I am a bit worried about Brian, my Horsfield. He is about 3 and I got him in mid September when he weighed 89g.  I weigh him about every 3/4 weeks and his weight fluctuates quite alot. He has been up to 101g but is now back down to 91g, this is not the first time it has gone up and then down again.  He is a sporadic eater, some days he finishes whatever I put out for him and other days he doesn't eat at all. I bathe him every morning and his pooh and urates are fine. He is alert and looks happy.  Can you give me your thoughts on this.

Thanks, Helen

Can I also add that he was 8cm when I got him and has not grown in length since then.

Helen

Hi Helen..I have a Horsfield, She is 5 months old and weighs nearly 60gs and is 6 cms long..Your Tort isn't much bigger by the sounds of it. Are you certain your tort is 3years? Or is mine a greedy so and so lol...You may be asked if theres a possibility of worms in your tort...Perhaps a visit to a Tort vet maybe worth a try to ease your mind.

Hi Claire & Helen,

Horsfields are renowned pigs when it comes to food and they grow big quick if fed too much. Claire, you say you tort is only 5 months old and weighs 60g? This is very big for a baby, my 2 yr old hatchlings have only just reached this weight. You need to be cruel to be kind, do you feed them everyday? I only feed mine 5 days out of the 7. As i said it is so easy to overfeed especially as horsfields will generally munch till the whole pile has disappeared.

Ali

Hi Ali, Thanks for your reply..I feed her everyday yes...Oh god I feel awful now, I had tried to cut it back but she still appeared to be hungry as she was still looking about for food. I only give her 3 leaves of different items ie 1 sow thistle, one dead nettle and chickweed..I try to give variety when weeds are available, if not then its florette...I had looked on the McIntyre chart and the weight was a wee bit over average. Its so hard to know what the right amount is. Teddy is my 1st so this is all very new to me. I really dont want to harm her in any way. Im sure I am weighing her correctly. Her length is 6cms too..What is the recommended amount? your advice would be greatly appreciated :) I give nutrabol and limestone flour on alternate days. I contacted the breeder a little while ago about Teddys weight and she said it was too much, but then others on the forums said her weight was fine...So its really difficult to know the right thing. Whats the right weight for Teddy? What should she be for her age? She hatched 5th August 09. Thanks Claire

Hi Claire

Don't be so hard on yourself it is really hard trying to regulate how much food to give them, I have struggled for 2 yrs as Keya is such a little piglet. I have found that I do a cool down day (no lights only heat) with no food one day a week, and I also weigh her every week to see how the weights are going and cut down or give more accordling, taking in to account poo's and wee's which give a lot of weight flucuation. (I only record her weights at the end of each month on her growth chart). The fact that you are keeping on eye on her, you won't have done her any harm, and you have the chance to adjust your old ways in to new. You have to remember that this is your first time owning a tortoise (like me) and like bringing up children we make mistakes along the way. That said that is why it is brilliant to have these sort of sites where can share our experiences as well as our inexperiences for us all to learn.
Jane, Keya & Molly

Hi Jane, Thank you! I am trying to do my best for Teddy, and yes its a learning game :)Perhaps I could try the same one day without food, I think I will find that hard though..I'd hate to have no food for a day :( I'd be starving. How on earth do Torts in the wild keep their weight down? lol There's no one there to watch what they are eating lol...Thank god! for these brilliant sites, full of invaluable advice and friendly chit chat too :) Ive even boosted my FB friends list too :) I am so trying not to make the mistakes, I want everything to be "Just right" thats the way I am :), I can drive my husband insane lol...I know I do hehe...I was under the impression that Teddys' weigh was absolutely fine, going by the chart. I have to admit she is a big girl :) she was the biggest one of the four hatchlings..I guess I choose the piggie porker hehe...I have just fed her and she stormed over pretty quick to get it hehe...She is pooing fine, although I dont see it everyday...Weeing I dont see, she must be weeing...she probably does this in her water dish when she poo's.sometimes there is white stuff, this is urates I believe..This is normal yeah? Oh I hope so!

We seem to have drifted away from Brian and his weight fluctuations! Any comments would be gratefully received.

Thanks, Helen

Oh Helen I am so sorry, hadn't meant to distract from your questions...I do apologise. Although I had replied to you :) Seems my Teddy is bigger than your Brian lol..Mine is greedy by the sounds of it lol... How is Brian doing?

That's ok not complaining!!  He's really well and ate well yesterday, I think you're probably right that I ought to get him checked for worms as he eats well but still fluctuates  in weight. 

Might give you peace of mind, maybe nothing...Let us know how you got on if you take him for quick check over :)

OOps sorry Helen that was my fault, I do tend to get easily distracted
Jane