- Joined
- Jun 7, 2011
- Messages
- 37
I bought a 4.5" male greek tortoise about 3 weeks ago and have grown extremely fond of him.. The first day I brought him home he ate a huge plate of spring greens and some green beans.. and for the next 4 days didnt really eat much of anything and hid most of the time.. I just figured he was trying to get used to his new environment so I left him alone and only bothered him for his daily morning soak.. Right now I and my husband are in the process of building him a tortoise table but for now he is in a 40Gal breeder tank.. the substrate is Aspen.. He has a hide spot with some hay.. Cool side is 74.3 degrees (thats where his hiding spot is, there is also a small heat mat made for a hermit crab tank under the side that he sleeps) and his basking spot is 93.3 where his slate is.. According to everything I have researched, Greeks like to bask.. He has a shallow water dish that his whole body fits in also on the cooler side along with his food dish.. His humidity is 38% .. After his 4 day waiting period he started coming out more and eating a few times a day..and basking on his own.. He did this for a good week and every morning I would soak him he would poop nice solid poops probably a little bigger than a raisin. sometimes 1 and then others 2 to 3 of them.. He would also pee and then pass the white urates.. Then all of a sudden he started eating less and sleeping more.. Id put him by his food and he would eat a piece of a green bean and then walk to his bed.. So Id take him out after 6 or 7 hrs of just sleeping and put him by his food and hed eat a few pieces and leave again..and go back to his bed.. I thought maybe I was making him to cold at night because I do have an air conditioner and when it was time for bed Id unplug his basking ceramic heater and also the heat mat and it was getting down to around 61 to 63 degrees.. so after a few days of that I decided to leave everything on at all times so I didnt chill him anymore.. Well He hasnt gotten any better.. infact I think hes getting worse.. He seems to be walking a little differently kind of like hes lethargic and weak and Im not sure if Im just being a worry wart but it seems to me he holds his head a bit crooked at times.. I put him on his basking spot today and he laid there for about 30 min and then went back to his bed.. Sometimes hell walk out to the middle of his cage and just lay there and sleep.. I just feel so bad for the little guy.. I have been searching high and low for a herp vet around here and I found one.. called to see what their hours are and they are open tomorrow so Im going to call and get him in.. if anyone has any ideas what this could be I would greatly appreciate any of your words of wisdom as I am at a loss and am heartbroken to see him not feeling good..
Thank you..
Thank you..