Hello, my name is Marshall,
I am brand new to Tortoise Forum, but I need help.
I have an 'associate' that has possession of young one-eyed Russian Tortoise. I suspect the tortoise is about 4 inches in length, maybe a little less. I haven't identified it as a male or female, but the 'associate' is under the impression it is a female, and the tortoise is named Fiona. I have no idea what happened to her eye. She is VERY lethargic, and I don't think she is eating.
Today I cleaned out Fiona's habitat. It's humble and low budget, containing only a shallow water dish, and a small, even shallower food dish with only partially chopped salad greens purchased in the supermarket. The salad greens dry up quickly, and I suspect Fiona is not eating much, if any...
I did some research and suspected she needed a UVB light, due to calcium metabolism requiring sufficient vitamin D levels which are produced from UVB spectrum. Please correct me if that is not true.
Anyways, I bought Fiona a compact florescent UVB light, a thermometer, a 3rd dish to hold tortoise food I bought, and I bought her Cal+Mag supplement for her water.
Fiona's tank read 70°f when I left, and I am not happy with that temperature. I have read Fiona would prefer to be around 80°f. Is that correct?
Also, as the caption reads, and as my biggest concern is her light is on 24/7, it is not on a timer and never turns off. The light is a heat producing light and is kept on all night to keep Fiona warm, but I suspect between the lack of UVB light and the 24-hour light cycle, she is experiencing some medical issues.
I have just recently gotten to meet Fiona and am willing to go pretty far to make sure Fiona is taken proper care of. The budget is limited to a point, and the house for the tortoise cannot be changed until I find her a new home.
I do not own the tortoise, but I have much power over what happens to her.
Please help, I am not a reptile expert, but I will do anything in my power to improve this animals life.
Love,
Marshall
P.S. I understand this may deeply upset some of you, as it upsets me greatly. It would be awesome if we could focus this thread on trying to help this tortoise in any way we can. I understand any frustration and I don't disagree!
I am brand new to Tortoise Forum, but I need help.
I have an 'associate' that has possession of young one-eyed Russian Tortoise. I suspect the tortoise is about 4 inches in length, maybe a little less. I haven't identified it as a male or female, but the 'associate' is under the impression it is a female, and the tortoise is named Fiona. I have no idea what happened to her eye. She is VERY lethargic, and I don't think she is eating.
Today I cleaned out Fiona's habitat. It's humble and low budget, containing only a shallow water dish, and a small, even shallower food dish with only partially chopped salad greens purchased in the supermarket. The salad greens dry up quickly, and I suspect Fiona is not eating much, if any...
I did some research and suspected she needed a UVB light, due to calcium metabolism requiring sufficient vitamin D levels which are produced from UVB spectrum. Please correct me if that is not true.
Anyways, I bought Fiona a compact florescent UVB light, a thermometer, a 3rd dish to hold tortoise food I bought, and I bought her Cal+Mag supplement for her water.
Fiona's tank read 70°f when I left, and I am not happy with that temperature. I have read Fiona would prefer to be around 80°f. Is that correct?
Also, as the caption reads, and as my biggest concern is her light is on 24/7, it is not on a timer and never turns off. The light is a heat producing light and is kept on all night to keep Fiona warm, but I suspect between the lack of UVB light and the 24-hour light cycle, she is experiencing some medical issues.
I have just recently gotten to meet Fiona and am willing to go pretty far to make sure Fiona is taken proper care of. The budget is limited to a point, and the house for the tortoise cannot be changed until I find her a new home.
I do not own the tortoise, but I have much power over what happens to her.
Please help, I am not a reptile expert, but I will do anything in my power to improve this animals life.
Love,
Marshall
P.S. I understand this may deeply upset some of you, as it upsets me greatly. It would be awesome if we could focus this thread on trying to help this tortoise in any way we can. I understand any frustration and I don't disagree!