Baby Leopard Tortoise ill...need suggestions

JeRu · Jul 22, 2019

Hi. I am new to forum. We got our baby Ellie at a reptile show here in Gainesville, FL on June 29th. Tortoise has been overall pretty healthy from our viewpoint. Yesterday we noticed bleeding from it's sides...and noticed upon soaking in baby water temp bath that it had opening on her side. Side of tortoise is soft and mushy. I did see Ellie attempt to eat yesterday.
We have it in a under bed storage bin. We were using a brown paper bag with alfalfa on top that we misted areas of 3x a day. She has a ceramic hide and cuttle bone. We keep our house at 83 degrees and have a heat light on one side of her bin. We do not have a humidity/ temp gauge in with her..good thing to get today to get numbers more exact. We have been taking her bin out into natural sunlight each day making sure to provide shade and water. We have just been letting her soak in her water bowl for 10 - 15 min a day and spritzing bin and tortoise 3x a day. Her diet has been dark lettuce mix with arugula..some home picked dandelion greens from non sprayed yard.and some aloe twice a week which Ellie normally loves the aloe.
Today I took out alfalfa and just put clean cloth diapers that I misted. Can add pictures in a bit..I have three children and a dog that I also care for all day. We are very in love with our Ellie. Thanks for all care suggestions.

Yvonne G · Jul 22, 2019

It would be in Ellie's best interest for you to read the care sheet for baby leopard tortoises. Something is definitely wrong. Tortoises don't bleed from their sides. It might simply be that a hard alfalfa stem has scratched the tender new growth, or it could be something much worse, like someone or something has squished the baby. Please post pictures of the enclosure and the baby where it's bleeding. Here's the link to some GOOD info for you:

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.78361/

Ben02 · Jul 22, 2019

Can we see some pictures of the bleeding sides?

JeRu · Jul 22, 2019

Ben02 · Jul 22, 2019

JeRu said:
View attachment 277020

Are the tortoises eyes closed there or was he just blinking? I would go to a vet ASAP, bleeding from the shell is not good. It indicates a bacterial infection such as Septicemia or possibly damage to the shell which can be serious. I’ve also noticed your using a lamp clamp, heat needs to come from directly above the tortoise (not at an angle) and clamps are known for falling off and causing fires.

Erik Elvis · Jul 22, 2019

Poor guy doesn’t look good. Looking at your set up there’s no way the enclosure is being kept warm enough. I’d recommend something with higher sides that you can maybe cover and get a ceramic heat emitter as well to keep the ambient temp of the cage at least 80. I’d also recommend changing to a substrate like zoo med forest floor or coco coir. Need something that can hold some humidity.

Yvonne G · Jul 22, 2019

To me it looks like that baby has been squashed, causing the tender new growth on the sides to break open. If you know of a GOOD tortoise vet, now would be a good time to take this baby to a vet.

Here's an example of how my baby leopard tortoises are set up:

The closed enclosure keeps the heat and humidity inside. I use a tube type fluorescent UVB bulb with a radiant heat panel for heat. The closed enclosure also ensures that no pets or children will be able to reach in there and touch or otherwise harm the babies.

Please read the care sheet I linked for you, and good luck with that little baby.

Yvonne G · Jul 22, 2019

Helpful hint: Look at the light in your picture and follow in a straight line, the direction the bottom of the light is flowing. It is aimed clear over the top of the far end of your enclosure. It should be pointing down into the enclosure. All the heat/UVB is not reaching the baby at all. (I'm assuming that's a UVB light?)

Ghazan · Jul 22, 2019

septicemia

JeRu · Jul 23, 2019

Hi. Thank you for all replies and suggestions.
Yes Ellie's eyes are closed in the pic. She opened them for a bit while bathing in morning, but did not eat. Tort is very lethargic...resting.
She shows good breathing...but that is about the only good sign.
We do have some exotic vets in our area.
We have gotten better handle on the temps and placed the light from above.
Thank you for concern and input.

Jeru

Tom · Jul 23, 2019

This looks like the advanced stages of "Breeder Failure Syndrome" to me.
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/hatchling-failure-syndrome.23493/#post-215031

Lyn W · Jul 23, 2019

Poor thing - is there any chance your dog could have got to her and pierced her sides with his teeth?
I hope she survives and recovers well.

chickpeas_mama · Jul 24, 2019

JeRu said:
View attachment 277020
View attachment 277021

Poor baby needs a vet ASAP. That looks excruciating and infected.

Susanwouldgo · Jul 24, 2019

JeRu said:
Hi. I am new to forum. We got our baby Ellie at a reptile show here in Gainesville, FL on June 29th. Tortoise has been overall pretty healthy from our viewpoint. Yesterday we noticed bleeding from it's sides...and noticed upon soaking in baby water temp bath that it had opening on her side. Side of tortoise is soft and mushy. I did see Ellie attempt to eat yesterday.
We have it in a under bed storage bin. We were using a brown paper bag with alfalfa on top that we misted areas of 3x a day. She has a ceramic hide and cuttle bone. We keep our house at 83 degrees and have a heat light on one side of her bin. We do not have a humidity/ temp gauge in with her..good thing to get today to get numbers more exact. We have been taking her bin out into natural sunlight each day making sure to provide shade and water. We have just been letting her soak in her water bowl for 10 - 15 min a day and spritzing bin and tortoise 3x a day. Her diet has been dark lettuce mix with arugula..some home picked dandelion greens from non sprayed yard.and some aloe twice a week which Ellie normally loves the aloe.
Today I took out alfalfa and just put clean cloth diapers that I misted. Can add pictures in a bit..I have three children and a dog that I also care for all day. We are very in love with our Ellie. Thanks for all care suggestions.

Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD) is caused by lack of sunlight - any chance you can sun her a few hours per day in a protected environment? Also, since Elli is a baby, how do you know she is not a he?

Erik Elvis · Jul 24, 2019

Sorry I missed that you keep your house at 83. Yuck I would never sleep.

Baby Leopard Tortoise ill...need suggestions

JeRu

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Yvonne G

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Ben02

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JeRu

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Ben02

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Erik Elvis

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Yvonne G

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Yvonne G

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Ghazan

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JeRu

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