New here & to Torts, I brought home a sick hatchling Hermann from my Grandson
- Thread starter Sabrina8797
- Start date
Cover your enclosure with aluminum foil. It will work much better. Try soaking your baby in carrot baby food, 1/2 water and 1/2 baby carrot food. This will get some nutrition in him. It may help. How are you measuring temps?
not sure how you tell if an antibiotic is having an adverse affect on a sick or dying animal …….. after a month on antibiotics i'd be considering something else if I didn't see substantial improvement …... some infections do require multiple rounds of antibiotics , but the first round should have produced significant improvement , at least from what I've seen , when it didn't , another antibiotic or treatment imo is in order ….….. i'd keep the tortoise at 85 degrees all the time , a makeshift incubator , humid , damp substrate , and i'd handle him minimal , i'd make sure he could hide and feel safe , i'd give Yvonnes carrot soaks a try ………… some folks here may have very different experiences from mine , but I have never killed a reptile with antibiotics , or an animal for that matter ……. from 20grams to 160lbs …….. I imagine you could with improper dosing ………. viral and parasitic diseases are pretty common in the reptile hobby , especially in the for sale population …….
daniellenc
Well-Known Member
I would not give anymore antibiotics that dosing is nuts! The only way to maintain your temps and humidity is a top. Check out green house covers for now they’re cheap and your lights and heat can be hung in them. Keep soaking and add some carrot baby food to his warm soak water everyday for 30 minutes.
Sabrina8797
New Member
Trying the foil! I use a digital gadget just for reptiles to measure humidity and temperature. I am so on the carrot baby food!!! It has drove me nuts I can't get nutrition in him! Thanks for your help.
Sabrina8797
New Member
Thank you so much for your input... I really appreciate everyone chiming in. I'm so determined to do all I can for this little fellow.
Sabrina8797
New Member
Thank You! I'm getting a cover, and starting the carrot soaks tomorrow. (I need baby food)
TortoiseRacket
Well-Known Member
If he is not eating, mix in a tiny bit of Pangea crested gecko food- mine like watermelon. It attracts the tortoises due to its fruity smell
The carrot soaks were the turn around for my Little T. As it turned out, the container I use for soaking worked perfectly for the exact level of fluid needed with one jar of baby food mixed with one jar of water. I did this once a day for 3 days (I think some may recommend more than once a day) . Then repeated it again a few weeks later. It was the miracle cure we needed. Wishing you the best possible outcome.
Hi Sabrina, and welcome to the Forum!
The most common cause for a baby tortoise to not eat is because he's not warm enough. And when they stop eating, their eyes swell shut. So I think the most important thing for you to start with is to make sure his whole enclosure, all over the whole thing, is 80-85F degrees. The warm, moist air goes right through a terry towel. Cheryl's advice about the foil was good. Chasen's advice about the carrot baby food soaks was also good. Gerber strained carrots has the highest concentration of vitamin A of all the baby foods. Mix it half and half with warm water in a small bowl then soak the baby in it for a half hour, 45 minutes or so. Place the bowl back inside the covered aquarium to keep it warm. You should see an improvement in his eyes in three days. Once his eyes are open and he can see again, he'll eat.
The most common cause for a baby tortoise to not eat is because he's not warm enough. And when they stop eating, their eyes swell shut. So I think the most important thing for you to start with is to make sure his whole enclosure, all over the whole thing, is 80-85F degrees. The warm, moist air goes right through a terry towel. Cheryl's advice about the foil was good. Chasen's advice about the carrot baby food soaks was also good. Gerber strained carrots has the highest concentration of vitamin A of all the baby foods. Mix it half and half with warm water in a small bowl then soak the baby in it for a half hour, 45 minutes or so. Place the bowl back inside the covered aquarium to keep it warm. You should see an improvement in his eyes in three days. Once his eyes are open and he can see again, he'll eat.
Pastel Tortie
Well-Known Member
Hello from Florida, and welcome to the Forum. You are absolutely in the right place for help with your tortoise. Thinking warm, healing, positive thoughts!
Sabrina8797
New Member
Do have any suggestions for me? Should I DC the antibiotic or continue, your thoughts? I'm getting ready to do the carrot soak now. Thanks, I know you're busy!
Sabrina8797
New Member
I just saw your post Yvonne, thanks a million for your suggestions. The foil has helped a bunch. I'm heading down now to do the carrot soak. What are your thoughts on continuing the antibiotic? I can give you more info if you need it on the medication.
Sabrina8797
New Member
I am so encourage by your story, thanks for sharing! I think this little guy is in pretty bad shape, I just want to give him the best fighting chance I can. I feel I can now do that since I have found all of you! Thanks a million!
Sabrina8797
New Member
Thank you! I believe you're right about being in the right place! I'm so thankful I found this forum. I just wish I would have found it when I was thinking about purchasing a tort for my G-Son. I unfortunately can't go back... only forward, and do the best I can.
You do what you feel is right, but I don't give my tortoises antibiotics unless the vet took a smear and discovered some sort of no-see-ums that antibiotics would kill. I don't believe in giving medication just because.
Sabrina8797
New Member
Thank you. I just needed to hear what others with more experience would do in my case.
Thanks and you're welcome. I felt exactly the same and that I was just managing the inevitable. Until I was given some advice on here that turned it all around. I've also been encouraged by reading others stories and have used this forum as an encyclopedia of sorts. I'm grateful for the wisdom imparted by these experienced folks. So, you can't go wrong with this lot. I look forward to to following your progress.
Diamond
Active Member
Keep up the good work. So glad you are able to give him a chance. 
if you have given your tortoise 7-9 injections of ceftazidime and are seeing no improvement , i'd call and tell the vet ………. if I was on antibiotics for a month and didn't improve at all i'd probably think something wasn't working ………. I've had my share of sick animals , I don't believe I've ever not seen improvement by the 3rd-4rth dose ……..
as far as your vet guessing , they all do ………..
as far as your vet guessing , they all do ………..
