Sulcata tortoise has pnuemonia

Devilishshy

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I got my sulcata tortoise as a bday gift... After about two weeks I've noticed that my sulcata tortoise is breathing funny and one night I seen a bubble coming out of his nose. That night I took him to the vet and they did xrays and turned out he did have pneumonia so they gave me baymil and drops that go on the eyes and nose. This vet isn't a specialist on reptiles. She told me after taking him to the vet every week for about two months that it will take awhile for him to recover and after the second xray he was getting better. He has never stopped eating and always stayed really active even when though he's sick. So here's my ? It's been almost a year now and still breathing the same way but doesn't have a runny nose. The only time I seen his nose runny was that first night but that is all... Should I be concerned that he's still breathing that way.. Even though he's normal and eating well? How long does it take for pnuemonia to go away? He's not in medication anymore since it finished last year when he was constantly going to the vet. Does he need to be in medication until he's fully recovered?
 

wellington

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Where are you located? Can you give us more info on his enclosure, his hide or night box with temps? Are you heating an area for those cold days or nights?
 

Tom

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What size tortoise and how is he housed? What are the night temps and how are they maintained?
 

Devilishshy

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I live in Norwalk California. My backyard is pretty much his enclosure he's outside during the day and has a dog house to go inside when he wants to. But whenever it's cold out and I bring him in before it gets dark I bring him inside my house in my room where i have a 75 watt heat lamp for him.
 

wellington

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Is the temp in your room at ground/floor level? The floor will be much colder then the air temp at your level.
 

Tom

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Is the dog house heated?
Is the 75 watt a night bulb, or regular day light bulb?

It sounds to me like this guy has been kept too cold. THey come from an area with two seasons. There is the "hot" season and after that comes the "hotter" season. Our cool (in comparison) temps here in SoCal, especially in "Winter" are not suitable for them. You need something like this to keep them good and warm: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-66867.html

Or this: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-28662.html
 

Devilishshy

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It's a night bulb and the dog house is not heated. Ideally what should be the temperatures he should be kept at?


And wow that's some great suggestions I will have to tell my dad to build me something like that in my backyard
 

Tom

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Devilishshy said:
It's a night bulb and the dog house is not heated. Ideally what should be the temperatures he should be kept at?


And wow that's some great suggestions I will have to tell my dad to build me something like that in my backyard



Well it depends. For a healthy one its not as critical. For one fighting an infection or showing RI symptoms, I'd go warmer.

In summer when every day will be hot, I set my night house thermostats to 70ish. In winter when nights are cold and days are cooler, I set them to 80-85. They need a warm retreat even during the day in winter. Its too cold outside for their immune and digestive systems to function here in winter. That's why the native tortoise species hibernate all winter. It seems very unlikely that the entire spot for a 15 pound tortoise is that warm under one 75 watt bulb. And if its that close, you are getting dangerously close to damaging the carapace while trying to keep the plastron warm enough.

Sounds like its time for a proper night box for your baby: http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-66867.html
 

Devilishshy

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There's about a two feet distance in height from the tortoise and the lamp is that too close? I have a 100 watt as well just in case the 75 watt isn't warm enough.


I'll tell my dad to make me something close to that night box on that pic. What kind of heater is that on that picture?
 

Tom

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It depends on the type of bulb. Spots will concentrate the beam in one hot spot. Flood bulbs will spread the heat out over a greater area. The bottom line is that lightbulbs are generally not a good way to heat a large tortoise. They don't properly heat a large enough area without overheating the top of the carapace. You have moved into the realm of large heat mats and radiant heat panels. A well sealed and insulated box will hold the heat in for you.

The heater in the pic is called a mini oil-filled radiant heater. You can get them at WalMart for about $25. I run them on low only and use thermostats to control the temperature.
 

Devilishshy

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Will bringing a heater in my room to keep it at 85 degrees help? And this weekend I'll get my dad to build me something for my tortoise when he's outside during the day.
 

Tom

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A warmer room will help, but that seems sort of extreme.
 
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