Re: Slow growth in G. sulcata?

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Posted by Terry on January 05, 2002 at 18:15:02:

In Reply to: Slow growth in G. sulcata? posted by Ryan P on January 05, 2002 at 17:37:29:

Hi Ryan,
I also have a sulcata that's growing slowly.
Hoku is about a year 5 months old and measures a whopping 3 and a quarter inches!
Just measured him/her along the plastron, from the supracaudal shield to the tip of the gular scutes.

The darker area of new growth on his carapace measures 2/8 of an inch.

Hoku was a very sickly hatchling when I got him, so that could have retarded his growth.
But he's been fully recovered and healthy for over a year now.

He's healthy, very active and eats like a little pig, romaine, endive, hibiscus, mulberry, collards, turnip greens and grazing on grasses etc.

He goes outdoors daily, so he gets plenty of natural sunlight.
His carapace is very smooth, with no signs of pyramiding.

He is growing, but very slowly.

The average a sulcata grows a year is around 2", depending on the age and diet of the tortoise.
An overfed sulcata, or one fed the wrong diet can grow alarmingly fast, but is often pyramided
or has other health problems.

I think your sulcata is doing just fine.
You want slow, steady growth and no pyramiding.
Not accelerated growth , with pyramidng and other problems.

As long as the tort is healthy and active I wouldn't be concerned.

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Re: Slow growth in G. sulcata? Deb 01/06/02 (0)

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: Hi Ryan, : I also have a sulcata that's growing slowly. : Hoku is about a year 5 months old and measures a whopping 3 and a quarter inches! : Just measured him/her along the plastron, from the supracaudal shield to the tip of the gular scutes. : The darker area of new growth on his carapace measures 2/8 of an inch. : Hoku was a very sickly hatchling when I got him, so that could have retarded his growth. : But he's been fully recovered and healthy for over a year now. : He's healthy, very active and eats like a little pig, romaine, endive, hibiscus, mulberry, collards, turnip greens and grazing on grasses etc. : He goes outdoors daily, so he gets plenty of natural sunlight. : His carapace is very smooth, with no signs of pyramiding. : He is growing, but very slowly. : The average a sulcata grows a year is around 2", depending on the age and diet of the tortoise. : An overfed sulcata, or one fed the wrong diet can grow alarmingly fast, but is often pyramided : or has other health problems. : I think your sulcata is doing just fine. : You want slow, steady growth and no pyramiding. : Not accelerated growth , with pyramidng and other problems. : As long as the tort is healthy and active I wouldn't be concerned.

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