weight and length?!

i was just wondering if anyone has a chart or kow where i can get one, to monitor shellys weight, ive read the length of the tort determines the weight but was wondering of the actual measurements!

[sandy]

Depends on the speices<g>.
If it a hermanns, ibera, or graeca then the Jackson Ratio is a rough guide, its not set in stone.
You can find a chart by using the search button.

[EJ]

I was surprised to see a very well respected vet in the Leeds area actually recommends agains using weight as a health assessment measure and I can understand why. Sometimes rapid weight gain is actually a bad indication as a sign of water retention which is bad but that is an exception. If you monitor your tortoies weight on a regular basis you can see what is normal and what is not.

For the European tortoises like the Greeks and Hermans the Jacksons ratio gives you a good general figure.

Another means which was developed by a very good nutritional oriented vet here in the states is this formula... Weight(g) = .59(lengthxwidthxheight)(cm cubed) +338. If the weight difference is greater than 10 % of this number it is recommended that the tortoise be watched...

Your best guide is to plot the results of your own tortoise to give you a 'normal' indication. Rate should never be a factor. Tortoises are like people and more so in that there are individual metabolisms in addition to environmental differences in which each individual or group is kept. If you have a healthy and active tortoise this is you best guide.

Originally Posted by *laura*

i was just wondering if anyone has a chart or kow where i can get one, to monitor shellys weight, ive read the length of the tort determines the weight but was wondering of the actual measurements!

[Bertie1974]

Hiya Laura

Hope this helps

http://www.ahailey.f9.co.uk/menu.htm

Go to condition calculation, it will ask you to type in things such as length and weight,l then it will tell you whether you tort is within a healthy weight range.

You could probably use a notebook to document weights/lengths, just to make sure that growth is steady.

Sam x x

[nina]

Hi Ed,

Nice to see you here. Are you still in the UK, or are you back in the States now? You'll find this a really friendly, helpful forum.

Nina

Originally Posted by EJ

I was surprised to see a very well respected vet in the Leeds area actually recommends agains using weight as a health assessment measure and I can understand why. Sometimes rapid weight gain is actually a bad indication as a sign of water retention which is bad but that is an exception. If you monitor your tortoies weight on a regular basis you can see what is normal and what is not.

For the European tortoises like the Greeks and Hermans the Jacksons ratio gives you a good general figure.

Another means which was developed by a very good nutritional oriented vet here in the states is this formula... Weight(g) = .59(lengthxwidthxheight)(cm cubed) +338. If the weight difference is greater than 10 % of this number it is recommended that the tortoise be watched...

Your best guide is to plot the results of your own tortoise to give you a 'normal' indication. Rate should never be a factor. Tortoises are like people and more so in that there are individual metabolisms in addition to environmental differences in which each individual or group is kept. If you have a healthy and active tortoise this is you best guide.

[EJ]

Hi Nina,

Thank you. This does look like a very nice list.

I'm back in the states after a very pleasant trip to the UK (as usual). I wish I could have met more of the people I've chatted with on the list but it was wonderful getting together with all the friends that I did and I did meet a few new people I hope I can now call friends.


[quote="nina"]Hi Ed,

Nice to see you here. Are you still in the UK, or are you back in the States now? You'll find this a really friendly, helpful forum.

Nina[/quote="nina"]

[piglet]

Edd was a brief but interesting meet with you and Simon would love to have spent more time with you chatting tortoise etc and answer yes you have a friend here look forward to you posting a bit more often .

D

thanx for all your help guys will be sure to keep a close eye on him now!