One of my 6cm Sulcata baby doesnt want to eat,move,and only sleep.

handyw

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I just bought 2 sulcata baby yesterday,and they was eating fine in the pet store I bought them,and 1 of them already lethargic when arrive at my home,i thought he's just sleepy and leave him
at the morning i soaked him,and hes sleeping in his bath time,and doesnt want to eat.
the other baby is eating fine and pooping urates.
im a bit panicked since im beginner at tortoise.
I know using tall aquarium is wrong and already ordering new enclosure and need 4 days before arriving.


the enclosure size is 60cm x 30cm x 35cm
using cocohusk as bedding
im using basking stone made from resin
hiding cave
and UVA & UVB SolarLamp from nomoypet 80W
the temperature on the basking spot is 37Celcius and 34Celcius at the hiding cave.


i already bath him twice today and one of them i put electroylte from zoomed.

what should i do?
 

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handyw

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Hes looks sleepy and sometimes twitching
 

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Tom

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They should never be housed in pairs, your enclosure is far too small, babies don't eat hay, and I don't see any night heat.

Here is what you should do:
 

handyw

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They should never be housed in pairs, your enclosure is far too small, babies don't eat hay, and I don't see any night heat.

Here is what you should do:
okay
already bought the ceramic heater,hygrometer(xiaomi mijia),
the hay already put out
btw is it okay if they go into air conditioner(AC) room at night with ceramic heater?
and is it okay for him to sleep in basking spot or should i move him to the hiding spot?
the ceramic heater only for night time right?
thank you for your kind reply Tom :)
 
Last edited:

Tortisedonk7

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Hi and welcome fellow tort owner in Indonesia.
Do not keep them in the Aircon! Much too cold and to dry as well.
As for the CHE I think the idea is to have it on a thermostat so it keeps the closed chamber enclosure a consistent temp.
the substrait that is cheep and works well is coco coir also known as ‘coco peat’
Get it damp, mix well and then pack it down. You can put a layer of fine coco husk on top to keep the mess down.
Also, search for ‘baby food soak’ in the forum. Some people say it’s good way to get the tort hydrated and interested in eating.
please please read that care sheet Tom liked!
good luck with your new baby.

FYI most of the members on this forum are in USA, so there is usually a delay for their reply.
Where in Indonesia are you?
 

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Tom

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okay
already bought the ceramic heater,hygrometer(xiaomi mijia),
the hay already put out
btw is it okay if they go into air conditioner(AC) room at night with ceramic heater?
and is it okay for him to sleep in basking spot or should i move him to the hiding spot?
the ceramic heater only for night time right?
thank you for your kind reply Tom :)
Only your thermometer can tell you if the temperature in the room with AC is okay at night. In a closed chamber with proper heat, it should be fine.

There shouldn't be a basking spot at night. It should be dark.

The ceramic heating element should be controlled by a thermostat and left on all the time. This will keep ambient above 26-27c at all times.
 

handyw

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Hi and welcome fellow tort owner in Indonesia.
Do not keep them in the Aircon! Much too cold and to dry as well.
As for the CHE I think the idea is to have it on a thermostat so it keeps the closed chamber enclosure a consistent temp.
the substrait that is cheep and works well is coco coir also known as ‘coco peat’
Get it damp, mix well and then pack it down. You can put a layer of fine coco husk on top to keep the mess down.
Also, search for ‘baby food soak’ in the forum. Some people say it’s good way to get the tort hydrated and interested in eating.
please please read that care sheet Tom liked!
good luck with your new baby.

FYI most of the members on this forum are in USA, so there is usually a delay for their reply.
Where in Indonesia are you?
hello im from tangerang,how about you?
okay i will just leave them at room temp with CHE on,i dont think i can get closed chamber soon enough,the new one that i ordered is open top.
so i need to get carrot and warm water mix it to make baby food soak?
ill order the coco peat soon enough
i did read the care sheet,but the problem is im not able to order big closed chamber for now.so is there a way for us to protect the humidity?
thanks i hope they can grow happily
 

handyw

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Only your thermometer can tell you if the temperature in the room with AC is okay at night. In a closed chamber with proper heat, it should be fine.

There shouldn't be a basking spot at night. It should be dark.

The ceramic heating element should be controlled by a thermostat and left on all the time. This will keep ambient above 26-27c at all times.
okay noted!! ill keep this thread updated until the baby is happy and eating well again :),i already read your care sheet,its kinda different how people describe not to get their enclosure too wet and make them snotty.
i hope tomorrow the baby start eating normally again.
thank you so much
 

KarenSoCal

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When you get the new open top enclosure, you might be able to use it if you get one of these. It keeps the heat and humidity in. Search Amazon for portable greenhouse. Make sure to get the best size for your enclosure.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LSFL2PY/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

Here's one being used...

20200524_162330.jpg
 

Tortisedonk7

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When you get the new open top enclosure, you might be able to use it if you get one of these. It keeps the heat and humidity in. Search Amazon for portable greenhouse. Make sure to get the best size for your enclosure.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LSFL2PY/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

Here's one being used...

View attachment 314083

If only we had Amazon here. ?
I thinks it’s possible to find one of those in online shop like Lazada and Tokopedia


hello im from tangerang,how about you?
okay i will just leave them at room temp with CHE on,i dont think i can get closed chamber soon enough,the new one that i ordered is open top.
so i need to get carrot and warm water mix it to make baby food soak?
ill order the coco peat soon enough
i did read the care sheet,but the problem is im not able to order big closed chamber for now.so is there a way for us to protect the humidity?
thanks i hope they can grow happily

I live in Kalimantan Timur. Always hot and humid here. Perfect for raising baby torts. ?
 

handyw

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Yesterday at noon he start eating but very little and go back to sleep.

Today he pooped when bath,is the poop normal?looks kinda dry.(no urates but im not reallt worried for now)

He still looks lethargic and rarely move,

For temp im using thermagun which is different than from xiaomi mijia the humidity is around 60 and can go to 70 when i sprayed the enclosure, i often spray the baby too.
 

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handyw

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Only your thermometer can tell you if the temperature in the room with AC is okay at night. In a closed chamber with proper heat, it should be fine.

There shouldn't be a basking spot at night. It should be dark.

The ceramic heating element should be controlled by a thermostat and left on all the time. This will keep ambient above 26-27c at all times.

Tom im currently using open top tortotable with CHE and thermostat only able to reach 70% humidity at night and 50-60 at day.
And wanting to buy new enclosure like pic number 3 the white one,
Is 80cm x 40cm x 50/40cm enough?
Do i need a fan?
I think the lethargic baby is having dehidration thats why he rarely moving.
 

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Tom

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And wanting to buy new enclosure like pic number 3 the white one,
Is 80cm x 40cm x 50/40cm enough?
Do i need a fan?
That is much too small. Go for at least 122x61cm for a hatchling or small baby.

You do not need a fan.
 

handyw

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That is much too small. Go for at least 122x61cm for a hatchling or small baby.

You do not need a fan.
How many baby can i fit into 120*60?
Can baby sulcata grow together with russian?
 

Tom

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How many baby can i fit into 120*60?
Can baby sulcata grow together with russian?
That is the minimum size for one. You could do 3-5 hatchings in something that size, but they will outgrow it very quickly.

Species should never be mixed. Its a recipe for disaster in many ways. Russians and sulcatas have completely different care requirements and diets. They aren't compatible in any way. Also, tortoises should never be kept in pairs. Groups of babies of the same species can sometimes work, but not pairs.
 

handyw

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That is the minimum size for one. You could do 3-5 hatchings in something that size, but they will outgrow it very quickly.

Species should never be mixed. Its a recipe for disaster in many ways. Russians and sulcatas have completely different care requirements and diets. They aren't compatible in any way. Also, tortoises should never be kept in pairs. Groups of babies of the same species can sometimes work, but not pairs.
Is 3 enough for groups?or it needs to be at least 4?
 

Tom

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Is 3 enough for groups?or it needs to be at least 4?
3 will usually do it. It breaks up the pair dynamics.

Just know that the more you have, the more of a back up plan you need. There is a chance that they won't get along, or that one isn't growing and will need to be separated. Then you'd need a separate enclosure for each one. Its much simpler to just keep a single tortoise if you don't have the time, space, or money to house them all individually should the need arise.
 
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