Not active

Dok_M

New Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2019
Messages
17
Location (City and/or State)
New Mexico
My almost 3 year old Sulcata male has not been active the last 6 days. He doesn't come out of his night box unless we bring him out. Night box is temp and humidity controlled. Normally he comes out a few hours a day and grazes and walks around. He will eat some pellets when we get him out but wants right back in to the night box. Today while eating pellets he spit some back up. What should I be doing to take care of him?
 

Attachments

  • Resized_20220705_162407.jpeg
    Resized_20220705_162407.jpeg
    298.6 KB · Views: 9
  • FB_IMG_1620738257856.jpg
    FB_IMG_1620738257856.jpg
    134.2 KB · Views: 9

MenagerieGrl

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Nov 11, 2020
Messages
1,163
Location (City and/or State)
El Sobrante, CA.
I'm sorry to hear your tort is having problems . .
How long have you had her/him?
Can you please post pictures of your tort enclosure and heating and humidity values.
Many times the problem can be attributed to lack of sufficient heat, or dehydration.
Have you read this thread?
 

Dok_M

New Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2019
Messages
17
Location (City and/or State)
New Mexico
I'm sorry to hear your tort is having problems . .
How long have you had her/him?
Can you please post pictures of your tort enclosure and heating and humidity values.
Many times the problem can be attributed to lack of sufficient heat, or dehydration.
Have you read this thread?
I have had him since October 2019. Picture of the enclosure attached. 90 degrees and 80% humidity is what I keep it at. Dryer climate here but hasn't dropped below 75 degrees for weeks.
 

Attachments

  • 20210924_160055.jpg
    20210924_160055.jpg
    1.1 MB · Views: 11

MenagerieGrl

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Nov 11, 2020
Messages
1,163
Location (City and/or State)
El Sobrante, CA.
I have had him since October 2019. Picture of the enclosure attached. 90 degrees and 80% humidity is what I keep it at. Dryer climate here but hasn't dropped below 75 degrees for weeks.
So, you have NO substrate? How do you keep 80% humidity with out any substrate?
How oftenand how long do you soak your tort?
 

Dok_M

New Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2019
Messages
17
Location (City and/or State)
New Mexico
Yes I have read many of Tom's posts. Since that picture I have added a humidifier and radiant panel for heat all controlled by ink bird controllers.Night box is super insulated for winter(R32 insulation on all 6 sides all sealed up except the door which has freezer flaps).Also have a wireless temp stick monitor. No pesticides, herbicide, or fertilizer in my back yard where he stays.
 

Attachments

  • 20211014_105239.jpg
    20211014_105239.jpg
    762 KB · Views: 8
  • 20210829_114128.jpg
    20210829_114128.jpg
    2.6 MB · Views: 7

wellington

Well-Known Member
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
49,658
Location (City and/or State)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
I hope that is only a night box and not the enclosure. That's really quite sad if it's his enclosure.
Where is the basking spot of 95-100 temps? If they can't bask under those temps they can't digest their food properly and the result will be what you are seeing. If that's his enclosure get some orchid bark and/or coconut coir in there. It's almost impossible to keep such a bare enclosure humidity up.
Better yet build a proper enclosure and use that as a heated night box only if you aren't.
 

Dok_M

New Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2019
Messages
17
Location (City and/or State)
New Mexico
So, you have NO substrate? How do you keep 80% humidity with out any substrate?
How oftenand how long do you soak your tort?
No substrate it is really sealed up. I have to fill the humidifier every 3 days. I usually only soak him once a week but he loves being sprayed with the hose. He gets that daily when he comes out. I will for sure soak him tomorrow.
 

Dok_M

New Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2019
Messages
17
Location (City and/or State)
New Mexico
I hope that is only a night box and not the enclosure. That's really quite sad if it's his enclosure.
Where is the basking spot of 95-100 temps? If they can't bask under those temps they can't digest their food properly and the result will be what you are seeing. If that's his enclosure get some orchid bark and/or coconut coir in there. It's almost impossible to keep such a bare enclosure humidity up.
Better yet build a proper enclosure and use that as a heated night box only if you aren't.
He is outside year round. That is his night box. Daytime temps have been 100-105. Don't seem to have issues with humidity. There is moisture on the inside of the flaps on the doorway. What type of enclosure do you recommend?
 

wellington

Well-Known Member
Moderator
10 Year Member!
Tortoise Club
Joined
Sep 6, 2011
Messages
49,658
Location (City and/or State)
Chicago, Illinois, USA
He is outside year round. That is his night box. Daytime temps have been 100-105. Don't seem to have issues with humidity. There is moisture on the inside of the flaps on the doorway. What type of enclosure do you recommend?
So you are using the box as a night box and he is in your/his yard during the day? Then you don't need an enclosure, you have them.
If your temps have been that high then that is why he is not very active. Does he have lots of shade, deep shade, like low bushes? When it's that hot out my leopards are not as active but they do have lots of weeds that makes shade at their level. I will also run the sprinkler to bump up humidity and cool the area some.
I would still add some substrate to the night box just to at least give better footing.
 

Dok_M

New Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2019
Messages
17
Location (City and/or State)
New Mexico
Heaters kick on at 80. Just realized they are not kicking on. Temp inside has not dropped below 84. Humidity dropped to 74 yesterday before I had to refill when I got him out. It is getting 97 degrees in there during the day. Should I raise that up? He usually only comes out for 3-4 hours in the afternoon.
 

Dok_M

New Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2019
Messages
17
Location (City and/or State)
New Mexico
So you are using the box as a night box and he is in your/his yard during the day? Then you don't need an enclosure, you have them.
If your temps have been that high then that is why he is not very active. Does he have lots of shade, deep shade, like low bushes? When it's that hot out my leopards are not as active but they do have lots of weeds that makes shade at their level. I will also run the sprinkler to bump up humidity and cool the area some.
I would still add some substrate to the night box just to at least give better footing.
We have tons of shade in the yard. The main reason I bought the house. 6 large trees. Sprinkler system runs every night. I will get some substrate. That may make it easier to maintain moisture. Thanks for the help @wellington
 

ArmadilloPup

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2019
Messages
307
Location (City and/or State)
NE Oklahoma
That is a nifty night box.

This heat wave has been brutal. I noticed my torts won't eat pretty much any time there is a heat advisory, even with a very nice shaded garden enclosure. I understand the anxiety, I'm also a mammal that can't fathom not eating every day.
 

MenagerieGrl

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Nov 11, 2020
Messages
1,163
Location (City and/or State)
El Sobrante, CA.
We have tons of shade in the yard. The main reason I bought the house. 6 large trees. Sprinkler system runs every night. I will get some substrate. That may make it easier to maintain moisture. Thanks for the help @wellington
Fine Orchid Bark, and with those OS temps, a soak every day
 

LeoTheWaywardTortoise

Active Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Dec 12, 2021
Messages
116
Location (City and/or State)
Maricopa, AZ
I have a similar insulated night box for my sulcata, Leo. I have a Kane heat mat in mine, but I read that it should not be covered with anything but one of Kane's covers. I have substrate (coco coir) in the box, but I have been trying to keep it off the heat mat; does anyone know if this is necessary? I would love to be able to put some substrate in the whole thing.

My guy has not used it at all yet, except to eat - I've found that putting his food dish inside the box helps keep the food accessible to him all day without the wind blowing it all over the place. Leo likes to spend his nights in our rosemary plant... except during excessive heat periods, when he heads underneath a citrus tree that has exceptionally deep shade, along with lots of humidity (I water it daily for this reason). When it's forecast to be 107F or higher, I scoop him up and bring him to his indoor enclosure after his morning patrol. I just feel that this is too hot for him, even if he's in deep shade. I plan on digging a burrow for him at some point but haven't been able to do so this year. Our ground is extremely hard and rocky, so I'll need to hire someone to help with the burrow.
 

Maggie3fan

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2018
Messages
8,046
Location (City and/or State)
PacificNorthWest
I am not an expert...but I have kept pet grade Sulcata for a buncha years. I have never had a Sulcata burrow. My climate in the PNW is not as hot of course, as yours but I'm just giving my experience...my tortoises are kept in a 20'x12' heated and insulated wooden shed. Don't put anything like substrate over your heat
mat.
100_6311.JPG

Do you feed anything beside pellets?
 

MenagerieGrl

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Nov 11, 2020
Messages
1,163
Location (City and/or State)
El Sobrante, CA.
I am not an expert...but I have kept pet grade Sulcata for a buncha years. I have never had a Sulcata burrow. My climate in the PNW is not as hot of course, as yours but I'm just giving my experience...my tortoises are kept in a 20'x12' heated and insulated wooden shed. Don't put anything like substrate over your heat
mat.
View attachment 347153

Do you feed anything beside pellets?
(wolf whistle) dang look at that A**!
 

New Posts

Top