My baby keeps flipping over, and can’t get up!

prettyinink66 · Mar 16, 2018

Hello all! I am new to this forum, as well as a first time mommy to two beautiful little Sulcata babies. They are approximately 3-4 weeks old. My problem is that one of them is notorious for finding ways to flip over on his back, and can’t get back over. I’ve only had them for 3 days now, and luckily it seems each time this has happened (a few a day) I have been close by. I have tried being patient a couple times to see if he could do it by himself, but it looked like he started to freak out and gasping for air, and jerking a bit. I’ve been lucky to be able to keep them close by for the most part, and haven’t had to leave them home for more than a couple hours at a time. I’m horrified that this will happen when I’m not around and he won’t make it. I have eliminated as much as I can to make sure this doesn’t happen, but do I need to separate the two since he crawls on his siblings back and does it?! How long can they survive on their back? I’m so paranoid now!!!

wellington · Mar 16, 2018

Hello and Welcome. I would separate them if the other tort is being used as a flipping device. If they can see out the enclosure, you can try blocking that too.
Btw, tortoises do not do good in pairs and they don't want or need a buddy. So, they would need to be separated into their own enclosures anyway. This could actually be the first sign of bullying, him bothering the other.

kathyth · Mar 16, 2018

Can we see a picture of the enclosure. I agree with Barbara.

prettyinink66 · Mar 16, 2018

Temporary indoor setup

*I keep a towel draped over the open half to try and keep in as much humidity as possible.

JoesMum · Mar 16, 2018

Sulcatas aren't social. They are loners that don't want or need a friend. They just see another tortoise as a rival for food and space.

While it is less usual to see territorial behaviour in very young torts, it does happen and you should separate them. Especially with this flipping.

Your sulcatas will rapidly grow into 100lb+ bulldozers that will go where they darn well please. They are one of the scrappier species and do not do well as pairs. They need lots of space and they need to be kept alone.

prettyinink66 · Mar 16, 2018

Thank you guys so much for the info! I was actually told the exact opposite about them being social, and needing companionship. I will work on getting their separate boxes today! =)

Big Charlie · Mar 16, 2018

prettyinink66 said:
Thank you guys so much for the info! I was actually told the exact opposite about them being social, and needing companionship. I will work on getting their separate boxes today! =)

Pet stores tell you that so you'll buy two.

prettyinink66 · Mar 16, 2018

Big Charlie, I bought from a lady that has a few. I think this was her first or 2nd clutch of babies. I was also told that a majority of their diet should be lettuces such as Romaine, and Mazuris tortoise food (I had already purchased it before getting them in preparation). I wasn’t informed of them needing grass in their diet until I read a post on here about them needing it as a staple item. I’ve got them in their outdoor enclosure right now. I’m outside working in the yard and flower beds, and have my two boys out here playing so we’re keeping a VERY close eye on them to make sure it doesn’t happen anymore. I’m also watching for any signs of aggressive behavior.

prettyinink66 · Mar 16, 2018

Should I make any changes?!

JoesMum · Mar 16, 2018

prettyinink66 said:
View attachment 233196

Should I make any changes?!

If you read that post you will see that babies need high humidity and steady, warm temperatures. You cannot achieve this in an open enclosure - a closed chamber is necessary. Tom doesn’t recommend them going outside until they’re much bigger.

Sulcata babies don’t really start with grass. Pick a little and snip it into tiny bits with scissors and sprinkle that lightly on food by way of introduction.

These written by @Tom should be your full instructions for what they need

How to raise a healthy Sulcata
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

For those that have a young Sulcata
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

Big Charlie · Mar 16, 2018

prettyinink66 said:
View attachment 233196

Should I make any changes?!

I would put a wall through the middle so they don't have to see each other. Bullying in tortoises is sometimes hard to see. People say their tortoises are cuddling, when actually one is trying to crowd the other one out. As @JoesMum says, they need to be in a closed chamber that keeps the heat and humidity in. Only put them outside for short periods. You might want to get a temperature gun so you can see how cold they are getting outside.

prettyinink66 · Mar 16, 2018

I’ll see if I can’t rig up something that’s maybe half plexiglass and half wood (or something of the likes for more shade). I’ve been having to spray a lot of water about every 15-20 minutes (if not more) to keep it damp. I won’t leave them out much longer today, but this weekend I’ll get to work on both their indoor and outdoor enclosures, to separate them. I brought their temperature and humidity gauge to make sure it’s high enough and it’s barely up there, but it IS up there![emoji1360]

I guess Koopa (from Super Mario brothers) is living up to his name. Haha! He’s the one that seems to be picking on the other one, and he’s even the smaller of the two. The other one is Porkchop. =)

chemprentice · Mar 16, 2018

Based on the photo of your indoor enclosure, it seems you have coco coir or coco fiber as your substrate. Spraying doesn't do much to humidify the enclosure, it just wets the surface of the substrate. Give it 20 minutes and it'll be dry again. What I like to do is add copious amounts of water to the substrate, mix it up with my hands, and dampen it enough so that the coco coir appears dark. At that point, it should be moist enough to provide passive humidity, but not drenched so that it becomes swampy in the enclosure. Hope this helps.

vladimir · Mar 16, 2018

I swear I saw a post from @Markw84 with a picture of a pair of sulcatas that had been raised together and had a huge size difference, but I can't find it now. It was pretty eye opening.

Markw84 · Mar 16, 2018

vladimir said:
I swear I saw a post from @Markw84 with a picture of a pair of sulcatas that had been raised together and had a huge size difference, but I can't find it now. It was pretty eye opening.

Nope. Not me. I’m perhaps a bit more liberal than some on keeping groups together, but I’ve never thought a pair to be a good situation I believe Cowboy Ken has shown a picture like you describe but he shows it to demonstrate the impact a pair has on one ending up so much smaller.

vladimir · Mar 16, 2018

Markw84 said:
Nope. Not me. I’m perhaps a bit more liberal than some on keeping groups together, but I’ve never thought a pair to be a good situation I believe Cowboy Ken has shown a picture like you describe but he shows it to demonstrate the impact a pair has on one ending up so much smaller.

My apologies, that must be why I couldn't find it. You're correct, it was Cowboy Ken who posted it. [emoji846]

Found it: https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?posts/1520001

Tom · Mar 16, 2018

prettyinink66 said:
Hello all! I am new to this forum, as well as a first time mommy to two beautiful little Sulcata babies. They are approximately 3-4 weeks old. My problem is that one of them is notorious for finding ways to flip over on his back, and can’t get back over. I’ve only had them for 3 days now, and luckily it seems each time this has happened (a few a day) I have been close by. I have tried being patient a couple times to see if he could do it by himself, but it looked like he started to freak out and gasping for air, and jerking a bit. I’ve been lucky to be able to keep them close by for the most part, and haven’t had to leave them home for more than a couple hours at a time. I’m horrified that this will happen when I’m not around and he won’t make it. I have eliminated as much as I can to make sure this doesn’t happen, but do I need to separate the two since he crawls on his siblings back and does it?! How long can they survive on their back? I’m so paranoid now!!!

Looks like you've gotten a lot of good advice already. I just wanted to say hello and welcome.

prettyinink66 · Mar 16, 2018

Tom said:
Looks like you've gotten a lot of good advice already. I just wanted to say hello and welcome.

Thank you so much Tom! Since I just joined this forum within the last day, I haven’t been able to read through as much as I’d like to have. I’ve been reading your threads which have also been a HUGE help. I’m finally calling it a day, so I’m going to read through some more before I drift off to dream land.

I appreciate y’all so very much! You all seem like a great bunch of people, and I am so glad I found this forum, and was able to join. =)

prettyinink66 · Mar 16, 2018

vladimir said:
My apologies, that must be why I couldn't find it. You're correct, it was Cowboy Ken who posted it. [emoji846]

Found it: https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?posts/1520001

Holy moly! That is a big eye opener. Couldn’t imagine in my wildest dreams that torts would do THAT to one another. Poor things... I’ve already learned a lot about pyramiding, thank goodness! I pray that never happens to mine, and will do everything in my power to be the best mommy to them as possible to keep them healthy and happy!!! So looking forward to learn more! I’m sure y’all will be seeing much more of me on here. Hopefully nobody gets annoyed or tired of me. Haha!!![emoji12]

Cheryl Hills · Mar 16, 2018

prettyinink66 said:
Holy moly! That is a big eye opener. Couldn’t imagine in my wildest dreams that torts would do THAT to one another. Poor things... I’ve already learned a lot about pyramiding, thank goodness! I pray that never happens to mine, and will do everything in my power to be the best mommy to them as possible to keep them healthy and happy!!! So looking forward to learn more! I’m sure y’all will be seeing much more of me on here. Hopefully nobody gets annoyed or tired of me. Haha!!![emoji12]

We never get tired of someone willing to learn!

My baby keeps flipping over, and can’t get up!

New Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

New Member

Well-Known Member

New Member

Well-Known Member

New Member

New Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

New Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

The Dog Trainer

New Member

New Member

Well-Known Member

Similar threads