Runny nose

[Myla Greek tortoise]

My baby sulcata tortoise is about a month old now and he/she has a runny nose I noticed when I looked at his/her nose it was clogged up and he/she was making sniffing noises. She/he sleeps most of the day either basking under the heat lamp or in shade; in his house. He/she eats a good amount every day I soak him/her every other day. I’m worried about the runny nose being an respiratory infection. What could all of this mean?

 

[Myla Greek tortoise]

 

[JoesMum]

Can we see pictures of the enclosure and lighting please?

We also need to know the four important temperatures: warm side, cool side, directly under the basking lamp and overnight minimum.

How long are the lights on for? Do you use supplementary heat at night?

 

[Myla Greek tortoise]

 

[Myla Greek tortoise]

I keep his heat light on all day as well has his uvb light

 

[Myla Greek tortoise]

And at night I turn on his night bulb which is not as hot as the daytime light

And the temperatures for daytime are usually around 85-90 night temperatures are usually around 80

The cool side of his cage is around 75-80

 

[JoesMum]

Is there a roof?

This baby needs high humidity and a steady 85F day and night, especially if you suspect a respiratory infection. This can only be achieved in a closed chamber, an enclosure with a lid, not an open table.

The lights must go off at night. You need a Ceramic Heat Emitter which must be used with a thermostat to provide the steady ambient heat.

The temperature directly under the basking lamp must be 95-100F.

Have you read the TFO guides? I recommend you read them and compare them with your setup.

They're written by species experts working hard to correct the outdated information widely available on the internet and from pet stores and, sadly, from some breeders and vets too.

Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

Baby Testudo Tortoise Care (written about Russians, but applies to Greeks)
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread...or-other-herbivorous-tortoise-species.107734/

 

[JoesMum]

Some people use a portable greenhouse like this one from Amazon to cover an open table. It needs to be big enough to fit the lamp stand underneath without the lamps touching the plastic
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CNBHMJX/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

 

[JoesMum]

If the nose is running constantly, then find a vet experienced with tortoises and get your tort checked. He may need antibiotics.

If the runny nose is just after a bath then don’t worry too much. This happens.

I gave you the wrong care links. Your posting name distracted me. Although the closed chamber setup in the Testudo thread would work for Sulcatas too.

These are the ones for Sulcatas

Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

How to raise a healthy Sulcata
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

For those who have a young Sulcata
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

 

[Ben02]

Baby tortoises should be soaked everyday. What colour is the discharge?

 

[Myla Greek tortoise]

The discharge is a chalky white color

 

[Myla Greek tortoise]

Thank you for your advise I will use it and get a lid and a ceramic heat emitter