Darwin

[becciwales]

Hi all,
So we've had Darwin 4 weeks on Thursday and we've just weighed and measured him (for the first time )
He's 48grams and 52mm
He's 5 and a half months. Does that sound ok?
He's eating well and pooping most days. He has a bath every morning for about 20 minutes and he sits in his water bowl for ages a few times a day.

[Emilyjayne2012]

Sounds great to me

[becciwales]

Yay. Thank you. xx

[Sheli88]

48g sounds a little heavy to me, if his shell is still nice and smooth I wouldn't worry but it is best not to over feed as some can be greedy, they all have different appetites just like us.

There is a jackson ratio for hatchlings here.
http://www.hermann-tortoise.co.uk/Ja...atchlings.html

[becciwales]

Thank you. How do I know how much is enough? He's a hungry little thing bless him. Also, why does he sit in the water bowl? Should I bath him twice if he's taken to doing that? Thanks xx

[pagan queen]

Just feed as much as he wants. Feeding him wont harm him or his shell growth.

[Catwoman63]

Originally Posted by becciwales

Thank you. How do I know how much is enough? He's a hungry little thing bless him. Also, why does he sit in the water bowl? Should I bath him twice if he's taken to doing that? Thanks xx

Its good that he likes sitting in the water bowl, mine dont do it (well not that i have seen) i bathe mine twice a week, more if its really hot weather.

Mine are eating for england at the moment, and if they have finished it all i give them more in the afternoon, its also good they have a good apetite, its when they dont want to eat i would worry x

[Emilyjayne2012]

I wouldnt say he's too heavy, but thats just becuase my one was a simular size and I was told by Danny that her size was fine and to feed her if shes hungry, so my advice would be to not restrict food.
There are lots of different ideas how to 'grow' a tortoise, but I have found that I feed as much as they want to eat (especially at this time of the year as they are starving) and mine are growing well
I had problems earlier in the year when one of mine wasnt eating and lost weight, which like Bev say's is much more of a worry.

[becciwales]

Thanks all. His shell looks smooth still to me. I should have taken another photo as I've just bathed him but didn't think. He's eating now so I won't disturb him. I can see he's grown as he can't sit easily just on my fingers as he did a month ago in my previous photos. I'll take one later and upload it. I'm so paranoid he's going to get pyramiding. I'd hate to do something wrong by him. xx

[Emilyjayne2012]

Unfortunatly a lot of people have issues with their torts pyramiding. As you can see my biggest tort Sheldon has pyramiding but she was like that when I got her, and as she is growing it is not getting worse.
Do you have a humid hide in your enclosure for him? As that is said to help prevent pyramiding.
I'm sure you're not going to do anything wrong by him. It sounds like your doing a good job