Hey Im new to this thread and just got a yearling Sulcata on Thursday and have a couple questions. First off, I have about 50-60% humidity. Cool side of cage is 80 during day and basking spot of about 95 maybe a little higher. At night temps are 75. Ive gotten mixed answers on if this is to low. Hes got a uvb tube light as well. I have soaked him in somewhat warm water 2 times since ive gotten him also. Everyday hes been outside at least for a little and I made him a little screened in cage thing so he can be outside by himself so he was out there for a couple hours yesterday. Outside temps have been high 80's, 55-65% humidity. SO with that being said he has not eaten yet. Haven't seen him eat the grass outside and ive put grass in his indoor cage. Ive tryed clovers, mulberry leaves, also some produce, and I cut up some carrots hoping that maybe something a little different would get his attention but no. Yesterday and this morning he looked interested and almost looked like he was trying to eat and I was like, "maybe he cant open his mouth?" I doubt it but I thought I would throw that out there. Also I have noticed little snot bubbles. Ive done research on Ri's but im not sure if he has one or not. I think he might have beginning stages of it. I have touched his nose and there is no gew or anything. He does not do big yawns like Ive heard they will do. And he does make like squeaky noises. A couple little different but similar sounds. One sounds like a normal squeak but another almost sounds like, I dont know, kinda sounds like there's some mucous build up in his mouth/nose but im not sure. It just sound almost like a wet squeak almost. Any help would be great!! Thank you.
A couple issues
- Thread starter beanbun01
- Start date
Hello and welcome.
First and foremost, raise your temperatures. You do have a RI starting and those are usually caused by low temperatures. Get the ambient up to no lower than 85 day or night. That means the coldest part of the enclosure is no lower than 85 degrees F. Get the basking area up to 100. It will be good if daytime ambient rises into the low 90s. Soak in warm water once or twice a day. Don't let the soak water get cold.
Now where in AZ is the temp only in the high 80's and humidity all the way up to 60%?
Here is all the care info for sulcata:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/
They need a visual barrier in their outdoor enclosures. Here are some ideas:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/cheap-easy-simple-sunning-enclosure.14680/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/simple-sunning-enclosure.104351/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...table-but-safe-outdoor-baby-enclosures.30683/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/outdoor-enclosures.121732/
First and foremost, raise your temperatures. You do have a RI starting and those are usually caused by low temperatures. Get the ambient up to no lower than 85 day or night. That means the coldest part of the enclosure is no lower than 85 degrees F. Get the basking area up to 100. It will be good if daytime ambient rises into the low 90s. Soak in warm water once or twice a day. Don't let the soak water get cold.
Now where in AZ is the temp only in the high 80's and humidity all the way up to 60%?
Here is all the care info for sulcata:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/
They need a visual barrier in their outdoor enclosures. Here are some ideas:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/cheap-easy-simple-sunning-enclosure.14680/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/simple-sunning-enclosure.104351/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...table-but-safe-outdoor-baby-enclosures.30683/
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/outdoor-enclosures.121732/
Im in central AZ. The temps are not usually but we've had a great monsoon season where Im at so for the past month or so The highs are usually low to mid 90s with 40- 60% humidity. Last few days have been a little cooler. Im also right by a river so humidity is up a little.
Hello, and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum.
They often don't eat after a change of environment.
He's just settling in.
If you get the set-up right as per Tom's advice above, he will start eating soon.
They often don't eat after a change of environment.
He's just settling in.
If you get the set-up right as per Tom's advice above, he will start eating soon.
If you check Tom's caresheet " How to raise a healthy sulcata..........." that he posted for you and go to the "outside housing" section it will give you the information you seek.
He also posted you the diet sheet.
For other foods http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/ gives a good idea of what's safe and what's not , though they tend (probably rightly) to be a bit overcautious.
I like http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/nutrientanalysis.htm
as an extra, the one's in bold are best.
He also posted you the diet sheet.
For other foods http://www.thetortoisetable.org.uk/ gives a good idea of what's safe and what's not , though they tend (probably rightly) to be a bit overcautious.
I like http://www.chelonia.org/Articles/nutrientanalysis.htm
as an extra, the one's in bold are best.
Hey guys, so last night I was able to get the little guy in a closet so ambient will stay right around 85 sometimes a little higher. Last night I noticed he wasn't as active as hes been. Throughout this hole time I notices he seemed like a happy tort. Last night he seemed a little inactive and this morning I soaked him in warm water and put him back in his cage and I came back probably 10 minutes later and he was still in his same spot out in the open which he hasn't done yet. I also noticed this morning, he extends his neck when breathing which I heard is signs of RI. He keeps his mouth shut when he does it though. What should I do?
I also noticed this morning, he extends his neck when breathing which I heard is signs of RI. He keeps his mouth shut when he does it though. What should I do?Hey guys, so last night I was able to get the little guy in a closet so ambient will stay right around 85 sometimes a little higher. Last night I noticed he wasn't as active as hes been. Throughout this hole time I notices he seemed like a happy tort. Last night he seemed a little inactive and this morning I soaked him in warm water and put him back in his cage and I came back probably 10 minutes later and he was still in his same spot out in the open which he hasn't done yet.
You have to keep your baby tort warm, night and day and soak him twice a day for 30 minutes in warm water that stays warm during the soaks. Upper the humidity to 80 %. You need a closed chamber to create this climate for your sick tort.
Can you please show us some pictures of his cage and the bulbs you use for warmth and UVB ? I hope it is not a rabbit cage or somehting else. They are not good for torts.
Please show us some pics so we can help you.
I dont know how to upload the pics to my computer. Its an old book shelf, I Have a zilla 18inch t8 uvb. I forget who makes the bulb for heat but its a reptile company. I have repti bark mixed with something I forget the name. Its a brick and you add water to it and it expands. I have a few hides with one having reptimoss in it. And a few rocks and plants and what not. Is it time for a vet? He hasnt hardly moved this morning?
If you're worried then a trip to a recognized herp specialist vet is probably advisable, don't go to any ordinary dog vet as they can be worse than useless.
But we need to discover if there is a problem with your set up, or this will happen again.
Make sure everything is set up as per the care sheets that Tom posted.
But we need to discover if there is a problem with your set up, or this will happen again.
Make sure everything is set up as per the care sheets that Tom posted.
Ok conditions are just like the care sheet. The closest reptile vet is hour and a half away from me so I dont want to make a trip if not needed but I want a healthy tortoise. Should I wait a couple days and see what what happens? And Im worried that hes not eating. Should I worry about that?
I have a tendency to worry, so if it were me, I'd take him to the vet.
As has been said he may well have an RI.
As has been said he may well have an RI.
OK I will try to do that in next couple days. thank you so much. This has been a great help and I did tons of research before I got the little guy and so much info about tortoises contradicts the next piece of info so I was doing things wrong. again, thank you.
The info on the caresheets here is up to date.
Elsewhere, on the net, from pet shops and breeders, even vets it is sometimes old outdated info.
People here have different ways of doing things and sometimes disagree over a favourite substrate, for instance, but for most things there is general agreement.
How long did your tortoise not eat ?
Are there bubbles on his nose by breathing and can you hear any strange noise while he is breathing ?
In the very beginning of an RI the increase of warmth and humidity day and night can heal a sick tort.
How many times is he less acrive and not eating ?
Are there bubbles on his nose by breathing and can you hear any strange noise while he is breathing ?
In the very beginning of an RI the increase of warmth and humidity day and night can heal a sick tort.
How many times is he less acrive and not eating ?
I have not seem him eat since ive got him, I got him last Thursday. I dont think the bubbles are exactly correlated with his breathing. Ive noticed it when I take him out and let him roam around. Probably see bubbles come out of his nose once or twice a minute so its not very often. And his breathing isnt making weird noises but he makes what seems to be a abnormal wet kind of noise. I would describe the noise to be like if a human were smacking there lips together while wet. Its just a wet smacking kind of noise if that makes sence.
It sounds to me that you bought a sick tortoise. That he has that RI already when you got him. That all sounds worse to me.
I am now the same opinion as @Tidgys Dad, that you have to visit a VET as soon as possible with your tort. I am sorry for this.
Where did you got him from ?
