Odd Tortoise Behavior and Urates

[fluffaloo]

Hello all,
Sinclair is my year and a half Sulcata and I I just wanted to see what everyone else on the forum thought about his behavior. Today, before I took him out I noticed he was slightly moving his head and legs as he did a swallow kind of action (but he wasn’t eating)I have heard him do the occasional sneeze a lot recently but his weight has remained the normal, with normal growth. Additionally I have not noticed any mucus or anything physically on his face.

As far as urates go, they were thicker and grey/white (dried all white) today. When I gave him his bath I noticed that his poop was a little bit softer and there was a hint of mucus. He is still plenty active and has a healthy appetite.

Diet: Masuri Tortoise Diet pellets
Timothy Hay
Occasional spring mix/salad mix
Grass

Enclosure
Coconut fiber/cypress mulch substrate
1basking area at 85F
1basking area at 98-104
General temp of 76

I mist him daily to raise the humidity but other than that I think that covers the basic info. I am unable to take him to a vet for another week or so but I wanted to know what you all think on the matter. Is this sneezing and swallowing movement normal or fairly odd?

 

[fluffaloo]

Quick note: Also have the T8 hood for UVB

 

[wellington]

I would keep him a little warmer, 85 day and night until the sneezing stops. When you get him to the vet have a stool sample checked for parasites.
I'm not sure what you mean by the head moving unless it's like he is having a hard time swallowing. He could possibly be catching what I would call a cold. Keeping him warmer for a couple weeks if he is should fix it.

 

[fluffaloo]

He has one basking already 98-104F ish so do you want me to increase his other basking spot up to that temperature as well? Ya its kind of hard to explain it all I could say is imagine him basking, head in a normal mid position and occasional closing his eyes and swallowing. I will keep you all updated. Thank you for the information.

 

[TammyJ]

I am seeing what looks like plastic plants in the enclosure. Not sure that's a good idea. They might be swallowed and cause a blockage/impaction in his digestive system. Not needed.
Love his face.

 

[fluffaloo]

I was also worried about the plants so I will remove them. He likes to play with them and move them around lol along with his house and water bowl He is such a cutie