Melissa Wahl
New Member
Our local animal shelter took in what we later learned to be a sulcata tortoise as the result of an animal seizure by the police. They posted him on FB as free and had no information on him. We've had him since Friday. He came in a guinea pig cage (plastic bottom, wire top) with a sprinkling of hay for substrate, a bowl with what looked like bird or mouse food in a little bowl and a pie plate for water as well as a plastic hidey house. He's about 6 1/2 long, 4 1/2 wide. No idea how old. His name is Sheldon. 
After doing our research (my son is the one who wanted him, he's 18) the next day we got him a 5' kiddie pool and are using organic potting mix (just a mixture of dirt and peat, no vermiculite!) got a mercury vapor bulb for UVB light and heat, gave him a small pile of hay, the pie plate with water in it and the hidey house. He's VERY lethargic. He hardly moves around his house and has only eaten a tiny bit in there when we offer him some greens (spring mix salad, bok choy, broccoli and romaine lettuce). He eats better after we've soaked him (which we do once a day 5-10 mins in pie plate) and will go through about a handful of that mix each day. Then he walks around my son's room for a few minutes then stops. We have not seen any poop or pee out of him yet. But what I find even more concerning is the twitching he does when he's sitting on the floor. I found a Youtube video showing a tortoise doing the same thing and they said it is a symptom of MBD.
First, I'd like to know if our husbandry is correct. Second, should I bring him to a vet or can we get him better with the correct diet, which I understand is the only real treatment for this disease?
I apologize if all these questions have been answered before, but if I could get them consolidated onto this one thread it would be so helpful to my son and I. I am a very experienced animal lover who currently is caring for six dogs, five cats, three horses, one donkey and two parrots. But this guy is so different from anything I've ever had as a pet. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated!
After doing our research (my son is the one who wanted him, he's 18) the next day we got him a 5' kiddie pool and are using organic potting mix (just a mixture of dirt and peat, no vermiculite!) got a mercury vapor bulb for UVB light and heat, gave him a small pile of hay, the pie plate with water in it and the hidey house. He's VERY lethargic. He hardly moves around his house and has only eaten a tiny bit in there when we offer him some greens (spring mix salad, bok choy, broccoli and romaine lettuce). He eats better after we've soaked him (which we do once a day 5-10 mins in pie plate) and will go through about a handful of that mix each day. Then he walks around my son's room for a few minutes then stops. We have not seen any poop or pee out of him yet. But what I find even more concerning is the twitching he does when he's sitting on the floor. I found a Youtube video showing a tortoise doing the same thing and they said it is a symptom of MBD.
First, I'd like to know if our husbandry is correct. Second, should I bring him to a vet or can we get him better with the correct diet, which I understand is the only real treatment for this disease?
I apologize if all these questions have been answered before, but if I could get them consolidated onto this one thread it would be so helpful to my son and I. I am a very experienced animal lover who currently is caring for six dogs, five cats, three horses, one donkey and two parrots. But this guy is so different from anything I've ever had as a pet. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated!
