HI! New To The Forum but NEED HELP ASAP!!!

[Paulo]

Hi! Sry to start off like this but I live in Southern California and own some nice young Leopard Tortoises. Well one of mine is very inactive and does not seem to eat. His eyes are always shut and Ive been going through this forum for answers. Well to answer some questions, the temps in my enclosure are 75 cool side and 100 under the basking light on the other side. In the middle of the enclosure is a CHE that keeps the heat in the middle in the 90s. The substrate is a mix of coco coir and cyprus mulch. His pyramiding was already there when I got him 3 months ago. He has been like this for more than a week now. I do not have enough money for a vet visit. I asked for a quote from the hero doc here and he said for a visit, blood sample, etc. it would go up to 300+. I just graduated college and dont have that cash to spare Well ive been trying to keep him hydrated and warm. Because he asnt been eating ive given him forced soaks with Muzuri mush and Repashy vitamin powder mixed in the water so he get get nutrients. I notice he has been drinking the stuff while in the soak but I dont see him eating the mush. I recently put him in a tank to separate him from my other leos. Hes in my room with a heat mat to keep the tank heated. Any tips would be greatly helped and I dont mind criticizm cuz mistakes are made so I can learn from them. Please help my Leo out!

-Paulo

Here are a lot of pics of my Leo and kinda what Ive been doing:

Enclosure with the others:

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IMG_0997 by Paulo102212, on Flickr[/img]

My Leo. Not opening his eyes

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IMG_0998 by Paulo102212, on Flickr[/img]

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IMG_0999 by Paulo102212, on Flickr[/img]

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IMG_1001 by Paulo102212, on Flickr[/img]

Arial view

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IMG_1002 by Paulo102212, on Flickr[/img]

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IMG_1003 by Paulo102212, on Flickr[/img]

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IMG_1004 by Paulo102212, on Flickr[/img]

Mush soak. He was dinking then he bagan to open his eyes

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IMG_1005 by Paulo102212, on Flickr[/img]

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IMG_1006 by Paulo102212, on Flickr[/img]

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IMG_1007 by Paulo102212, on Flickr[/img]

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IMG_1008 by Paulo102212, on Flickr[/img]

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IMG_1010 by Paulo102212, on Flickr[/img]

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IMG_1013 by Paulo102212, on Flickr[/img]

His separate temporary enclosure

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IMG_1014 by Paulo102212, on Flickr[/img]

 

[wellington]

If you by chance are using any coil type bulbs, get them out right away. I would also try some puréed baby food soaks. I jar to enough warm water that come upto where his top and bottom shell meets. Also might want to try this one this thread
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-41739.html Keep him warm and separate from the rest. You might also want to realize some just don't make it. Try what you can for him and with fingers crossed and good vibes coming your way, hopefully he will pull through.

 

[Paulo]

If you by chance are using any coil type bulbs, get them out right away. I would also try some puréed baby food soaks. I jar to enough warm water that come upto where his top and bottom shell meets. Also might want to try this one this thread
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-41739.html Keep him warm and separate from the rest. You might also want to realize some just don't make it. Try what you can for him and with fingers crossed and good vibes coming your way, hopefully he will pull through.

Thank you and no I dont use coil bulbs

 

[Yvonne G]

The most usual cause of shut eyes in baby tortoises are heat (not warm enough) and moisture (too dry), with not eating being right up there with those two reasons.

Using a small tub or bowl with high sides and a small floor space, put in a jar of Gerber strained carrots and mix that with warm water until it comes up to the middle of the baby's sides (the bridge is where the top meets the bottom). Leave him soaking in this mixture for at least a half hour. You can place a light over one end of the bowl to keep it a bit warm. But keep checking on the tortoise to be sure he hasn't tipped over. After about three days of doing this soak, you should start to see an improvement. It has to do with vitamin A, not eating, being too cool, etc.

 

[cemmons12]

Uggg, I hope what Barb and Yvonne have said will help your little one out! Just wondering, does he show any signs of being sick, like bubbles coming out of his nose? I sure hope he makes it, nothing sinks my heart faster then reading of a beautiful baby tort passing on. I wish you and baby the very best!! Please keep us posted if you would...

 

[Paulo]

Uggg, I hope what Barb and Yvonne have said will help your little one out! Just wondering, does he show any signs of being sick, like bubbles coming out of his nose? I sure hope he makes it, nothing sinks my heart faster then reading of a beautiful baby tort passing on. I wish you and baby the very best!! Please keep us posted if you would...

Thank you! Other than not eating, closed eyes, and laziness, there is nothing else. No bubbles, gasping, etc. He does yawn a lot though

 

[tortadise]

The most usual cause of shut eyes in baby tortoises are heat (not warm enough) and moisture (too dry), with not eating being right up there with those two reasons.

Using a small tub or bowl with high sides and a small floor space, put in a jar of Gerber strained carrots and mix that with warm water until it comes up to the middle of the baby's sides (the bridge is where the top meets the bottom). Leave him soaking in this mixture for at least a half hour. You can place a light over one end of the bowl to keep it a bit warm. But keep checking on the tortoise to be sure he hasn't tipped over. After about three days of doing this soak, you should start to see an improvement. It has to do with vitamin A, not eating, being too cool, etc.

Spot on with this regime. I use pedialyte baby electrolyte to this regime as well the baby food. I notice in the first photo the stucco and sliding glass door. Is the enclosure outside 24hr? This will be a main source of issue with spike in temperatures, dryness of substrate, and your misting the enclosure down will exacerbate an upper respiratory infection. If you can keep him inside do the soaks as mentions by Yvonne. Keep him in an 85 degree minimum temp set up for at least the end of winter. I would halt the spraying the enclosure until this issue subsides as well. You can get a humidifier at Walgreen's for around $20 that will really help with humidity without wet substrate.

 

[mayday29150]

We just did a carrot bath on a friends sick yellow foot adult. And she drank it up. It was pedi light carrot juice and water (oxbow) we did not have. Not sure of this is ok for baby tortoise or not. Others will say I guess

 

[tortadise]

We just did a carrot bath on a friends sick yellow foot adult. And she drank it up. It was pedi light carrot juice and water (oxbow) we did not have. Not sure of this is ok for baby tortoise or not. Others will say I guess

It is safe for any herbivore.

 

[DrewsLife727]

Spot on with this regime. I use pedialyte baby electrolyte to this regime as well the baby food. I notice in the first photo the stucco and sliding glass door. Is the enclosure outside 24hr? This will be a main source of issue with spike in temperatures, dryness of substrate, and your misting the enclosure down will exacerbate an upper respiratory infection. If you can keep him inside do the soaks as mentions by Yvonne. Keep him in an 85 degree minimum temp set up for at least the end of winter. I would halt the spraying the enclosure until this issue subsides as well. You can get a humidifier at Walgreen's for around $20 that will really help with humidity without wet substrate.

I keep mine outside 24/7 as well. What would you suggest to keep the temps more consistent?

 

[Paulo]

Is this ok?

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IMG_1016 by Paulo102212, on Flickr[/img]

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Paulo:

The reason for the carrot baby food is it has a high concentration of vitamin A. I wouldn't dilute it with apple juice. Try to find strained baby food carrots.

 

[Paulo]

Ok ill buy that then after work