Temporary sulcata owner (3 weeks)

[saiyan25]

Hello,

I'm new on the forum. I've been keeping 4 reptiles for about 8 years, none are tortoises or turtles. Recently a friend of mine decided to go on a vacation for 2 weeks and we decided to take care of their sulcata tortoise (~13" long). I didn't realize this first, but the living conditions were sub par, the tortoise was kept in a glass aquarium, and the shell looked kind of flat in the middle. So I hastily put together a 8'x8'x1' enclosure in my back yard, with a 2'x3' box for shade/heat (CHE w/ thermostat). It's 60-85F ish so I don't think temperature is a big problem. Hopefully the tortoise can rehabilitate and I might ask to keep the tortoise for the summer. I am planning on putting a fence around the enclosure on the weekend.

Can you guys give me any suggestions? I'm trying to take a crash course into sulcata tortoise care, so please excuse my ignorance. I can't go all out and spend hundreds of dollars, since it's not my tortoise and he's staying only temporarily. I will try to take some pictures and post it here when I get home today.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi and welcome! How lucky that tortoise is to have you as the babysitter. With the shell as you've described, flat in the middle, he probably won't last much longer without a change in his care. You've described a classic case of Metabolic Bone Disease. And it's quite painful for the tortoise. So getting him outside in the sun, and feeding calcium-rich foods is the best prescription for him right now.

Are there weeds and grasses in his new outside enclosure? Let's hope they'll allow you to keep the tortoise over the summer. If not, you can print out our care sheet and give it to them when they take the tortoise back.

 

[saiyan25]

Hi and welcome! How lucky that tortoise is to have you as the babysitter. With the shell as you've described, flat in the middle, he probably won't last much longer without a change in his care. You've described a classic case of Metabolic Bone Disease. And it's quite painful for the tortoise. So getting him outside in the sun, and feeding calcium-rich foods is the best prescription for him right now.

Are there weeds and grasses in his new outside enclosure? Let's hope they'll allow you to keep the tortoise over the summer. If not, you can print out our care sheet and give it to them when they take the tortoise back.

Yes, it's mostly grass, with some weeds. Is that good or bad? It's not been treated, as I grow a garden right next to it. I've seen him nibble on the grass but he's mostly focused on the greens (with calcium supplements). Is there anything that I can add to keep him entertained? He seems to be very active and curious. I've attached pictures of him.

 

[Maro2Bear]

You also might want to give it a nice warm water bath. Do you know if it’s been routinely soaked in warm water?

 

[saiyan25]

You aldo might want to give it a nice warm water bath. Do you know if it’s been routinely soaked in warm water?

Yes, I was planning on giving him a warm bath this week. I do not believe he's been routinely soaked.

 

[Maro2Bear]

Yes, I was planning on giving him a warm bath this week. I do not believe he's been routinely soaked.

Yes. Do that every few days. Daily of you can!

 

[dmmj]

Sadly MBD is not reversible. It sounds like he does have it from this point on you can only stop it from progressing further. Lots of sunshine & calcium will help. Weeds & grass is fine. Giving him a large area to explore with a couple of hides & sight barriers will be his\her entertainment. Hopefully you can save this life with better care.

 

[saiyan25]

Yes. Do that every few days. Daily of you can!

He pooped and peed within 10 minutes of the warm bath!

 

[Maro2Bear]

He pooped and peed within 10 minutes of the warm bath!

Great. Nice long warm baths are very beneficial... the more the merrier. = One Happy Tort

Good luck

 

[saiyan25]

Sadly MBD is not reversible. It sounds like he does have it from this point on you can only stop it from progressing further. Lots of sunshine & calcium will help. Weeds & grass is fine. Giving him a large area to explore with a couple of hides & sight barriers will be his\her entertainment. Hopefully you can save this life with better care.

I've attached a picture showing the state of the shell. Do you guys think his shell can become normal with proper care, or is this going to be permanent?

 

[Beasty_Artemis]

Holy cow!!!!
That is the worst MBD that I have ever seen....!
Poor little guy. I would probably subtly offer to buy him from my friend when he comes back.
Just say: " Hey man, he was so cute I just love him! If you ever want to sell him, I'm totally down!"
But I'm really prone to rescuing pet reptiles from my friends over the years.

 

[dmmj]

I've attached a picture showing the state of the shell. Do you guys think his shell can become normal with proper care, or is this going to be permanent?

Def. MBD his shell will be like that for the rest of his(most likely) shortened life

 

[Cowboy_Ken]

Here is one I adopted with really bad mbd the last picture with 2 in it shows what can happen when 2 are raised together.

 

[Cowboy_Ken]

Let’s try that again

 

[Cheryl Hills]

I've attached a picture showing the state of the shell. Do you guys think his shell can become normal with proper care, or is this going to be permanent?

View attachment 272867

I would not give it back. Obviously, he was not taking care of this tort at all!