stressing about weight

ziggy's owner · 20-03-2010, 09:04 PM

ziggy is about 5.5 cm's and weighs in @ 100grams... says on her cert that she was born in 2008... which makes her nearly 2, i think shes underweight now... how do you get her to gain weight without over feeding..... help

Helen M · 20-03-2010, 09:13 PM

You just need to aim for steady growth. At her size I'd aim for 5g a month growth. Just feed her as you do normally over the next month and see how much she gains. If she gains more than you know to feed her less, and if she gains less you know to feed her more

If she's happy and alert and acting as she would usually I wouldn't worry too much. Your probably doing everything right for her.
Helen xx

ziggy's owner · 20-03-2010, 09:20 PM

well she was on her mixed salad today... when my dad stuck his head in the door.... i was at work, but the food i had left for her had gone, i read that others at her age are like 200 grams plus and i think omg i'm doing something wrong

Helen M · 20-03-2010, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ziggy's owner

well she was on her mixed salad today... when my dad stuck his head in the door.... i was at work, but the food i had left for her had gone, i read that others at her age are like 200 grams plus and i think omg i'm doing something wrong

As long as she's gaining weight and not losing it she's fine. My horsfields are going to be 2 this August and they currently weigh just over 50g each. Slow growth in my opinion is best

It means she'll grow in her means and as nature intended and probably lead to her having less problems later in life.
Helen xx

**egyptiandan64** · 20-03-2010, 09:35 PM

Are you sure you measured correctly? Did you measure the plastron (bottom shell) or the carapace (top shell)?
At 5.5cm he should weigh between 40 and 50g.

Danny

TortoiseBea · 20-03-2010, 09:37 PM

I think your measurements are out too,
My hermann (just over 18months old) is 6cm and 50ish g

ziggy's owner · 20-03-2010, 09:40 PM

just re mesursed and shes 8 cm's.... gonna make sure i am reading it right tomoz but at 5cms when i got her she weighed 75 grams.... bottom, i pop her on paper and push her head in... and do a dot at the back of her... so i will try again tomoz

**egyptiandan64** · 20-03-2010, 09:45 PM

At 8cm you are just a wee bit under-weight. He should be in the 110 to 120g range. It's fine to feed more at each feeding as long as you supplement more as well.
I wouldn't worry about weight gain per month as it's weight gain per mm of growth thats important. So the bigger your tortoise is the more weight it will put on per mm of growth.

Danny

ziggy's owner · 20-03-2010, 09:49 PM

i fed her every day... more than her shell lol... which she eats all off... i supplement once a week, as she wont eat it if u put it on every meal... and she has cuttle fish in with her.... can u use like a oycster grit... or not

**egyptiandan64** · 20-03-2010, 09:52 PM

Yes you can use oyster grit.

Danny

20-03-2010, 09:04 PM	#1
ziggy's owner Senior Member Adult Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: west midlands Posts: 4,152	stressing about weight ziggy is about 5.5 cm's and weighs in @ 100grams... says on her cert that she was born in 2008... which makes her nearly 2, i think shes underweight now... how do you get her to gain weight without over feeding..... help __________________ 2.0.0 spur thighs 2.3.0 hermanns 2.1.1 marginated 0.0.4 leopard 2.8.0 guinea pigs 1.2.0 Springers 1.0.0 hamster 0.0.1 Blue Tongue skink 2.2.0 Beardies And tropical fish Also have baby marginated tortoises for sale

20-03-2010, 09:20 PM	#3
ziggy's owner Senior Member Adult Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: west midlands Posts: 4,152	well she was on her mixed salad today... when my dad stuck his head in the door.... i was at work, but the food i had left for her had gone, i read that others at her age are like 200 grams plus and i think omg i'm doing something wrong __________________ 2.0.0 spur thighs 2.3.0 hermanns 2.1.1 marginated 0.0.4 leopard 2.8.0 guinea pigs 1.2.0 Springers 1.0.0 hamster 0.0.1 Blue Tongue skink 2.2.0 Beardies And tropical fish Also have baby marginated tortoises for sale

20-03-2010, 09:35 PM	#5
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	Are you sure you measured correctly? Did you measure the plastron (bottom shell) or the carapace (top shell)? At 5.5cm he should weigh between 40 and 50g. Danny __________________

20-03-2010, 09:37 PM	#6
TortoiseBea Member Hatched Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: UK Posts: 291	I think your measurements are out too, My hermann (just over 18months old) is 6cm and 50ish g __________________

20-03-2010, 09:40 PM	#7
ziggy's owner Senior Member Adult Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: west midlands Posts: 4,152	just re mesursed and shes 8 cm's.... gonna make sure i am reading it right tomoz but at 5cms when i got her she weighed 75 grams.... bottom, i pop her on paper and push her head in... and do a dot at the back of her... so i will try again tomoz __________________ 2.0.0 spur thighs 2.3.0 hermanns 2.1.1 marginated 0.0.4 leopard 2.8.0 guinea pigs 1.2.0 Springers 1.0.0 hamster 0.0.1 Blue Tongue skink 2.2.0 Beardies And tropical fish Also have baby marginated tortoises for sale

20-03-2010, 09:13 PM	#2
Helen M Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,362	You just need to aim for steady growth. At her size I'd aim for 5g a month growth. Just feed her as you do normally over the next month and see how much she gains. If she gains more than you know to feed her less, and if she gains less you know to feed her more If she's happy and alert and acting as she would usually I wouldn't worry too much. Your probably doing everything right for her. Helen xx

20-03-2010, 09:45 PM	#8
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	At 8cm you are just a wee bit under-weight. He should be in the 110 to 120g range. It's fine to feed more at each feeding as long as you supplement more as well. I wouldn't worry about weight gain per month as it's weight gain per mm of growth thats important. So the bigger your tortoise is the more weight it will put on per mm of growth. Danny __________________

20-03-2010, 09:49 PM	#9
ziggy's owner Senior Member Adult Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: west midlands Posts: 4,152	i fed her every day... more than her shell lol... which she eats all off... i supplement once a week, as she wont eat it if u put it on every meal... and she has cuttle fish in with her.... can u use like a oycster grit... or not __________________ 2.0.0 spur thighs 2.3.0 hermanns 2.1.1 marginated 0.0.4 leopard 2.8.0 guinea pigs 1.2.0 Springers 1.0.0 hamster 0.0.1 Blue Tongue skink 2.2.0 Beardies And tropical fish Also have baby marginated tortoises for sale

20-03-2010, 09:52 PM	#10
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	Yes you can use oyster grit. Danny __________________

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