underweight

[kkenny]

I have 3x Hermanns THB and am struggling to get their weight to catch up with their length. I rehomed the two eldest (brothers) together last June aged 3yrs. They were mainly fed on bagged salad so I thought that was the reason they were much bigger than they should be but underweight. They are now nearly 4 and -
Henry= 13.3cm and 376g
Hanje= 13.5cm and 420g
I think they are both male and Henry is very active all day so could that be a reason for being skinny?

I put them onto a weed only diet, feeding twice a day but after someone on here pointed out how low their weight was just before xmas, I decided not to hibernate them and add pellets twice a week.

They both are gaining weight, about 100g in a year and but their shell grows too, about 1.5cm in the year making the ratio low still.

What should I do? I don't have any concerns about them otherwise, they eat very well. Maybe I am over worrying? I just would have expected them to be a little more in proportion after a year of my healthy care.

[pagan queen]

Pellets are a good way to build up your tortoises weight. I use Komodo.

[TillyTortoise]

According my calculations, Henry should be 481g and Hanje should be 501g.

You say you are feeding pellets, what amounts are you feeding?

[kkenny]

Originally Posted by TillyTortoise

According my calculations, Henry should be 481g and Hanje should be 501g.

You say you are feeding pellets, what amounts are you feeding?

I agree totally that why I worry. I use dandelion flavoured Komodo twice a week (reluctantly as I would prefer to stick to weeds and flowers) about 10 pellets each tort mixed with pre Alpine in a little bowl. I feed them weeds twice a day! I use limestone powder most days and Reptavite couple of times a week. What more can I do?

I have never seen worms so it cant be that really.

Thanks for trying to help me.

[pagan queen]

You need to feed more than 10 pellets. I give mine half a bowl ( old tommee tippee one form when the kids were small) between them, the bigger one has most obviously. There is nothing wrong with feeding pellets. I'd rather have a tortoise that's a healthy weight than one that doesn't eat pellets but is under weight.

[TillyTortoise]

Yeah you need to be feeding more. Around 2% of the torts weights when the pellets are dry. You can then add water and whatever else.

Don't worry about feeding pellets. There is nothing wrong with them.

[natstorts]

http://www.shelledwarriors.co.uk/for...ad.php?t=49805

Theres a thread for what I do

[pagan queen]

I just worked out roughly what they eat and let them get on with it. If they eat it all I soak some more. when they leave some I know they've had enough. I usually only feed pellets in winter. When there is plenty of weeds about they get them. But if their weight drops a bit I will give them a few days of pellets to build them up again.

[Anita Sayles]

Originally Posted by pagan queen

I usually only feed pellets in winter. When there is plenty of weeds about they get them. But if their weight drops a bit I will give them a few days of pellets to build them up again.

Just thinking... why would weight drop back when feeding weeds, couldn't one just feed more weeds, I hope you don't mind me asking

[pagan queen]

Originally Posted by Anita Sayles

Just thinking... why would weight drop back when feeding weeds, couldn't one just feed more weeds, I hope you don't mind me asking

I feed as many weeds as they will eat in a day, there is no restrictions on food. Just sometimes, particularly my adult, they don't eat very much. My male tends to go off his food a bit in mid summer, he can go days without eating so I will give him pellets. For one thing, I know he will eat them even if he is off his food and they also help his weight.