egyptiandan Wrote:I would leave the food in all the time and replace with fresh if you want twice a day. I would supplement at least once a day.
If he has a water dish that he uses I'd cut down to soaking once a week. To much soaking can make a tortoise pass their food out quicker then they should. It needs to stay there at least a week for the intestines to extract all the nutrients from the food.
I would also up the light level, by adding a florscent light and up the length of the day to 14 hours.
What are the night time temperatures like?
Danny
The food is left in, he usually has leftover that stays in all day. So add a fluorescent bulb on top of the compact UVB and heat bulb I have on him?
Night time temps are 70-72.
Meka you can't over do the supplements in the first year. You can though once they get older.
Anja, yes add a florscent to what you already have. Your night time temperatures are fine.
Danny
We are new to tortoises, but in setting up I noticed warnings that the lights may not produce the good rays needed after only a year. Vet told me six months. So even if your light is on and working it may not be WORKING. Thought this might help, since seems like you've checked everything else.
egyptiandan Wrote:I can only tell you what works for me and in 10 years I have never had a hatchling go soft or refuse to grow with what I'm doing.
Danny
Meka Wrote:Do your tortoises have soft plastrons at all?? I don;t know why he has this, as we provide proper UV lighting as well as a calcium supplement. Anyway, here are some pics. The first one is from a while ago, last fall. The next two I just took with some objects to compare him to.
Your Gus is so sweet.
Do tort's have genetic differences like humans? I would think any living thing can. (We have a dear friend who did not grow at all when he was a child from the years he was 2 - 4 years old. Now he's an average height guy).
If there are no parasites consuming his food and throwing off his growth and his temps are good etc. ...could he have a thyroid issue...do torts have that sort of problem? (Just thinking out loud here)...
Otherwise, I would say...relax, enjoy him, take lots of pics and I bet he'll have the biggest personality no matter his end size
(and I know you are doing all you can, and more).
Meka Wrote:. He has UVA/UVB lighting as well as a heat lamp. We offer him calcium with almost every meal. I have had him to different vets and no one seems to know how to help him.
Are the bulbs being replaced regularly? Just cause they are shining doesn't
mean they are doing their job, they should be replaced every 4-6 months.
What exams have the vets given? Are they reptile/exotic vets? Have they
given any info at all?
Get well soon Gus!
As jamlcj and ArtGeco pointed out, you need to change the UVB light every 6 months. If it's one of those heat\UVB combo compacts (like the T-Rex) it should last longer, but since you've got a full year with no growth - inspite the proper diet - I'd consider the hip. that the lighting is malfunctioning.
Have you tried replacing it before?
Also, has Gus ever enjoyed the wonders of direct sunlight? You could try that during the summer months.
TestudoGeek Wrote:As jamlcj and ArtGeco pointed out, you need to change the UVB light every 6 months. If it's one of those heat\UVB combo compacts (like the T-Rex) it should last longer, but since you've got a full year with no growth - inspite the proper diet - I'd consider the hip. that the lighting is malfunctioning.
Have you tried replacing it before?
Also, has Gus ever enjoyed the wonders of direct sunlight? You could try that during the summer months.
sad to say, but we lost gus about a week ago.
gus has spent many hours outside in the direct sunlight and we were on our 3rd UV light in 1 year (different brands). we really tried all that we could think of. we had him to the vet about 6 months ago to even see if they could help figure things out. when we first got him he seemed very healthy, but his health steadily decreased over the following year. RIP gussy...we really miss him.
thanks for your concern and help everyone.
i am meeka's b/f by the way.
demjor19 Wrote:sad to say, but we lost gus about a week ago.
gus has spent many hours outside in the direct sunlight and we were on our 3rd UV light in 1 year (different brands). we really tried all that we could think of. we had him to the vet about 6 months ago to even see if they could help figure things out. when we first got him he seemed very healthy, but his health steadily decreased over the following year. RIP gussy...we really miss him.
thanks for your concern and help everyone.
i am meeka's b/f by the way.
I'm so sorry to hear that...
Sounds like you did everything you could.
It really was bad luck.
Sincerely hope you haven't given up Tortoise Keeping, because these animals need dedicated owners like you.
I am so sorry to hear about your Gus.
We went through a similair situation with a corn snake. Sometimes no matter what we do we can't change the outcome...
Please know you did everything and more you could...
He was a lucky little guy to have you....
I am so sorry for your loss. We get so attached they become part of our family and it hurt so much when they go. Just remember you did everything possible for him and you gave him a wonderful gift, the gift of care and love. Sometimes no matter what you do you can't change the inevitable outcome.
RIP Gus
thanks alot guys/girls. we def. have not given up on torts...we love them way too much to not stay w/ them. we currently have a 9" sulcata (who we think is a male) and a 6" redfoot female.
it really hit us hard when we walked in and found him after he had passed. you really don't realize how much time you spend interacting and caring for these tortoises. all of them have such different personalities and dispositions. gus will always be our baby, but that doesnt make us love the others any less.
thanks again for all of your thoughts and kind words...it always helps.
-jordan
Sorry for your loss, it is very difficult. Especially when you have tried so hard.
Im so sorry for your loss.
RIP little Gus.