Hi everyone!

Hope you are all well?

I am a little confused, again!!!!!! How much should my Horsefields gain in weight each month?  I have been trying for them to gain 3 grams per month.  However surely the bigger they get this should increase as they are bigger???????

I read on another forum that they look for a weight  gain of 10 - 15 %.  which seems a huge amount.

Also is it usual for them to gain a lot when they've just come out of hibernation? Tetley in the last 4 weeks has gained 6 grams and Twiglet 8 grams!!!!!!!!

I know this is an age old question just don't want them to be porky or starving!

Thanks guys,

Row x

Hi Row,

I'm with you. I feel that the 3-4 grams a month rule is applicable for hatchling tortoises but you need to scale that up as the grow. With young tortoises its not all about storing fat, as they grow their shell, bone and muscle density increases so I would be worried if an older tortoise wasn't exceeding 3-4 grams a month!

10-15% sounds like a lot though (was a time period given?)

Also all tortoises vary in their growth rate, I have Hermnans tortoise of the same age that weigh 90 and 225 grams respectivley but they are both in very good condition shell wise.

You also need to bear in mind if the tortoises are hibernated ( as yours are). They are missing out on 2-3 months of the feeding that non hibernated tortoises get so I'd say that a hibernated tortoise can put on in 9-10 months what a non hibernated tortoise puts on in 12, so slightly more on a month to month basis.

That hasn't really answered your question has it? :) 

"Also is it usual for them to gain a lot when they've just come out of hibernation? Tetley in the last 4 weeks has gained 6 grams and Twiglet 8 grams!!!!!!!!"

On this bit Row, I've seen huge gains in tortoises just out of hibernation.  This was more in tortoises that had lost lost weight during the hibernation period and I put this down to rehydration. I know your two didn't lose any weight in hibernation but some of the gain might be water.

Thanks Dave.  I'm glad that I'm thinking right that they need to be gaining more than 3 grams as they are now about 4 - 6 years old and not classed as hatchings

But what weight should they be gaining each month??? I there a percentage weight gain that is good to follow?

Sorry to repeat the same question.

Ta

Row

Hi Row,

Its a difficlt one for me to answer, I'm very new to Horsfields and already I'm finding them completely diffent behaviourly to my Hermann's tortoises. My Hermanns are given pretty much free range to graze from late Spring through to Autumn but this is compensated by them having to search out food. Consequently the put on weight (bulk) but don't get fat.

It depends if the tortoises are growing as well as putting on weight, this can be hard to quantify month to month as the grow is hardly noticable over a short space of time.

Hmm, I'm hoping someone with a bit more Horsfield experience jumps in here.

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