Very concerned tort owner

[Amanda :)]

Hello all,

I have written before about my two horsefields! Teeny is always active and awake and eating, and growing nicely and wen picked up feels fine in weight! Iv had them both for nearly 2 months now and tiny is ALWAYS ALWAYS asleep unless I wake her/him! at first I thought it was because she was still settling in but teeny is always awake so I know the temps are warm enough etc!

Should I be worried? She isn't eating much and feel externally light and isn't putting any weight on! what can I do?

Please please help! Any advise no matter how small will be muchly appreciated!

Amanda

 

[dmmj]

Is it a male female pair? are they being housed together?
If they are I would probably recommend separate enclosures.

 

[Amanda :)]

Is it a male female pair? are they being housed together?
If they are I would probably recommend separate enclosures.

They are approx 2 and a half Years old so too young to tell! Unfortunately separate enclosures are not possible at the moment! I feel I may need to rehome tiny, I can't risk her/him becoming poorly

 

[Maggie Cummings]

It's always possible to buy a $10 bin from Walmart and make a separate enclosure. It doesn't have to be elaborate, he just needs a hide, some substrate and a light. Can't you do that to save a life?

 

[SulcataSquirt]

Sounds like by the time you rehome him it will be to late, I would buy some kind of barrier to split the enclosure in half, make identical set ups on each side. Put the uva/b right smack in the center so it can shine on both sides of the enclosure at the same time. Now is not the time to give up on the little guy. He's either sick or being bullied and not eating because of it.

 

[Kerryann]

If it were me, I would take him to the vet. I don't have much experience with tortoises so I cant help diagnose the issue but taking my tortoise to the vet wasn't expensive and it was incredibly helpful.

 

[JoesMum]

I have to agree with Kerryann. A vet can see things and test for things that we can't on the internet. If things have got this bad, please go to a vet. You may not have much time.

 

[Talka]

I've never understood how people can watch their pets get sick and go to a forum instead of a vet. Yes, the people here are experts. No, it's not the same thing as a vet. Go to the vet! Now!

 

[Amanda :)]

I've never understood how people can watch their pets get sick and go to a forum instead of a vet. Yes, the people here are experts. No, it's not the same thing as a vet. Go to the vet! Now!

He will eat and drink wen I place him by his food and he is always active if I wake him! Iv taken him to the vets for various tests all of which have come back fine (im a veterinary nurse so work in a vets) My only concern is that he sleeps alot? Is he trying to hibernate etc? Our vets doesn't specialise in tortoises so was wondering from experienced owners and their views! So please do not reply to my threads in such a rude manner! I do however appreciate all replies!

 

[jwhite]

Hi Amanda,

If you have tests done and everything has come back negative and he/she will eat when you take it out then I think that it is probably being bullied away from food and heat. I think it would be best to seperate.

Jon

 

[Amanda :)]

Hi Amanda,

If you have tests done and everything has come back negative and he/she will eat when you take it out then I think that it is probably being bullied away from food and heat. I think it would be best to seperate.

Jon

Thank you, this is something I will do! I was happy to come home today to find him walking around he's currently having a soak hehe!

Amanda

 

[Talka]

I've never understood how people can watch their pets get sick and go to a forum instead of a vet. Yes, the people here are experts. No, it's not the same thing as a vet. Go to the vet! Now!

He will eat and drink wen I place him by his food and he is always active if I wake him! Iv taken him to the vets for various tests all of which have come back fine (im a veterinary nurse so work in a vets) My only concern is that he sleeps alot? Is he trying to hibernate etc? Our vets doesn't specialise in tortoises so was wondering from experienced owners and their views! So please do not reply to my threads in such a rude manner! I do however appreciate all replies!

Sorry! I didn't know you worked with a vet. It just sounded like he was dying and you were just on the internet asking what to do... which sounds kinda scary. Really, very sorry about that!

 

[lynnedit]

Amanda, we are very glad to hear you work in a vet's office! That is reassuring.
However, since Tiny feels very light, something is wrong, you are right to be worried.
If Tiny has had a fecal check, etc., then I think the advice to separate asap is a good one. Even then, might take Tiny a while to adjust, and/or it may turn out that was not the problem. But you won't know until you separate. A divider might work, but if Tiny can hear/smell Teeny, then you might want to consider a second rubbermaid tote.
I love the names!

 

[Amanda :)]

Amanda, we are very glad to hear you work in a vet's office! That is reassuring.
However, since Tiny feels very light, something is wrong, you are right to be worried.
If Tiny has had a fecal check, etc., then I think the advice to separate asap is a good one. Even then, might take Tiny a while to adjust, and/or it may turn out that was not the problem. But you won't know until you separate. A divider might work, but if Tiny can hear/smell Teeny, then you might want to consider a second rubbermaid tote.
I love the names!

Thank you very much, I appologise to all as I am sure it was my over reaction that started off all the reactions! For that I am very sorry however I have taken all your advice into advice and I am in the process of separation... I feel like they'll miss each other as they always sleep next to each other and apart from little nips (seen twice) it seems like they are living together fine! However I'm not constantly watching them so totally agree that they should be separated thank you again all of you for fab replies! And yes teeny and tiny aren't the most adventurous names but it suits them hehe

Amanda

 

[JoesMum]

Glad you are getting sorted

As gor adventurous names... we keep tropical fish and have two Bristle Nose Catfish called Big-un and Little-un :redface:

 

[lynnedit]

Glad you are getting sorted

As gor adventurous names... we keep tropical fish and have two Bristle Nose Catfish called Big-un and Little-un :redface:

Keep us posted, hope Tiny gets better. Might take a few weeks, just keep him/her hydrated, etc.

 

[CheerAngel8]

I hope things end well!! I feel so bad !!