Ok, it became sluggish two days ago. It eats but I have to hold the food in front of it. The limbs are not very responsive. It's not blowing bubbles. So some website says it's dehydrated but I usually kept the enviroment humid. Is there anything I can do besides going to the vet?
My tortoise is sick?
- Thread starter Jayeff
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How old is it? Hatchling? Did the breeder keep it on dry pellets with no water bowl and claim to soak it a couple of times a week?
Hi Jayeff, how old is your sulcata? What are the temps like? Do you have pics? We need a little bit more info to go on. I would suggest that you try and make an appointment with a vet knowledgable with torts and in the meantime, keep him\her hydrated and warm. Try soaking for 20 mins in warm water with a jar of babyfood carrots and a couple of drops of the liquid baby vitamin poly vi sol.
calcium?? Sunlight? Diet? Types of lights?
Soaking? Temps?
We need to know a lot more to help you out..
Soaking? Temps?
We need to know a lot more to help you out..
This might be what Paul was trying to point out in his "letter in the future" thread. If Jayeff is keeping his baby sulcata on the moist side, but his temperatures are not up to speed, that could be a good reason for the baby being sick.
Jayeff, could you please give us a little more info? Maybe shoot us a picture of your habitat. But us knowing the temps are a necessity for us to help you.
Jayeff, could you please give us a little more info? Maybe shoot us a picture of your habitat. But us knowing the temps are a necessity for us to help you.
jensgotfaith said:
So according to the breeder, it's approx. one year old. I use a heat pad and it's very hot. It is less hot under the cage. I fed it carrot long time ago and it seems to hate it but it did eat a little bit.
Laura said:calcium?? Sunlight? Diet? Types of lights?
Soaking? Temps?
We need to know a lot more to help you out..
I don't use any calcium supplement. Before the winter I fed it weed from outside, but now I only feed it veges from supermarket because the snow covers everything. I have a UVB lamp. I can't take it out for a walk since it's very cold in Canada now. I soak it everyday for around 10 mins.
do you have a thermostat for your heat pad? one you can adjust the temp? too hot is bad.
they need calcuim! I would get some liquid calcium and dropper it into the mouth or put in the soaks.
Also, use the Vitasol in the soaks.. ( bird Vitamin)
Make sure the water is warm and doesnt get cold.
they need calcuim! I would get some liquid calcium and dropper it into the mouth or put in the soaks.
Also, use the Vitasol in the soaks.. ( bird Vitamin)
Make sure the water is warm and doesnt get cold.
Hi Jayeff:
You need to buy a thermometer so you can know precisely what the temperature is. "Very hot" to a person who's body temperature is 98.6 degrees, might not be very hot to a cold blooded tortoise that needs an outside source to get his body temperature up to snuff.
A tortoise won't eat unless he can get his inner core temperature up in the 80's. And if they don't eat, they get sick.
So, first order of business, buy a thermometer and get your habitat warmed up to 85 or so on one end of it and 75 or so on the other end.
Buy some Gerber baby food strained carrots or squash or sweet potatoes. Put a jar of the baby food into a small tub (a tub with a small foot print, but with tall sides) and add warm water enough to bring it up to the middle of the tortoise where the top meets the bottom. Stir it up. Let the tortoise soak in this mixture for at least a half hour. You can position a light over the tub to keep it warm, but be careful not to cook the tortoise. Do this every day. You should start seeing an improvement in three days. But it is imperative that you warm that habitat up so its in the 80's.
You need to buy a thermometer so you can know precisely what the temperature is. "Very hot" to a person who's body temperature is 98.6 degrees, might not be very hot to a cold blooded tortoise that needs an outside source to get his body temperature up to snuff.
A tortoise won't eat unless he can get his inner core temperature up in the 80's. And if they don't eat, they get sick.
So, first order of business, buy a thermometer and get your habitat warmed up to 85 or so on one end of it and 75 or so on the other end.
Buy some Gerber baby food strained carrots or squash or sweet potatoes. Put a jar of the baby food into a small tub (a tub with a small foot print, but with tall sides) and add warm water enough to bring it up to the middle of the tortoise where the top meets the bottom. Stir it up. Let the tortoise soak in this mixture for at least a half hour. You can position a light over the tub to keep it warm, but be careful not to cook the tortoise. Do this every day. You should start seeing an improvement in three days. But it is imperative that you warm that habitat up so its in the 80's.
Thank you for your excellent suggestions! Just to elaborate, when I said very hot I meant it burns after a few seconds. Since it has been cold for 2 months and the problem only emerged two days ago, therefore I doubt that temperature is the cause in my opinion.emysemys said:
Jayeff said:
Yo Buddy, these people have been raising sulcatas for a lot longer than you, listen to their advice and thank them profusely!!!
Get rid of the heat pad, buy a temperature gun and ensure your temps are correct and ensure you are feeding your sulcata the proper food and supplements. What is your set-up? Do you have the correct substrate, etc.?
You asked for advice listen and put it into play.
JourneyTort said:
Ok, I don't want to start any arguments. I respect and listen people's advices. I asked for advice because I want more options. I know they've been raising sulcatas for a long time. Does that mean I can't have a little bit of hesitatons or inquiries? I can't use my critical thinking? I am just being logical and it is my decision to put them into play or not. The reason I think temperature doesn't really matter because I know it's "hot enough" and my tortoise has been doing fine for two months and the temperature has stayed constant. Even humans themselves wouldn't be that particular about the temperature of their environment. I am not saying who is right or wrong. But should'nt you respect my inspection and opinion? You can prove me wrong but you can't just throw down "oh you must listen and do it since you ask". All I wanted is options and I will be the one who is responsible. That's how we learn and explore.
You said it's not your temp. what is your temp's ? if you do not have a thermometer you really cant say it's not your temp's because you don't know.
"I know it is 'hot enough'......"
What exactly are the temps in your enclosure? Without a way to measure temperature you cannot "know" that your temps are correct.
Do you have a Home Depot or Lowes in your area? Or any large box chain hardware store? If so you can bug an infra red temp gun for a reasonable price. It will be well worth it and can help you measure temps in your enclosure.
"Even humans themselves wouldn't be that particular about the temperature of their environment....".
You cannot compare a warm blooded mammal to a cold blooded reptile when it comes to thermoregulation.
A picture of your enclosure and a list of temperatures around your enclosure would be very helpful.
Hopefully you are 100% correct and your temps are perfect. If they are, then you can check it off the list and move on to the next possibility. Without a way to accurately measure temperature you cannot check it off as a possibility.
Wishing you the best of luck. The more info you can provide, the more these nice folks can help.
Good luck.
What exactly are the temps in your enclosure? Without a way to measure temperature you cannot "know" that your temps are correct.
Do you have a Home Depot or Lowes in your area? Or any large box chain hardware store? If so you can bug an infra red temp gun for a reasonable price. It will be well worth it and can help you measure temps in your enclosure.
"Even humans themselves wouldn't be that particular about the temperature of their environment....".
You cannot compare a warm blooded mammal to a cold blooded reptile when it comes to thermoregulation.
A picture of your enclosure and a list of temperatures around your enclosure would be very helpful.
Hopefully you are 100% correct and your temps are perfect. If they are, then you can check it off the list and move on to the next possibility. Without a way to accurately measure temperature you cannot check it off as a possibility.
Wishing you the best of luck. The more info you can provide, the more these nice folks can help.
Good luck.
Tortoises can take months to show illness. So unfortunately yes, it absolutely can be your temps. Unless you have an accurate reading, you cannot know for sure.
You said: Just to elaborate, when I said very hot I meant it burns after a few seconds. Since it has been cold for 2 months and the problem only emerged two days ago, therefore I doubt that temperature is the cause in my opinion.
It BURNS? you ? then way too hot!
Its been cold for 2 months.. then its possible its been getting weaker and it cant hide the symptoms anymore. .
You also use NO calcium of any kind.. Its a growing baby and NEEDS calcium.. and D3 to absorb.. or it can get weak and die.
squeeze your tort lightly.. is it rock hard or does it give a little or a lot?
It BURNS? you ? then way too hot!
Its been cold for 2 months.. then its possible its been getting weaker and it cant hide the symptoms anymore. .
You also use NO calcium of any kind.. Its a growing baby and NEEDS calcium.. and D3 to absorb.. or it can get weak and die.
squeeze your tort lightly.. is it rock hard or does it give a little or a lot?
Any updates on this sick tortoise?
Hi J.F.:
I know it sounds like we're picking on you, but really we're just trying to get all the info we can get from you. We can't see the tortoise or his living space, so we have to ask questions. So in order to get our answers and be able to give you a good opinion or idea, we need to know specifics. Sorry if it seems like we're being obtuse. We're just trying to get a handle on all the info so we can shoot you back some good ideas.
I know it sounds like we're picking on you, but really we're just trying to get all the info we can get from you. We can't see the tortoise or his living space, so we have to ask questions. So in order to get our answers and be able to give you a good opinion or idea, we need to know specifics. Sorry if it seems like we're being obtuse. We're just trying to get a handle on all the info so we can shoot you back some good ideas.
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