Horsfield Weight

Petrus · 12-12-2010, 07:51 AM

Hi everyone,

Georgina and Toby arrived yesterday. I weighed them and they both weigh about 152g. They have a shell length of about 10cm. I looked on the McIntyre Ratio and it looks like they are quite a bit underweight. What is the best way to make sure they are putting on weight? I know that growth rate should be quite steady for tortoises and it's quite dangerous for them to grow too quickly.

**Alan1** · 12-12-2010, 08:42 AM

just carry on feeding what you are feeding I would think and providing them with Nutrobal. you might want to try them with pellets a couple of times a week.

measuring the length and weight accurately can make a big difference. 10mm out with the length and it can mean the difference between overweight and underweight in some cases, however yours seem to be well underweight

THEHANDOFOMEGA · 12-12-2010, 09:08 AM

blimey that is low. I agree keep up a decent diet and all should be well.

Petrus · 13-12-2010, 08:48 PM

I weighed my torts again today and they seem to have put on 4g since Saturday! Is this far too much? Am I feeding too much?

Ozric Jonathan · 13-12-2010, 11:47 PM

Hi Petrus. I don't keep horsefields but I believe they will eat to excess if we let them.

So it's sensible to keep an eye on weights but there is no issue with a 4g weight gain over a short period because weights go up and down a bit. For example if the tortoise urinates then weight appears to have been lost. Works best to measure weight changes over a period of at least weeks to get a picture of what is going on.

Petrus · 20-12-2010, 11:28 AM

I weighed George again yesterday and he seems to have put on 13g in a week. Isn't this too much? Should I cut down his food?

**Bindi** · 20-12-2010, 12:43 PM

If you feel they are underweight then I wouldn't worry about excess weight gain until they have caught up. A wee or a poo can weigh quite alot

**egyptiandan64** · 20-12-2010, 06:40 PM

You should never correlate weight with a period of time or age. Weight has everything to do with the size of your tortoise and how much it's growing. For each mm of growth a tortoise will gain so much weight. As the tortoise gets bigger that amount per mm will also get bigger, so a 15cm tortoise will gain more weight per mm than a 10cm tortoise will.
With your Horsfields being that under weight (about 100g) no weight gain is to much right now. Just keep doing what your doing and make sure your supplementing at every feeding.

Danny

12-12-2010, 07:51 AM	#1
Petrus Banned Juvenile Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Glasgow Posts: 997	Horsfield Weight Hi everyone, Georgina and Toby arrived yesterday. I weighed them and they both weigh about 152g. They have a shell length of about 10cm. I looked on the McIntyre Ratio and it looks like they are quite a bit underweight. What is the best way to make sure they are putting on weight? I know that growth rate should be quite steady for tortoises and it's quite dangerous for them to grow too quickly.

12-12-2010, 09:08 AM	#3
THEHANDOFOMEGA Member Juvenile Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: North Wales Posts: 846	blimey that is low. I agree keep up a decent diet and all should be well. __________________ http://www.uktutors.com/tutor/1284053588/

13-12-2010, 11:47 PM	#5
Ozric Jonathan Senior Member Adult Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West of Scotland Posts: 4,226	Hi Petrus. I don't keep horsefields but I believe they will eat to excess if we let them. So it's sensible to keep an eye on weights but there is no issue with a 4g weight gain over a short period because weights go up and down a bit. For example if the tortoise urinates then weight appears to have been lost. Works best to measure weight changes over a period of at least weeks to get a picture of what is going on. __________________ Testudo Hermanni Hermanni (Corse) tortoises

20-12-2010, 12:43 PM	#7
Bindi Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Hampshire Posts: 11,157	If you feel they are underweight then I wouldn't worry about excess weight gain until they have caught up. A wee or a poo can weigh quite alot __________________

20-12-2010, 06:40 PM	#8
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	You should never correlate weight with a period of time or age. Weight has everything to do with the size of your tortoise and how much it's growing. For each mm of growth a tortoise will gain so much weight. As the tortoise gets bigger that amount per mm will also get bigger, so a 15cm tortoise will gain more weight per mm than a 10cm tortoise will. With your Horsfields being that under weight (about 100g) no weight gain is to much right now. Just keep doing what your doing and make sure your supplementing at every feeding. Danny __________________

12-12-2010, 08:42 AM	#2
Alan1 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sunny Scotland Posts: 21,512	just carry on feeding what you are feeding I would think and providing them with Nutrobal. you might want to try them with pellets a couple of times a week. measuring the length and weight accurately can make a big difference. 10mm out with the length and it can mean the difference between overweight and underweight in some cases, however yours seem to be well underweight

13-12-2010, 08:48 PM	#4
Petrus Banned Juvenile Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Glasgow Posts: 997	I weighed my torts again today and they seem to have put on 4g since Saturday! Is this far too much? Am I feeding too much?

20-12-2010, 11:28 AM	#6
Petrus Banned Juvenile Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Glasgow Posts: 997	I weighed George again yesterday and he seems to have put on 13g in a week. Isn't this too much? Should I cut down his food?

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