21-10-2017, 06:14 PM | #1 |
Member
Egg
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Reading, Berkshire, UK
Posts: 95
|
Jackson ratio - to use or not to use??
Hi
Just wanted to ask how people feel about going by the Jackson ratio to let them know whether their torts are ok to hibernate vs. general observation during the year. I have tended to do both, but this year for some reason the JR is coming up on the underweight side for both of them, yet they have both been feeding well and have put on weight. Although they have lost some of that weight over the past few months. Feel in a bit of a quandary as whether to try them with hibernation and see how they go (as they are used to this) as opposed to skip it for this year. ANy thoughts? L |
21-10-2017, 07:21 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Sub Adult
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 1,162
|
[QUOTE=Ludrup;673214]Hi
Just wanted to ask how people feel about going by the Jackson ratio to let them know whether their torts are ok to hibernate vs. general observation during the year. I have tended to do both, but this year for some reason the JR is coming up on the underweight side for both of them, yet they have both been feeding well and have put on weight. Although they have lost some of that weight over the past few months. Feel in a bit of a quandary as whether to try them with hibernation and see how they go (as they are used to this) as opposed to skip it for this year. ANy thoughts? The Jackson ratio was devised in the 1960's and based on wild caught tortoises which tended to be a different shape to the majority of captive bred tortoises of today it was only ever meant to be a guide. If your tortoises are well and you have had them a while then your gut instinct of whether they are up to hibernation should be fine. Tortoises weights tend to peak in August and start falling off a bit this time of year. Mary |
21-10-2017, 07:29 PM | #3 | |
Senior Member
Adult
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Kent UK
Posts: 12,144
|
Quote:
All but one of my tortoises have buried down in my GH. I have not weighed them for years, other than picking them up (you can feel weight loss) to move them. I know they have been eating well and doing all the things tortoises do. So happy for them to make the choice:0)
__________________
< > 60+, keeping ibera, graeca and box turtles \0/ /_\ http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/tortoisefriends |
|
21-10-2017, 10:17 PM | #4 |
Member
Egg
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Reading, Berkshire, UK
Posts: 95
|
Thanks for putting my anxieties to rest
|
22-10-2017, 10:36 AM | #5 |
Senior Member
Adult
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 6,769
|
As has been said above, it's just a guid, observing your tort, is very important, get to know them and the normal behaviour, years of experience tells me if a tort feels like an empty box or heavy and if I need to weigh them.
__________________
Suze. 3 THB, Sammy, Jemima, & Phoebe 7 Marginated, Tabitha, Ptolome, Tatiana, Noah,Lottey, Lulu & Poppy 1 TGG (Emma) RIP Feb 2012 |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|