MBD ?

Tofu

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You mightve known Tofu by now ots a sulcata tortoise about 2.3 inch
This post is the continual of the previous post "Hibernation??"

At that post ive told you guys that Tofu is less active than usuall and i thought that i might be eye irritation and it cant see very well but now ive just noticed that its plastron and carapace is soft can be pushed like plastic.

Im very very worried right now and ive done the flashlight technique where you shine a flashlight at the plastron of the tortoise and if the light comes through the carapace that means that it might have MBD.

Is the soft plastron and shell normal for baby sulcatas or is it really MBD ?

And please dont judge me its my first time owning a sulcata and it was like this when i bought it so i thought its normal and will harden when it gets bigger
 

LaLaP

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A little soft is normal. Like plastic sounds right.
I think MBD is caused my a lack of UVB light and calcium. Do you provide both? I really don’t think you’d be seeing the effects of MBD at such a young age but I am no expert in this area.

While your baby is young your biggest concern is getting the heat and humidity right. If you feel like she isn’t acting normal these are usually the culprits. Check your temps and humidity.
 

Tofu

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Humidity is around 80-90% sometimes it drops below 75% but usually I mist it up back to 95% ish.
Temp is 37degree Celcius under the basking spot and 30 degree Celcius ish for ambient temp, at night its usually 28-29 degree celsius all around the enclosure with NO heat source

and plastic it's not like that hard Tupperware plastic.. its like soft just by slightly pushing the plastron it sinks bread consistency but a bit harder.. and please I'm not referring to the croissant or baguette here.. it's like the regular white bread that's soft and fluffy.

and no I don't really give it any UVB (from a bulb) because i can bask him under the sun for 20 mins daily so I guess I don't really need the bulb, and for the calcium yes.. I usually give it calcium twice a week from a cuttlefish bone.. I've never asked the old owner on what he gives the sulcata but from what i know he gave it mustard greens everytime it eats and something that's high in protein.. ik that's not good so I've changed Tofu's diet up now it eats grass from my garden and BUT that's when i noticed that Tofu is slowing down quite a bit and that's when i get quite worried since Tofu has lost the "pouch" that's filled with "emergency nutrient" when it hatches from the egg and from what I've read when a sulcata looses that pouch the shell should harden up quite fast and yes the flashlight technique.. the light went through Tofu's shell like i can legit see its organs its spine so its basically like a x-ray and this only happens on its lower side of the shell.. while the top half of the shell is completely dark (near the head)
 
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Tofu

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I'm freaking out please help because I've started the treatment for MBD by giving him cuttlefish bone more often and giving him full pellets for his nutrition that was lacking from the grass and turning my UVB bulb 24/7 giving maintaining the basking
 

haydog_99

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I'm freaking out please help because I've started the treatment for MBD by giving him cuttlefish bone more often and giving him full pellets for his nutrition that was lacking from the grass and turning my UVB bulb 24/7 giving maintaining the basking
are you sprinkling Calcium on his food? When I took my Leopard to the vet she suggested I go to calcium daily for a while to help harden his shell.
 

LaLaP

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So your temps and humidity seem good but the white bread description does not sound right. I really don’t think it’s MBD though. I don’t think that disorder presents itself so early in a hatchlings life. I think that the problem could be what some people refer to as hatchling failure syndrome. It often has to do with the way the breeder raised the baby before the “customer” receives it. Here is a link to a thread in which Tom explains it.


Sometimes they survive it and sometimes they don’t. I recommend reading the link and then searching this forum for “hatchling failure syndrome”. You can read some success stories and some sad endings and all the things people tried to save their baby.

I hope you find good info and are able to pull it through. Keep posting and ask questions. Lots of people here have been through this and know better than I do.
 

LaLaP

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Oh and don’t leave your lights on 24/7. Your baby needs good sleep at night and that requires darkness.
 

Tofu

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So what should i do with Tofu? Whats his best chance of making it through ? Can i do something to help it like more calcium or is there nothing that i could do and just pray?
 

Tofu

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And i cant take it to the vet.. since almost every vet here doesnt know what theyre talking about and some of them that do are closed during this pandemic
 

Tofu

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Im worried that if it is hatchling failure syndrome.. then my MBD treatment would be for nothing and probably make his condition worse.. since ill be forcing its already struggling liver and kidneys
 

Tofu

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Tofu still eats but its appetite is slowly going downhill ive just fed it cucumber mixed with cuttlefish bone and Tofu bites like 5 times mouthfull and then simply sleeps and lost the appetite to eat
 

LaLaP

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Agreed that a vet isn't going to be able to help. Most just don't know that much about tortoises. I'd stop the MBD treatment you are doing and read up on Hatchling Failure Syndrome on this forum. Do you soak the baby daily? Maybe soak more and keep water warm. I really don't know what else but if you read what others have done you might find good tips.
 

Tofu

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Uhm theres an animal hospital thats open.. it belongs to the government they might have a specialist there hooh i hope its not too late to save tofu
 

LaLaP

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Agreed that a vet isn't going to be able to help. Most just don't know that much about tortoises. I'd stop the MBD treatment you are doing and read up on Hatchling Failure Syndrome on this forum. Do you soak the baby daily? Maybe soak more and keep water warm. If the baby isn't eating you can put carrot baby food in the water so it will get some nutrients. I really don't know what else but if you read what others have done you might find good tips.
 

LaLaP

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Uhm theres an animal hospital thats open.. it belongs to the government they might have a specialist there hooh i hope its not too late to save tofu
I urge you to read and do your own research and care instead of wasting time at the animal hospital. There is no magic cure that the vet can give. Keeping it warm and in a humid environment will be way better for it then a cold, dry trip to a vet who has no answers for you.
 

Toddrickfl1

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So what should i do with Tofu? Whats his best chance of making it through ? Can i do something to help it like more calcium or is there nothing that i could do and just pray?
tenor.gif
 

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