taken when I posted the thread, so he's at least 4 months old.

 

[Tom]

There is a whole technique to doing a fecal float and checking for worms and pathogens. You will be better off paying the $25 to let someone with lots of tortoise experience do it for you, or have them spend a few months teaching you how to do it and what to look for.

Is it a standard procedure though, or is it something you do when there are symptoms?

Its a personal choice. Some people have them done periodically just to make sure all is well. Other people figure that if there is no problem, why spend the time and money?

 

[drewby07]

Also to point out, I haven't been soaking, as he/she is in and out of the water wallow several times a day. New growth on the shell is coming in flat, so pyramiding doesn't seem to be a problem.

I also got a UVB bulb this weekend for the enclosure, as well as some live plants and cypress mulch which i still need to swap out. I've got Mazuri on the way as well....hopefully with lots of TLC and food, and a possible vet visit my guy will catch up!