Tortoise diary - Page 2

xscrunchee · #11 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helen2

I keep meticulous records on all of mine....40++ now....but I am lucky to not work.
Each tort has a intro page with breed.subspecies...prev homes ..date came...prev owner details...and pics...especially a good plastron shot.

The next page is a diary page...on which I note significant events.....such as first day up in the spring...new torts added to groups...new plants/fences/coldframes/improvements. Also any illness...odd behaviour...visits to vets...injury...For some there are few entries....for others more.
The next page is weights....out of hibernation....monthly...in hibernation.....but as Sue says you get to know the feel of a tort with a good weight....I call it the full meat pie feel.....I must admit some only get weighed in and out og hibernation...as I know them like I know myself....

The next page is a comprehensive hibernation record...from weights to temperatures, to where they hibernated...to the medium used in the boxes...to the timescale.....everything...

The next page is history/letters/contacts/visits all recorded between me and the previous owners..

The final section is their certs...if they have any and microchip details if they have them.

Hope this helped...and hope you didnt get bored.....my family shake their heads...and smile...I guess in a lovingly condescending way....

Didn't get bored at all

I only have 1 baby Hermanns so I think I may quite enjoy keeping a little journel which could stay with her in years to come. Might be nice to look back in 30 years time and read about her first few days, weeks etc.

I am lucky too in the sense that I do not go to work (Although I home educate 2 children so being a Mum and home educating them is most definitely a full time job in itself lol) so I have plenty of time to do these little things.

Mmm, my family also shake their heads and smile, I know for 100% that they are only humouring me but I'm happy

lol

xscrunchee · #12 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karibum

That's impressive Helen! I'm sure you need to do that with having so many!!!! When you only have one or two, you remember how their mood/behaviour was and the changes you make. I think as long as you record their weight and length Jay, you will remember the other stuff!!

I will definitely be recording her weight and length but think that I may keep a mini journel just because it might be interesting to read back years later-or I might find it very boring and never read it back!! lol

Knowing me, I'll start the journel, keep it up-to-date for a few weeks and then forget all about it!!!

BADGERS MUM · #13 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xscrunchee

I will definitely be recording her weight and length but think that I may keep a mini journel just because it might be interesting to read back years later-or I might find it very boring and never read it back!! lol

Knowing me, I'll start the journel, keep it up-to-date for a few weeks and then forget all about it!!!

Its not real surprise to find I do,

I have a day to day diary that used to be for shop weather/takings etc now its Maudes food,weight and general info................

I do squeeze the shop bits in there sometimes

terrypin · #14 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karibum

I keep a little jotter with their weights and lengths in so that I can take it to the vets and he can see the records. I don't keep records of activity or amount of food eaten as I know how they correspond to the weight/length records. I have recently got the tortoise diary so it's too early to see if it's useful or not. As far as the Jackson ratio goes.....my torts are 2 years old and not big enough for it, I did find one for torts under 6 months old and my two plot on that as underweight and not big enough! I asked my vet about it and he said that what is important is that the length to weight ratio is ok for each tort' as an individual and not to worry over the Jackson ratio because it just causes worry. I have thrown my Jackson ratio charts in the bin because they were at the vets yesterday and their length to weight ratio is fine.

hi their length to weight ratio is fine according to what.can i ask what thie length to weight ratio is please.you say according to the jacksons ratio yours are underweight and not big enough i dont understand what they arent big enough for.
terry

karibum · #15 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 10:12 AM

You certainly can ask!
As I said, they are two years old and they are under 10cms, so they don't fit on the Jackson ratio graph. So I scoured about and eventually found a Jackson ratio graph aimed at hatchlings under 6 months. When I plotted them on that, they don't plot on the guideline. So to me that meant they were not big enough for their age and yeah, I probably worded it wrong with saying underweight. When I spoke to the vet, he explained to me that it's important that they are both gaining a steady amount of weight and growing and I wasn't to worry about the Jackson ratio. He also examined them and told me that they are not sunken or thin and that he could feel 'meat' on their limbs, so they are not underweight. He also explained to me about how they should feel when you pick them up. They should feel 'full' and not an empty shell.
Maybe, I worded it wrong before, he never actually used a 'ratio'. He just looked at all the records I've got since April and with examination and 'feeling' them he was happy that they were steadily growing and putting on weight and that at the moment niether is under or overweight.
Hope this explains it.

denny2 · #16 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 11:30 AM

ive started to, having lost a tortoise years ago due to ignorance and not really knowing enough about them . with my leopards mildred and maisie i,m keeping records........

tortoise_dude · #17 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 11:53 AM

I started off with all good intentions, now my records are on various different sheets scattered about my house. I can't use the tortoise diary program as I use a mac

SWsarah · #18 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 11:59 AM

I keep records on all my 48 tortoises i feel it is essential. A weight loss could be the sign of illness. It takes a couple of hours to do so and i may do it once or month on a sunday afternoon but well worth it. But i do daily checks where i pick them up and feel there weights. If anyone is feeling light i will weigh them and check back on my records.

For my leopards i have purchased some electronic scales they weigh up to 5kg

tortoise_dude · #19 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blondesarah

. A weight loss could be the sign of weight loss.

LOL

SWsarah · #20 (**permalink**) 05-10-2008, 12:11 PM

lol me rush typing and very excited my first hermanns are hatching yipee

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