Sulcata making strange noise

[kobobird]

Long story short I adopted a Sulcata Tortoise this morning. He’s over 100 pounds and estimated to be 20 years old. He was kept underneath a work bench in someone’s garage on the cold concrete for two years before being surrendered to a reptile rescue near me. I brought him home this morning and he’s been great so far. He’s in a 36x16 ft outdoor pen while I’m away and gets to roam the yard while I’m outside supervising him. Anyway he recently started making strange noises in the last hour. These noises are quite frequent (like every 5 minutes or so). This is my first sulcata (but not my first tortoise) and want to make sure he’s ok. Here’s a video of the sound he’s making

if anyone knows why he’s making this sound please let me know. I fear it’s a respiratory infection. By the way his name is Rodney. Thanks in advance!

 

[Maro2Bear]

Hhhm. Our Sully makes a noise too, often times when she is eating a ton. Almost like holding their breath, eating, then exhaling. The clip wasnt quite long enough to get a real sense of any major issue.

Feed, soak, provide room for it to walk around and exercise. Good healthy food and sunlight! Too.

 

[Tom]

How are you heating him? This is a tropical species. They need to be kept warm 24/7.

 

[kobobird]

Hhhm. Our Sully makes a noise too, often times when she is eating a ton. Almost like holding their breath, eating, then exhaling. The clip wasnt quite long enough to get a real sense of any major issue.

Feed, soak, provide room for it to walk around and exercise. Good healthy food and sunlight! Too.

Will do. Thank you!

 

[Tim Carlisle]

Sounds like my wife before her morning coffee. Lol

 

[kobobird]

How are you heating him? This is a tropical species. They need to be kept warm 24/7.

He’s living outdoors for the summer. We’ve been having 80 something degree weather for the past week here in Kentucky so he’s been sunning a lot to get his warmth

 

[Tom]

He’s living outdoors for the summer. We’ve been having 80 something degree weather for the past week here in Kentucky so he’s been sunning a lot to get his warmth

What about at night? What if there is a May cold spell?

They need heat. There is no cold time of year where they come from. Every day is near 100 and they spend every night underground where the temperature is 80-85 year round.

Here is how we accomplish this outdoors in North America:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-night-box-thread.88966/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/my-best-night-box-design-yet.66867/

 

[kobobird]

What about at night? What if there is a May cold spell?

They need heat. There is no cold time of year where they come from. Every day is near 100 and they spend every night underground where the temperature is 80-85 year round.

Here is how we accomplish this outdoors in North America:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/another-night-box-thread.88966/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/my-best-night-box-design-yet.66867/

He has a heated shed in our garage for cold spells and the winter. Thank you for the links I’ll give them a read