86g Weight gain in 2 weeks?

Herpard · 10-04-2010, 05:11 PM

Hi all,

I weighed Squirt a couple of weeks ago (26/03/2010) and she weighed 1lb exactly

Today i weighed her and she's gained 86g

She now weighs 1lb 3oz

She has had a wee & a poo today and ate just one leaf from a dandelion while she was outside (Rubbed some cucumber juice on so she'd eat it)

I know with her being a Leopard that they grow fast but should she put on this weight in 2 weeks?

dugy · 10-04-2010, 05:12 PM

how old is squirt?

did they hibernate? if so when did they wake and how much weight, if any, was lossed during hibernation?

Herpard · 10-04-2010, 05:23 PM

Hi,

I was told she was CB in 06 so maybe 4 years and she was 13cm long 2 weeks ago!

She's never been hibernated,I read on the Tortoise Trust website that Leopard can't be hibernated

Box girl · 10-04-2010, 05:26 PM

Leopards don't hibernate!
I would not worry about the weight gain leopards grow to be big torts!
Better this than the opposite, make sure you give plenty of calcium.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dugy

how old is squirt?

did they hibernate? if so when did they wake and how much weight, if any, was lossed during hibernation?

dugy · 10-04-2010, 05:28 PM

hmmm i cannot really give advice as i dont know too much with weight gain.. but the age will help someone with greater knowledge help!!

ahh, i did not know that, i haven't ever researched leopards properly!!

Box girl · 10-04-2010, 05:32 PM

If you never been told you would not know so don't worry. Torts sometimes go through a big growth spurt and then slow down. I worry more if mine don't eat and put on weight!

Herpard · 10-04-2010, 05:35 PM

I was really worried lol

She's got access to cuttle fish and some limestone flour

Is her weight OK for her Size Box Girl?

Neddy · 10-04-2010, 05:39 PM

I have just got back from the vets with Ralph our two yrs old Leopard. He has said that Ralph needs to be fed less as he is gaining to much weight to quickly, as Leopards grow very slowly in the wild. He has also said that he needs more fibre and calcium as his shell is slightly bumpy but it will right its self.

In Africa they only have access to unlimited food for part of the year (summer) and then a lot of it dies off so they go a long time without having loads of food everyday, and they have to go and find it too. He recommends feeding every other day for the winter period as they are less active and it is more normal.

If you havent taken your tortoise to the vet I strongly recommend it, as we took Ralph because of his breathing and thats actually fine! lol We have had him since he was 12 weeks and he has never gone to the vets because we thought he was fine, I will be taking him more regularly now

He said it is very common for people to over feed tortoises, he believes that leopards in the summer need to outside and grazing and not supplied bought food for this time. He was very good and very through

I hope this helps

tartaruga amore · 10-04-2010, 05:58 PM

i dont agree with feeding every other day, why make food a issue, you end up with a greedy tort

i would not worry about a spurt of growth , he may not put anymore weight on for ages

Box girl · 10-04-2010, 07:27 PM

I don't know about weight to size ratio difficult with leopards as they are domed. As the previous poster says do not amke food an issue. I only feed every othe rday but my friend who has leopards feeds every day it depends how much you feed and what suits you.
For hatchlings I always feed every day to make sure they are growing we have found that if you restrict food you can end up with a permanent dwarf or one that does not thrive and dies.

Don't think it is necessary to take to a vet unless there is a problem.

10-04-2010, 05:11 PM	#1
Herpard Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Norton Canes, UK Posts: 2,330	86g Weight gain in 2 weeks? Hi all, I weighed Squirt a couple of weeks ago (26/03/2010) and she weighed 1lb exactly Today i weighed her and she's gained 86g She now weighs 1lb 3oz She has had a wee & a poo today and ate just one leaf from a dandelion while she was outside (Rubbed some cucumber juice on so she'd eat it) I know with her being a Leopard that they grow fast but should she put on this weight in 2 weeks?

10-04-2010, 05:32 PM	#6
Box girl Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Glos Posts: 1,326	If you never been told you would not know so don't worry. Torts sometimes go through a big growth spurt and then slow down. I worry more if mine don't eat and put on weight! __________________ www.ukchelonia.info Money raised to Allwetter Zoo Muenster e6000 sent so far. Have bred-red foots, yellow foots, eastern box, 3 toed box, ornate box, gulf coast box, common musk, elongated tortoise, red eared terrapin, cuora flavomarginata, cuora amboinensis, hermanns tortoise, horsfield tortoise, rhinoclemys.p. manni, european pond turtle, reeves and spurs

10-04-2010, 07:27 PM	#10
Box girl Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Glos Posts: 1,326	I don't know about weight to size ratio difficult with leopards as they are domed. As the previous poster says do not amke food an issue. I only feed every othe rday but my friend who has leopards feeds every day it depends how much you feed and what suits you. For hatchlings I always feed every day to make sure they are growing we have found that if you restrict food you can end up with a permanent dwarf or one that does not thrive and dies. Don't think it is necessary to take to a vet unless there is a problem. __________________ www.ukchelonia.info Money raised to Allwetter Zoo Muenster e6000 sent so far. Have bred-red foots, yellow foots, eastern box, 3 toed box, ornate box, gulf coast box, common musk, elongated tortoise, red eared terrapin, cuora flavomarginata, cuora amboinensis, hermanns tortoise, horsfield tortoise, rhinoclemys.p. manni, european pond turtle, reeves and spurs

10-04-2010, 05:12 PM	#2
dugy Member Juvenile Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne Posts: 958	how old is squirt? did they hibernate? if so when did they wake and how much weight, if any, was lossed during hibernation?

10-04-2010, 05:23 PM	#3
Herpard Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Norton Canes, UK Posts: 2,330	Hi, I was told she was CB in 06 so maybe 4 years and she was 13cm long 2 weeks ago! She's never been hibernated,I read on the Tortoise Trust website that Leopard can't be hibernated

10-04-2010, 05:28 PM	#5
dugy Member Juvenile Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne Posts: 958	hmmm i cannot really give advice as i dont know too much with weight gain.. but the age will help someone with greater knowledge help!! ahh, i did not know that, i haven't ever researched leopards properly!!

10-04-2010, 05:35 PM	#7
Herpard Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Norton Canes, UK Posts: 2,330	I was really worried lol She's got access to cuttle fish and some limestone flour Is her weight OK for her Size Box Girl?

10-04-2010, 05:39 PM	#8
Neddy Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 1,456	I have just got back from the vets with Ralph our two yrs old Leopard. He has said that Ralph needs to be fed less as he is gaining to much weight to quickly, as Leopards grow very slowly in the wild. He has also said that he needs more fibre and calcium as his shell is slightly bumpy but it will right its self. In Africa they only have access to unlimited food for part of the year (summer) and then a lot of it dies off so they go a long time without having loads of food everyday, and they have to go and find it too. He recommends feeding every other day for the winter period as they are less active and it is more normal. If you havent taken your tortoise to the vet I strongly recommend it, as we took Ralph because of his breathing and thats actually fine! lol We have had him since he was 12 weeks and he has never gone to the vets because we thought he was fine, I will be taking him more regularly now He said it is very common for people to over feed tortoises, he believes that leopards in the summer need to outside and grazing and not supplied bought food for this time. He was very good and very through I hope this helps

10-04-2010, 05:58 PM	#9
tartaruga amore Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,353	i dont agree with feeding every other day, why make food a issue, you end up with a greedy tort i would not worry about a spurt of growth , he may not put anymore weight on for ages

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