Concerned Tortoise Weight Loss!!!

[herman]

GoodMorning All.

We have had a hermans now almost 3 months and just to be on the safe side had them checked at the vets after a couple of days of purchase.Their weight at the time was just over 90 grammes each (18 mnths old by the way)and over the last month-6 weeks have gone to 104-105grammes.Yesterday i weighed them again 1 was at 103 grammes and the other was down to 86 grammes.I usually feed 3-4 times a week ocassionaly lettice,but mainly the leafy greens that grow on our lawn,pansies,rose petals and leafs.They seem to eat well or so i thought i dont know wether to up the amounts or feed little everyday?also do you think i should get them to the vets asap?i have checked all the vitals ie,poo is nice and solid,eyes look clear,no signs of RNS,and no sounds of weezing etc.

Your Advice and Help is Appreaciated.

PAUL

[wizzasmum]

Originally Posted by herman

GoodMorning All.

We have had a hermans now almost 3 months and just to be on the safe side had them checked at the vets after a couple of days of purchase.Their weight at the time was just over 90 grammes each (18 mnths old by the way)and over the last month-6 weeks have gone to 104-105grammes.Yesterday i weighed them again 1 was at 103 grammes and the other was down to 86 grammes.I usually feed 3-4 times a week ocassionaly lettice,but mainly the leafy greens that grow on our lawn,pansies,rose petals and leafs.They seem to eat well or so i thought i dont know wether to up the amounts or feed little everyday?also do you think i should get them to the vets asap?i have checked all the vitals ie,poo is nice and solid,eyes look clear,no signs of RNS,and no sounds of weezing etc.

Your Advice and Help is Appreaciated.

PAUL

Did your vet do a faecal sample when he examined them or just declare them to be well by visual examination? Depeneind on where you got them from they may have parasites. Take a sample of poo to the vets for examination - should only cost a few pounds.

[herman]

Hi Sue

Thanks for your reply,Yes the vet did have a poo sample and was happy with what she saw,maybe i should get on the phone tomorrow and get them book back in for another examination.Is there anything you can recommend i might be doing wrong,or missing in the mean time?


Paul

[Tina]

Originally Posted by herman

GoodMorning All.

We have had a hermans now almost 3 months and just to be on the safe side had them checked at the vets after a couple of days of purchase.Their weight at the time was just over 90 grammes each (18 mnths old by the way)and over the last month-6 weeks have gone to 104-105grammes.Yesterday i weighed them again 1 was at 103 grammes and the other was down to 86 grammes.I usually feed 3-4 times a week ocassionaly lettice,but mainly the leafy greens that grow on our lawn,pansies,rose petals and leafs.They seem to eat well or so i thought i dont know wether to up the amounts or feed little everyday?also do you think i should get them to the vets asap?i have checked all the vitals ie,poo is nice and solid,eyes look clear,no signs of RNS,and no sounds of weezing etc.

Your Advice and Help is Appreaciated.

PAUL

Morning Paul

Why do you feed them only 3 - 4 times a week? I have Hermanns, about the same age as yours, which are fed every day... they are growing nice and smoothly and their weight gain is good. I would definitely change to feeding every day if I were you.

It would help if you tried to vary your diet a little more as well, this is a good list to look through...

Diet and healthy growth

How do you keep them? What sort of temps in the basking and cool area? Do you bath them every day? Do you add supplements to their food?

[SWsarah]

Hello you must remember that you must weigh your tortoise at the same time else your reading will be wrong
Eg

Before a bath or after
Before a bath will be lighter than after a bath as your tortoise would have taken in liquids

Or

Before feeding

A tortoise will be lighter first thing in the morning compaired to last thing at night where it has eaten.

Also depends on if they have had a big wee or poo

This is why its best to weigh every 1-2 weeks not every day as they do go up and down.

I really recommend feeding every day, over growth is not just caused by over feeding.
You get smooth growth by offering good quailty weeds, suppliments, hydration and excellent environment.
I do not limit the amount of food my tortoises have

[wizzasmum]

[quote=Tina;3268269]Morning Paul

Why do you feed them only 3 - 4 times a week? I have Hermanns, about the same age as yours, which are fed every day... they are growing nice and smoothly and their weight gain is good. I would definitely change to feeding every day if I were you.

quote]


Oh dear, missed this Tina - no wonder they are losing weight. I would be more concerned about hydration though as you mentioned.

[herman]

Hi TINA And Sarah

I was advised by the breeder to only feed 3-4 times a week and at the time i thought it was unusual and a bit unfair,but now i will feed everyday from now on.I have some plants growing right now that i purchased from swsarah but apart from what im feeding i dont know a great deal else that i can feed at this time of year.I have an open top table with a basking temp of 30c.The air temp is between 14-16c at night and 20-25c in the daytime.I bath them every 2 days and add a pinch of neutrobal to the food.

Thankyou for all your help as it is appreaciated

Paul

[terrypin]

Originally Posted by herman

Hi TINA And Sarah

I was advised by the breeder to only feed 3-4 times a week and at the time i thought it was unusual and a bit unfair,but now i will feed everyday from now on.I have some plants growing right now that i purchased from swsarah but apart from what im feeding i dont know a great deal else that i can feed at this time of year.I have an open top table with a basking temp of 30c.The air temp is between 14-16c at night and 20-25c in the daytime.I bath them every 2 days and add a pinch of neutrobal to the food.

Thankyou for all your help as it is appreaciated

Paul

hi i would increase the basking temperatture to 32c-35c after your night time drop they will need to raise their temperature considerably by basking just to digest their food properly.although i must say my biggest concern with weight loss would be hydration and/or parasites.do you see any poorly formed droppings.
terry

[wizzasmum]

Originally Posted by herman

Hi TINA And Sarah

I was advised by the breeder to only feed 3-4 times a week and at the time i thought it was unusual and a bit unfair,but now i will feed everyday from now on.I have some plants growing right now that i purchased from swsarah but apart from what im feeding i dont know a great deal else that i can feed at this time of year.I have an open top table with a basking temp of 30c.The air temp is between 14-16c at night and 20-25c in the daytime.I bath them every 2 days and add a pinch of neutrobal to the food.

Thankyou for all your help as it is appreaciated

Paul

Hi Paul
(not tina or sarah) but I would bathe daily if I was you and for days when no weeds area available try some florreti 'crispy' salad from supermarkets. Are you sure it was a breeder who told you this and not a dealer. It's very unusual. It IS possible to overfeed torts by letting them eat as much as they like but if you just weigh them monthly and expect a few grams wieght gain you will soon see if you are overdoing it.
Hope this helps

[herman]

Hi Sue

Not mentioning any names but yes it was a BREEDER who told me this.I will try and bath them everyday but my problem is the lights dont come on till 10am and go off at 7pm so they are usually both asleep when im around or can i wake them up?

Paul