First, my usual disclaimer. I've never had a baby tort and never will because I'm too old. I was given an 11 yo, 13 now, to care for. However, I lurk on this forum and find everything posted by established members to be accurate regarding Bombers' behavior and health. I seldom post anything but can't help it this time.
And, I saw you gave TFO a good-bye, but still plan to update a diary...huh?
Anyway, you did not answer a couple of questions from another TFO member regarding your semi-covered cement mixer closure.
1. Lack of appetite is often due to temps. What are your four temps and what heating and lighting equipment are you using to maintain these? Warm side, cool side, basking area and overnight low? Open top or closed chamber? What is the room temp where the enclosure sits?
2. What type of UV are you using? The no walking followed by panicky walking makes me think pain. Could be injection site pain, or it could be eye burning pain. The fact that he'll eat when hand fed, but not go get it on his own also makes me think there might be eye damage.
"He has a partially covered enclose(sic) and it works just as well as a closed one, keeping it 80% humidity."
I don't think so.
You wrote in your diary "They chalk his weird and unique symptoms up to common ones. I know they are trying to help but it is frustrating when you're looking for answers but you just get the same thing over and over again.
No one really understands his symptoms, including me. They are so odd and severe that it is something that you have to watch to understand. But still, that doubt inside me is making me second guess his condition and wondering if he is normal. But do normal tortoises throw themselves off of things with their erratic jerky movements, and do normal tortoises refuse to eat unless hand fed?"
Again, I've never had hatchlings but I suspect some of the people posting here have seen every possible problem that can be encountered raising torts, i.e. when something is observed frequently enough, it becomes commonplace.
"EDIT:
Shortly after this, a ton of helpful patient people here confirmed definitely that it was HFS and frankly informed me that he is probably not going to make it. All I can do is offer the best conditions and pray. I guess it just took me freaking out for the facts of his condition to finally seep into my brain."
Were the ton of people who confirmed HFS on another site? I don't find them here. HFS was first introduced by you.
Please post pictures of your tort and enclosure for better advice. I know you wrote your phone is broken, but maybe somebody can lend you one for pictures.
In the meantime, I'll gladly order some Pedialyte® and baby food via Amazon if you want.
And, I saw you gave TFO a good-bye, but still plan to update a diary...huh?
Anyway, you did not answer a couple of questions from another TFO member regarding your semi-covered cement mixer closure.
1. Lack of appetite is often due to temps. What are your four temps and what heating and lighting equipment are you using to maintain these? Warm side, cool side, basking area and overnight low? Open top or closed chamber? What is the room temp where the enclosure sits?
2. What type of UV are you using? The no walking followed by panicky walking makes me think pain. Could be injection site pain, or it could be eye burning pain. The fact that he'll eat when hand fed, but not go get it on his own also makes me think there might be eye damage.
"He has a partially covered enclose(sic) and it works just as well as a closed one, keeping it 80% humidity."
I don't think so.
You wrote in your diary "They chalk his weird and unique symptoms up to common ones. I know they are trying to help but it is frustrating when you're looking for answers but you just get the same thing over and over again.
No one really understands his symptoms, including me. They are so odd and severe that it is something that you have to watch to understand. But still, that doubt inside me is making me second guess his condition and wondering if he is normal. But do normal tortoises throw themselves off of things with their erratic jerky movements, and do normal tortoises refuse to eat unless hand fed?"
Again, I've never had hatchlings but I suspect some of the people posting here have seen every possible problem that can be encountered raising torts, i.e. when something is observed frequently enough, it becomes commonplace.
"EDIT:
Shortly after this, a ton of helpful patient people here confirmed definitely that it was HFS and frankly informed me that he is probably not going to make it. All I can do is offer the best conditions and pray. I guess it just took me freaking out for the facts of his condition to finally seep into my brain."
Were the ton of people who confirmed HFS on another site? I don't find them here. HFS was first introduced by you.
Please post pictures of your tort and enclosure for better advice. I know you wrote your phone is broken, but maybe somebody can lend you one for pictures.
In the meantime, I'll gladly order some Pedialyte® and baby food via Amazon if you want.
