Baby sulcata skin falling off neck

[Bronzo]

I have had my sulcata tortoise for almost 3 weeks, after day 4 things started to go down hill! She was eating and pooping fine but her eyes were swollen shut. I gave her a hot steamy bath that opened them up. The next morning she wouldn’t eat. Her nostrils were clear but I still took her to the vet. They gave her a vitamin a shot (now reading was the worst I could do) also tested her poop. She ended up having a parasite. I couldn’t get meds down her for 4 days, she was eating and pooping still. Then she came down with a RI. Right now I’m able to get her meds down her, it takes 3 of us and give her a shot every 3 days. Problem now: her skin has fallen off her neck, I don’t know what to do! Please any advice!!!
She hatched on 3/27, has been gaining a gram a day. Weighing 45.9g today

 

[Lyn W]

Most vets - especially those that aren't tort specialists know little about tortoise care and even though vitamin shots are often offered, they can do more harm than good, which may the problem here.
If you post some pics of your tort some of the members with more medical knowledge may be able to help you identify what is happening. I'll tag @zovick @Yvonne G @Tom

Which antibiotics did they give?

'Hot steamy baths' aren't good either - the water should only be luke or baby warm and shallow; steam can cause RI if inhaled by the torts which is why humidifiers aren't recommended.

This is the caresheet you need to follow to help your baby thrive

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Bronzo]

Most vets - especially those that aren't tort specialists know little about tortoise care and even though vitamin shots are often offered, they can do more harm than good, which may the problem here.
If you post some pics of your tort some of the members with more medical knowledge may be able to help you identify what is happening. I'll tag @zovick @Yvonne G @Tom

Which antibiotics did they give?

'Hot steamy baths' aren't good either - the water should only be luke or baby warm and shallow; steam can cause RI if inhaled by the torts which is why humidifiers aren't recommended.

This is the caresheet you need to follow to help your baby thrive

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...

tortoiseforum.org

Here are a couple photos, they aren’t the best but you can see the skin off the neck. The antibiotics are ceftazidime and metronidazole for parasites. Thank you for your quick response and tagging people to help

 

[Bronzo]

Here are a couple photos, they aren’t the best but you can see the skin off the neck. The antibiotics are ceftazidime and metronidazole for parasites. Thank you for your quick response and tagging people to help

Here’s at couple more

 

[Tom]

I have had my sulcata tortoise for almost 3 weeks, after day 4 things started to go down hill! She was eating and pooping fine but her eyes were swollen shut. I gave her a hot steamy bath that opened them up. The next morning she wouldn’t eat. Her nostrils were clear but I still took her to the vet. They gave her a vitamin a shot (now reading was the worst I could do) also tested her poop. She ended up having a parasite. I couldn’t get meds down her for 4 days, she was eating and pooping still. Then she came down with a RI. Right now I’m able to get her meds down her, it takes 3 of us and give her a shot every 3 days. Problem now: her skin has fallen off her neck, I don’t know what to do! Please any advice!!!
She hatched on 3/27, has been gaining a gram a day. Weighing 45.9g today

We need more info in order to help.

How are you housing the baby? What size and type enclosure?
What are your four temperatures? Warm side cold side, basking area and overnight low?
What heating and lighting equipment are you using?
What are you using for night heat?
What substrate are you using?
Where did you get the baby?

 

[Bronzo]

We need more info in order to help.

How are you housing the baby? What size and type enclosure?
What are your four temperatures? Warm side cold side, basking area and overnight low?
What heating and lighting equipment are you using?
What are you using for night heat?
What substrate are you using?
Where did you get the baby?

I started with one of those Amazon tortoise tables found out that the odd smell was that and the heat was caused a toxic smell since it was made from cedar. Switched to a 50 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank. Heating is 82-90 one side, 100-105 basking and 95 other side. I have t5 uvb bulb and 2 Che. Night is 83-85 throughout. Use both ches at night. I was using coconut coir and coconut bark for substrate, I’d say 60% bark 40 coir. I got her sent from a breeder, he had good reviews.

 

[Bronzo]

I started with one of those Amazon tortoise tables found out that the odd smell was that and the heat was caused a toxic smell since it was made from cedar. Switched to a 50 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank. Heating is 82-90 one side, 100-105 basking and 95 other side. I have t5 uvb bulb and 2 Che. Night is 83-85 throughout. Use both ches at night. I was using coconut coir and coconut bark for substrate, I’d say 60% bark 40 coir. I got her sent from a breeder, he had good reviews.

Her bottom side. I didn’t notice this earlier.

 

[Tom]

Her bottom side. I didn’t notice this earlier.

I'm going through he list of things that can cause these problems in my head and trying to eliminate them one by one.

Most people keep this species too cool, but that doesn't seem to be your issue.

You are using the right kind of UV tube, but what is the mounting distance from the tortoise, and what type of T5? Arcadia? Zoomed? 12%. 10.0, 5.0?

Most breeders do not start babies correctly, and the reviews mean very little. Did the breeder soak daily, start the baby in a brooder box for 7-10 days after hatching, and house the new baby in a humid closed chamber most of the time?

You can't maintain the correct humidity in an open topped enclosure, so dehydration is a possibility. Are you soaking the baby for 30-40 minutes every day?

The plastron looks normal.

Do you see any sort of pustules or yellow bumps on the skin around the neck or joint areas?

 

[Bronzo]

I'm going through he list of things that can cause these problems in my head and trying to eliminate them one by one.

Most people keep this species too cool, but that doesn't seem to be your issue.

You are using the right kind of UV tube, but what is the mounting distance from the tortoise, and what type of T5? Arcadia? Zoomed? 12%. 10.0, 5.0?

Most breeders do not start babies correctly, and the reviews mean very little. Did the breeder soak daily, start the baby in a brooder box for 7-10 days after hatching, and house the new baby in a humid closed chamber most of the time?

You can't maintain the correct humidity in an open topped enclosure, so dehydration is a possibility. Are you soaking the baby for 30-40 minutes every day?

The plastron looks normal.

Do you see any sort of pustules or yellow bumps on the skin around the neck or joint areas?

I got the t5 10. Utb 24w reptizoo one off Amazon. I hydrate twice a day. 20-25 min each. The humidity has been a problem. Every time heat goes up that goes down once I finally got it she got sick and I had to take out all substrate so using humidifier to help. There is no bumps around neck or joint, I thought maybe yellow fungus cause around her eyes. But the vet said her skin was fine

 

[Tom]

I got the t5 10. Utb 24w reptizoo one off Amazon. I hydrate twice a day. 20-25 min each. The humidity has been a problem. Every time heat goes up that goes down once I finally got it she got sick and I had to take out all substrate so using humidifier to help. There is no bumps around neck or joint, I thought maybe yellow fungus cause around her eyes. But the vet said her skin was fine

I have no experience with that light, so I am not familiar with its typical performance. A UV meter is essential for you. There is no other way to know what is going on under that bulb. If it is producing too much UV, that could be the source of your problem. Buy or borrow a Solarmeter 6.5.

Humidifiers should not be used in tortoise enclosure. Breathing those little foggy micro-droplets is not good. You can use it to humidify the room, just not where the fog is going directly into the enclosure. Humidity should be maintained by using a closed chamber and reducing ventilation as needed.

Can we see a picture of your enclosure? This might help. If the problem is not with your housing or care routine, then that takes us back to the breeder questions. Almost no one starts these babies correctly and many of them die weeks or months after the sale as a result. At first they seem normal, eating, drinking, exploring, etc..., but the tell tale sign is not growing past 50 grams. They seem to stall right around there and then slowly decline after a few weeks or months sometimes. I hope this is not your issue, but here is more on that:

"Hatchling Failure Syndrome"

I've heard this term for many years and I don't like it. Its a way to excuse our ignorance and failure. I will agree that an occasional hatchling is born that is just not going to make it no matter what anybody does, but MOST of them, if they make it full term and hatch, SHOULD survive and...

tortoiseforum.org

Have you seen this one too?

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Bronzo]

I have no experience with that light, so I am not familiar with its typical performance. A UV meter is essential for you. There is no other way to know what is going on under that bulb. If it is producing too much UV, that could be the source of your problem. Buy or borrow a Solarmeter 6.5.

Humidifiers should not be used in tortoise enclosure. Breathing those little foggy micro-droplets is not good. You can use it to humidify the room, just not where the fog is going directly into the enclosure. Humidity should be maintained by using a closed chamber and reducing ventilation as needed.

Can we see a picture of your enclosure? This might help. If the problem is not with your housing or care routine, then that takes us back to the breeder questions. Almost no one starts these babies correctly and many of them die weeks or months after the sale as a result. At first they seem normal, eating, drinking, exploring, etc..., but the tell tale sign is not growing past 50 grams. They seem to stall right around there and then slowly decline after a few weeks or months sometimes. I hope this is not your issue, but here is more on that:

"Hatchling Failure Syndrome"

I've heard this term for many years and I don't like it. Its a way to excuse our ignorance and failure. I will agree that an occasional hatchling is born that is just not going to make it no matter what anybody does, but MOST of them, if they make it full term and hatch, SHOULD survive and...

tortoiseforum.org

Have you seen this one too?

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...

tortoiseforum.org

I have read both!! I do nothing but read. This is a lot differnt now, since I switched I had to take everything out.

 

[Bronzo]

I have read both!! I do nothing but read. This is a lot differnt now, since I switched I had to take everything out.

I’m building a top over it now, like a green house top. I finally was able to ge a picture of the top of her head. She hides when she see the phone. Thanks for all your help!!! It’s been a really stressful 2 weeks

 

[Bronzo]

She was soaking in her dish and couldn’t get out, she wights a lot more 48.2 grams. She looks like she is completely bloated. Renal failure?

 

[Tom]

She was soaking in her dish and couldn’t get out, she wights a lot more 48.2 grams. She looks like she is completely bloated. Renal failure?

Do you know how the breeder started this baby? Its okay to say who the breeder is publicly. If someone does a great job people should know about it. If someone isn't doing it right and is getting bad results because of it, potential buyers should know that too.

 

[Bronzo]

Jacks Tortoise Farm

 

[Tom]

Jacks Tortoise Farm

I don't know that one. Did you ask about how Jack starts his babies? Most breeders still have and use the old wrong info.

 

[Bronzo]

No, at the beginning I didn’t think to ask those questions. When I told him that her parasites were extremely high (only had her for 4 days and I don’t have any other animals) he said that he has never heard of that before.

 

[Bronzo]

I just emailed him… she has been eating and pooping fine. Pooped 3 times today, solid, not stinky. Since she’s been sick all she will eat is romaine and the stuff in the spring mix. I don’t give her the spinach. Yesterday she nibbled on some hay and dandilion. Usually she leaves some of the food on her plate but she ate it all and kept coming back for more. I tried hay and dandelion again but she refused but kept walking to her food plate. So I mixed up the hay and dandelion with spring mix, she picked out all the spring mix and ate it. I was hoping she would pee on me while getting her meds but she didn’t. Thank you for discussing this with me!

 

[Tom]

I just emailed him… she has been eating and pooping fine. Pooped 3 times today, solid, not stinky. Since she’s been sick all she will eat is romaine and the stuff in the spring mix. I don’t give her the spinach. Yesterday she nibbled on some hay and dandilion. Usually she leaves some of the food on her plate but she ate it all and kept coming back for more. I tried hay and dandelion again but she refused but kept walking to her food plate. So I mixed up the hay and dandelion with spring mix, she picked out all the spring mix and ate it. I was hoping she would pee on me while getting her meds but she didn’t. Thank you for discussing this with me!

Hay is only for adults. Not for babies. Babies need tender, freshly sprouted grass mixed in with their food. If the breeder did not introduce lots of different weeds, grasses, flowers and succulents, you will have to do it, and the process takes a long time.

The importance of those first few days and weeks, and what is or is not done during that time, cannot be over emphasized.

 

[Bronzo]

Hay is only for adults. Not for babies. Babies need tender, freshly sprouted grass mixed in with their food. If the breeder did not introduce lots of different weeds, grasses, flowers and succulents, you will have to do it, and the process takes a long time.

The importance of those first few days and weeks, and what is or is not done during that time, cannot be over emphasized.

Hello, so Bronzlee is still alive!! Never knew what the third eye was until this morning. I read that soaking her every 3 hours will bring down the swelling under her shell, which it has. I soaked her in 1/2 water and pumpkin with some dandelion leaves mashed in it. After each soak she has wanted to eat, even with calcium on it. Her head color has darkened and her breathing is very deep (don’t know how to explain it) I am at loss what to do, she looks like on the edge of death on second but after soaking her she is wondering around. Today was the warmest day we have had in Washington so I took her outside, she explored for one hour. She is still really swollen under her shell, eyes are like little black bb’s. I am afraid if I don’t soak her she might die, I am taking her to the vet first thing in the morning. Question I guess, is all the soaking bad? Should I continue throughout the night? Is she in pain? She hasn’t peed. I one poop this morning and a little diarrhea. Thank you again for everything