Hi nharr2:
Welcome to the forum!!
May we know your name and where you are?
Baby tortoises get soft usually because they aren't getting the calcium and vitamin d they need for strong bones and shells. Calcium doesn't work alone...it needs to be combined with vitamin d in order to work. Vitamin d comes either from the sun, from supplements or from an expensive UVB lightbulb.
Because your baby is soft, I would be hesitant to try messing with opening his mouth. You might break something. See if you can buy some liquid calcium. Using a bowl with high sides but a small foot print, take a jar of Gerber strained carrots and add enough warm water to make it come up to the middle of his sides. Not too deep. Add some liquid calcium to the mixture. If he doesn't drink, its ok, because they will absorb some of the nutrients through the thin skin under the throat and around the cloaca.
If you think you can open the mouth without causing any damage, you can try using a flat tooth pick, the broad end. Try to slip it between the top and lower beak and see if you can open that way. Then, having a dropper of liquid calcium handy, drop a few drops towards the back of the mouth. But then he'll need the sunshine for a bit every day to make it work.
Good luck with your baby. (the other tortoise needs the calcium/vitamin D too)
Welcome to the forum!!
May we know your name and where you are?
Baby tortoises get soft usually because they aren't getting the calcium and vitamin d they need for strong bones and shells. Calcium doesn't work alone...it needs to be combined with vitamin d in order to work. Vitamin d comes either from the sun, from supplements or from an expensive UVB lightbulb.
Because your baby is soft, I would be hesitant to try messing with opening his mouth. You might break something. See if you can buy some liquid calcium. Using a bowl with high sides but a small foot print, take a jar of Gerber strained carrots and add enough warm water to make it come up to the middle of his sides. Not too deep. Add some liquid calcium to the mixture. If he doesn't drink, its ok, because they will absorb some of the nutrients through the thin skin under the throat and around the cloaca.
If you think you can open the mouth without causing any damage, you can try using a flat tooth pick, the broad end. Try to slip it between the top and lower beak and see if you can open that way. Then, having a dropper of liquid calcium handy, drop a few drops towards the back of the mouth. But then he'll need the sunshine for a bit every day to make it work.
Good luck with your baby. (the other tortoise needs the calcium/vitamin D too)