LittleIdDude
New Member
Hi everyone! New tortoise mom here. I purchased a sulcata hatchling in November from a reptile show, and his name is Id (we have a 13 year old burmese python named Ego - no stranger to large pets.)
I wish I could report that the little guy is doing great, but he's not. I've been lurking on the forums for a long time in anticipation, and I think his housing situation is good. He's in a 75 gal aquarium that has been lined (on the inside) with contact paper, so it's not transparent or reflective. There is a lid on the enclosure, too. Coconut coir is 2" deep, and I keep it damp for humidity, which ranges from 70-90%. There's a ceramic bulb keeping one section at 100-110, a 60W basking bulb that keeps a section at 95ish (also has a reptisun 10.0 T8 overhead), and the "cool" side only gets down to 80 at night, when the basking bulb turns off. He has a hide at each end of the tank.
He's been eating endive/escarole, dandelion, hibiscus flowers, soaked Zoo Med grassland blend (though he won't touch it), cactus pad, and diced grass (also not a fan.) I started giving him carrot baby food, which he loves.
I started weighing him in December, and he's stayed a steady 40-42g the entire time. He dropped to 38 at one point, which triggered a vet appointment.
We took him to a reptile veterinarian, and he had both pinworms and flagellates. So we've been back three times to treat for those, as well as vitamin shots, and on this last visit, she prescribed tube-feeding (Oxbow fine). In his enclosure, he's lethargic, sleeps constantly, and will occasionally takes bites of his food, before falling asleep in place. When I take him out to soak (morning and evening) he wakes up a bit, and cruises around, and may eat a couple bites, before passing out again. He was having trouble opening his eyes, which was helped by the first vitain shot, but the second one (two weeks later) doesn't seem to be doing anything.
I just feel so bad for the little guy. I know it may be a case of "Hatchling Failure", as I'm starting to think the seller at the reptile show may not have been providing the best care. I thought I did my research and was prepared, but missed how much that bit of time can impact their life. The poor guy seems like he's just barely hanging on. Is there anything else I should be doing? I don't want to give up on him, but I feel like nothing is helping.
I wish I could report that the little guy is doing great, but he's not. I've been lurking on the forums for a long time in anticipation, and I think his housing situation is good. He's in a 75 gal aquarium that has been lined (on the inside) with contact paper, so it's not transparent or reflective. There is a lid on the enclosure, too. Coconut coir is 2" deep, and I keep it damp for humidity, which ranges from 70-90%. There's a ceramic bulb keeping one section at 100-110, a 60W basking bulb that keeps a section at 95ish (also has a reptisun 10.0 T8 overhead), and the "cool" side only gets down to 80 at night, when the basking bulb turns off. He has a hide at each end of the tank.
He's been eating endive/escarole, dandelion, hibiscus flowers, soaked Zoo Med grassland blend (though he won't touch it), cactus pad, and diced grass (also not a fan.) I started giving him carrot baby food, which he loves.
I started weighing him in December, and he's stayed a steady 40-42g the entire time. He dropped to 38 at one point, which triggered a vet appointment.
We took him to a reptile veterinarian, and he had both pinworms and flagellates. So we've been back three times to treat for those, as well as vitamin shots, and on this last visit, she prescribed tube-feeding (Oxbow fine). In his enclosure, he's lethargic, sleeps constantly, and will occasionally takes bites of his food, before falling asleep in place. When I take him out to soak (morning and evening) he wakes up a bit, and cruises around, and may eat a couple bites, before passing out again. He was having trouble opening his eyes, which was helped by the first vitain shot, but the second one (two weeks later) doesn't seem to be doing anything.
I just feel so bad for the little guy. I know it may be a case of "Hatchling Failure", as I'm starting to think the seller at the reptile show may not have been providing the best care. I thought I did my research and was prepared, but missed how much that bit of time can impact their life. The poor guy seems like he's just barely hanging on. Is there anything else I should be doing? I don't want to give up on him, but I feel like nothing is helping.