Hermann underweight but pyramiding. - Page 5

vikki · 23-08-2015, 07:17 PM

Have just weighed the tortoises and that got me thinking about the "2-4grams per month weight gain" recommendation and was thinking that really it should all be relevant to the size of tortoises (if we hadnt already decided that it isnt a great theory!!)after all Daisy is 100grams so if she puts on 5grams then she has a 5% weight gain but if Herbie gains 5grams then he puts on 10% so that doesnt really make any sense to me so think i will definitly judge it on the individual and try to do as Sandy suggests and try to replicate a bit more of the wild diet (time to try and persuade them to eat the Pre-alpin/dry food again!!)

Ozric Jonathan · 25-08-2015, 08:41 PM

Totally agree Vikki.

2g on a 700g tortoise is nothing. But 2g on a 20g baby is a huge amount.

Can anyone suggest a percentage to get round this problem?

Stellanne · 25-08-2015, 08:56 PM

I don't weigh my torts.... They grow and are active and I observe and look to see if everything is ok and if they are looking healthy I don't interfere. I only weigh before hibernation and after hibernation and this is for my own peace of mind as I hibernate 'naturally' and have to monitor this process.

Ozric Jonathan · 25-08-2015, 09:01 PM

I do weigh mine and keep a note of it but sometimes months go by and I forget to do it. I have an idea it might help me to realise there is a health problem, say if the weight went down. But if a tortoise seems to be doing OK then I don't stress about the weight.

Having said that I did weigh the baby and have done so a couple of times since. I must start keeping a note of the baby's weight - I think for me this will be useful.

Stellanne · 25-08-2015, 09:26 PM

Ah yes babies.......yes, I do weigh them, but again they do their own thing and I would suggest more stress for them so if they are doing as they should why bother weighing them.
When I rehomed a couple of torts the guy had papers and papers and papers of chartered weighings..... I don't get this as I watch my torts. I can't be the only one that acknowledges my creeps wellbeing by observation x x x hugs x x

vikki · 25-08-2015, 09:37 PM

I do agree that weight shouldnt be the main concern but having taken Daisy on with an already bumpy shell and then recording pretty large weight gains aswell it is the combination of the two factors that concern me and obviously being new to this it makes me a bit worried when alot of places quote the 2-4 gram weight gain per month theory and Daisy gains twice that in a week!!

Ozric Jonathan · 25-08-2015, 09:53 PM

Really don't stress over one week Vikki. Weights can go up and down over the course of a week or two and those changes are not significant. If Daisy does a big poo and a wee in the bath she might lose it all!

Stellanne · 25-08-2015, 09:56 PM

Is daisy outside Vikki or indoors x x hugs x x

vikki · 25-08-2015, 10:03 PM

She has been out a lot of the time but does come back in when the weather is bad and the last week or so has been pretty wet and cold so mainly in now

25-08-2015, 08:41 PM	#42
Ozric Jonathan Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West of Scotland Posts: 4,226	Totally agree Vikki. 2g on a 700g tortoise is nothing. But 2g on a 20g baby is a huge amount. Can anyone suggest a percentage to get round this problem? __________________ Testudo Hermanni Hermanni (Corse) tortoises

25-08-2015, 09:01 PM	#44
Ozric Jonathan Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West of Scotland Posts: 4,226	I do weigh mine and keep a note of it but sometimes months go by and I forget to do it. I have an idea it might help me to realise there is a health problem, say if the weight went down. But if a tortoise seems to be doing OK then I don't stress about the weight. Having said that I did weigh the baby and have done so a couple of times since. I must start keeping a note of the baby's weight - I think for me this will be useful. __________________ Testudo Hermanni Hermanni (Corse) tortoises

25-08-2015, 09:53 PM	#47
Ozric Jonathan Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West of Scotland Posts: 4,226	Really don't stress over one week Vikki. Weights can go up and down over the course of a week or two and those changes are not significant. If Daisy does a big poo and a wee in the bath she might lose it all! __________________ Testudo Hermanni Hermanni (Corse) tortoises

23-08-2015, 07:17 PM	#41
vikki Member Hatched Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 456	Have just weighed the tortoises and that got me thinking about the "2-4grams per month weight gain" recommendation and was thinking that really it should all be relevant to the size of tortoises (if we hadnt already decided that it isnt a great theory!!)after all Daisy is 100grams so if she puts on 5grams then she has a 5% weight gain but if Herbie gains 5grams then he puts on 10% so that doesnt really make any sense to me so think i will definitly judge it on the individual and try to do as Sandy suggests and try to replicate a bit more of the wild diet (time to try and persuade them to eat the Pre-alpin/dry food again!!)

25-08-2015, 08:56 PM	#43
Stellanne Member Hatchling Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 686	I don't weigh my torts.... They grow and are active and I observe and look to see if everything is ok and if they are looking healthy I don't interfere. I only weigh before hibernation and after hibernation and this is for my own peace of mind as I hibernate 'naturally' and have to monitor this process.

25-08-2015, 09:26 PM	#45
Stellanne Member Hatchling Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 686	Ah yes babies.......yes, I do weigh them, but again they do their own thing and I would suggest more stress for them so if they are doing as they should why bother weighing them. When I rehomed a couple of torts the guy had papers and papers and papers of chartered weighings..... I don't get this as I watch my torts. I can't be the only one that acknowledges my creeps wellbeing by observation x x x hugs x x

25-08-2015, 09:37 PM	#46
vikki Member Hatched Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 456	I do agree that weight shouldnt be the main concern but having taken Daisy on with an already bumpy shell and then recording pretty large weight gains aswell it is the combination of the two factors that concern me and obviously being new to this it makes me a bit worried when alot of places quote the 2-4 gram weight gain per month theory and Daisy gains twice that in a week!!

25-08-2015, 09:56 PM	#48
Stellanne Member Hatchling Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 686	Is daisy outside Vikki or indoors x x hugs x x

25-08-2015, 10:03 PM	#49
vikki Member Hatched Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 456	She has been out a lot of the time but does come back in when the weather is bad and the last week or so has been pretty wet and cold so mainly in now

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