ShreddersMom
Member
My boyfriend and I recently adopted a 3 1/2 year sulfate from a gentleman who couldn't care for him anymore. He hasn't ever received proper lighting,only ever having UVA available instead of B. He lived on grocery store greens, and commercial pellets that weren't rehydrated. He lived on hay, with no temperature gauges or humidity except whatever the room was at. We've had him for about three weeks. He has some pyramiding, and was very dull when we got him.
Since getting him we have changed his substrate to peat moss in his hide, and coconut coir and play sand in the rest of his box. Added a MVB 100w UVB bulb and a 60w ceramic emitter at night. We have attempted to switch his diet to hay and cactus pads and other various healthy greens. So far he just curls up to sleep on his hay, and isn't big on eating. We have had most success with rehydrated ZooMed pellets. His box stays about 75* during the day, sometimes as high as 80, and around 70* at night. His hygrometer in his hide we try to keep between 40-50%. He is bathed in luke warm water for about 10 minutes once a week, and misted daily when we mist his substrate.
He rarely brings himself out of his hide. He's not eating what I feel is any significant amount of food. If we force him out of his hide he will cruise around the room for a bit before hiding again. His shell has gotten brighter, and he digs a lot, but we never see him coming out of his hide to come eat or drink. He only eats after we drag him out of his hide. I know nothing about how he lived in his old home, except for the fact that the previous owner said he wouldn't hear or see the tortoise for days at a time so he would check to see if he was alive every few days.
What should I do/change, etc. I want to do right by this guy. He's in a small tortoise box right now, but that will be changed come spring. Hopefully not too much longer.
Since getting him we have changed his substrate to peat moss in his hide, and coconut coir and play sand in the rest of his box. Added a MVB 100w UVB bulb and a 60w ceramic emitter at night. We have attempted to switch his diet to hay and cactus pads and other various healthy greens. So far he just curls up to sleep on his hay, and isn't big on eating. We have had most success with rehydrated ZooMed pellets. His box stays about 75* during the day, sometimes as high as 80, and around 70* at night. His hygrometer in his hide we try to keep between 40-50%. He is bathed in luke warm water for about 10 minutes once a week, and misted daily when we mist his substrate.
He rarely brings himself out of his hide. He's not eating what I feel is any significant amount of food. If we force him out of his hide he will cruise around the room for a bit before hiding again. His shell has gotten brighter, and he digs a lot, but we never see him coming out of his hide to come eat or drink. He only eats after we drag him out of his hide. I know nothing about how he lived in his old home, except for the fact that the previous owner said he wouldn't hear or see the tortoise for days at a time so he would check to see if he was alive every few days.
What should I do/change, etc. I want to do right by this guy. He's in a small tortoise box right now, but that will be changed come spring. Hopefully not too much longer.