Hi, I'm Mara

[TortoiseWarrior]

Yes, that is what the Vet said. But he does not seem to be in pain, he eats well, and is getting so much better at his walking/climbing. He used to fall over and tip all the time, and now he is steady on his feet and seems stronger. I think for a 2 week old, he is doing great! If I had left out on his own, he would have died.

That tort is a warrior. Hope he hangs in there. Welcome to the forum.

 

[Mara29]

Thank you all for the wonderful advice. I will do everything you all suggested except cover the injury. The vet said not to. I have a standard UVB lamp that came in a Zilla basic Desert start up kit. It also came with a heat lamp. Would some one please give me some numbers as to the size and (wattage) of the lamp needed. And also does he need UVA? Is it ok to give him a little watermelon as a treat and for another hydration source?

 

[Sara G.]

I don't think desert tortoises can have fruit of any kind because they can't properly digest the sugar and it can lead to kidney problems.

UVB is the important stuff. Not even sure if UVA is an actual thing. I think it's just a gimmick from bulb sellers.

 

[Sara G.]

What kind of bulb is your UVB bulb? The coil bulbs can be very harmful to a torts eyes.
Use a tube light and a separate heat bulb
Or get an MVB which produces both UVB and heat.

 

[Mara29]

The baby's parents are 40 years and 25 years. Not sure which one is male or female. They live off the desert plants and grass in her yard. But she has been treating them with watermelon, strawberries, apples, cut up grapes and spring mix lettuces for years. By treat, I mean once or twice a week she will throw something out while they are basking in the sun. Since we live in Phoenix, her tortoises are not very active except during the early morning hours. They will run across the yard to get the treats. It hasn't caused any problems that we know of and we think the fruit helps keep them hydrated during the hot summer month. The Vet said basically the same thing. Treats once in awhile are ok and it helps with hydration. Of course, too much sugar isn't good for any animal including us humans

 

[Sara G.]

For non-fruit eating species that's really not good for them.
For your baby, stick with leafy greens, and weeds.

 

[Sara G.]

Also, the best hydration possible for any species? Water!
Set up some sprinklers and a big water dish or two and that would solve everything.

 

[Mara29]

My 2 1/2 week old baby desert tortoise weighed 23 grams when born, now weighs 29 grams! He is eating well and even though the shell injury is still exposed, he is doing much better. 2 weeks ago, he would tip himself over at least 4-6 times an hour. Now he never tips, and is walking more steady. I think he would have died out in the desert if I hadn't brought him in. We will continue to help him until he can be released back into the yard with his parents and siblings.I have tried to send in

 

[Cheryl Hills]

I don't thing you can release him back now. But let the others tell you for sure.

 

[Sara G.]

I'm fairly certain you can't release the tort at this point.
You risk causing issues with the wild population.

 

[TortoiseWarrior]

I would say as long as that injury is sensitive that tort may do better alone. It could be years before is can heal over. You just what to minimize any potential risk of injury.

 

[Mara29]

Oh, I'm sorry. I did not mean release him into the wild, wild....I meant put him in the contained backyard where the parents are. Is that a danger to them? I cannot see him living 50-100 years in an aquarium. I want him to live outside where he is supposed to. So should I have him in his own yard to live out his years? The specialist seemed to indicate that he could learn to live outside in a contained area, but we would always have to watch him, and make sure he has the proper plants and grass to survive. If he can't go out in the yard where his parents live, then my daughter can take him in her yard.

 

[Mara29]

Also, I should restate that his parents have always been captive. My clients have cared for them for over 25 years, one is forty (40) years old. He is only the 5th hatchling to survive in all those years. The others 4 have been adopted out. And I would never put him outside until the injury heals over.

 

[TortoiseWarrior]

I agree with you. If you give him his own world to thrive and survive, maybe we can get a full recovery here.
With some good growth and some luck I wonder?

 

[Sara G.]

He might do better being completely solitary. If he turns out male then you will have two males constantly harassing a female to breed and that won't be good.
Plus, once he's up and well, he'll likely be too small to hang around his parents.

 

[Tom]

I have a standard UVB lamp that came in a Zilla basic Desert start up kit. It also came with a heat lamp. Would some one please give me some numbers as to the size and (wattage) of the lamp needed. And also does he need UVA? Is it ok to give him a little watermelon as a treat and for another hydration source?

There is no "standard" UV lamp. There are many different types offered for sale. Some are potentially harmful or dangerous, some are ineffective, and some work well. Is yours a screw in cfl type? A long tube? A mercury vapor bulb?

No one can tell you what wattage you need. Everyone's enclosure and temperatures are different. As a starting point, I like to use 65 watt flood bulbs and adjust the height to get the correct temperatures under them. You may need something bigger or smaller, depending on several factors.

Fruit is not good for them. It upsets the intestinal flora and fauna. Because the adults have survived with fruit in their diet, does not mean it was good for them. There are better ways to hydrate a tortoise that don't harm the gut flora and fauna. Soaking, drinking, spraying water on the food, making puddles in the yard with sprinklers or hoses, spineless opuntia or other succulents, etc...

All of these things are explained here in more detail:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/
Care for russians is the same as it is for DTs.

 

[Mara29]

I gave my tortiose a wild iris petals that my daughter brought me back from her camping trip. I did not know that they are on the poisoness list. He scarfed them down like they were candy. What can I do, and will it kill him?

 

[JoesMum]

I gave my tortiose a wild iris petals that my daughter brought me back from her camping trip. I did not know that they are on the poisoness list. He scarfed them down like they were candy. What can I do, and will it kill him?

Hopefully not. The Tortoise Table says not to panic if they do eat a little Iris.

Soak your tort regularly and keep an eye on him. Get him to the vet if there's a problem.

 

[Mara29]

Thank you for your answer. He seems okay, I was just panicked. I do soak him, and he eats really well the native plants. He just loves flowers, and I try to keep them just for treats. He's growing and I need to upload a new pic of him. The shell is healing.

 

[Mara29]

This is my baby, now 3 1/2 weeks old. He's gained 5 grams, so now weighs over an ounce.

Sorry, I cannot figure out how to upload the new picture of him.