Re: Feeding and Growth Rate of Sulcata

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Posted by Terry on December 06, 1998 at 15:25:31:

In Reply to: Feeding and Growth Rate of Sulcata posted by Christine and Freight on December 06, 1998 at 14:52:39:

: Hello! Thank you all for the wonderful information you all have provided us so far! Questions: We have found conflicting information on how much to feed a 1 year old, 10 inches (over the carapace)Sulcata. Is one cup of "greens" (we have found great information on what to feed her) enough? Of course we want to feed her properly. Also, if fed properly, what is the yearly growth rate of the Sulcata? Also, we have found conflicting information on how often to soak her, any opinions on this? Thank you all in advance. Fell free to e-mail us or post.

Sulcatas from the same clutch, fed on the same diet may still grow at different rates. Slow and Steady is the way to go.Anywhere from 2"-4" a year is probably in a normal range. A sulcata fed too much will grow faster, but may also develop health problems and shell deformaties (pyramiding).The correct way to measure a tortoise is to turn it on it's back and measure the length of the plastron. From the gular scutes to the supracaudal shield.
For a tortoise over a year old soaking twice a week should be fine.
A very good book for sulcata owners is,
"The Care and Breeding of the African Spurred Tortoise, Geochelone sulcata" by Richard and Robyn Wilson.
It is available from the Tortoise Trust and Zoo Books. Only 36 pages , but full of info.
In the summer when your tort can go outside and graze if it's anything like mine and most other sulcatas! It will spend hours everyday grazing. Captive tortoises eat much more than wild ones, as food is sometimes scarce in the wild , depending on the season.And tortoises are programed to eat when food is available.A cup of greens daily should be fine for now, you can add more as the tortoise grows.If you can add fresh grasses to the greens ( cut from your yard, no pestisides or fertilizer) the stools will be firmer and the tortoises gut healthier.
Best of luck, with your new tort, Terry.

Follow Ups:

Re: Feeding and Growth Rate of Sulcata Lesha 12/06/98 (4)
- Re: Feeding and Growth Rate of Sulcata Matt(morelia) 12/08/98 (3)
  - Re: Feeding and Growth Rate of Sulcata Nathan 12/08/98 (2)
    - Re: Feeding and Growth Rate of Sulcata Matt(morelia) 12/09/98 (0)
    - Re: Feeding and Growth Rate of Sulcata Terry 12/08/98 (0)

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: : : Hello! Thank you all for the wonderful information you all have provided us so far! Questions: We have found conflicting information on how much to feed a 1 year old, 10 inches (over the carapace)Sulcata. Is one cup of "greens" (we have found great information on what to feed her) enough? Of course we want to feed her properly. Also, if fed properly, what is the yearly growth rate of the Sulcata? Also, we have found conflicting information on how often to soak her, any opinions on this? Thank you all in advance. Fell free to e-mail us or post. : Sulcatas from the same clutch, fed on the same diet may still grow at different rates. Slow and Steady is the way to go.Anywhere from 2"-4" a year is probably in a normal range. A sulcata fed too much will grow faster, but may also develop health problems and shell deformaties (pyramiding).The correct way to measure a tortoise is to turn it on it's back and measure the length of the plastron. From the gular scutes to the supracaudal shield. : For a tortoise over a year old soaking twice a week should be fine. : A very good book for sulcata owners is, : "The Care and Breeding of the African Spurred Tortoise, Geochelone sulcata" by Richard and Robyn Wilson. : It is available from the Tortoise Trust and Zoo Books. Only 36 pages , but full of info. : In the summer when your tort can go outside and graze if it's anything like mine and most other sulcatas! It will spend hours everyday grazing. Captive tortoises eat much more than wild ones, as food is sometimes scarce in the wild , depending on the season.And tortoises are programed to eat when food is available.A cup of greens daily should be fine for now, you can add more as the tortoise grows.If you can add fresh grasses to the greens ( cut from your yard, no pestisides or fertilizer) the stools will be firmer and the tortoises gut healthier. : Best of luck, with your new tort, Terry.

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