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aztortuga

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My daughter accepted to take a baby sulcata from a friend that had it for two months. It appears to be severely dehydrated and its eyes are shut. Hopefully it makes it! Had its second carrot bath today and now has a humid habitat and a heat lamp. Very grateful for the guidance found here.
 

ascott

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My daughter accepted to take a baby sulcata from a friend that had it for two months. It appears to be severely dehydrated and its eyes are shut. Hopefully it makes it! Had its second carrot bath today and now has a humid habitat and a heat lamp. Very grateful for the guidance found here.

Just don't give up...if you don't the tort has no choice but to give it its best shot.......let it ride the coat tails of faith and just try :) Keep the tort warm, keep the tort hydrated and offer foods, even if the tort does not seem interested....offer up yummy stuff (even if will not be part of regular diet once stronger).....never let the temps drop below 78 and always offer a warm spot. Let me say now, I do not house this species of tortoise but I have cared for weak/ill/not well cared for torts and that is where my words come from :) may we see a pic of the tort...a pic says a bunch....then set back and take in all that is offered and customize those offerings for your individual set up...don't get caught in the trap of what an "ideal" set up is ....
 

aztortuga

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Has not eaten in the two days we have had it. Friend said it had not been eating. It has swallowed water twice and the carrot bath once since we have had it. It was living in a box/drawer over a heating pad. Seems like the new set up is not as warm as that, but trying to keep it above 75 degrees. We have never owned a tortoise or reptile before. Giving it our best shot. Hoping it opens its eyes soon. Will figure out a picture soon.
 

Yvonne G

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Hi and welcome! It sounds like you've gotten this baby in the nick of time. He probably won't eat until his eyes are open, so keep up with the carrot baths. You should start seeing improvement soon. But try harder to get that enclosure up to 80-85F degrees all over the whole enclosure, all the time, day and night. You may have to cover it for the temp to get up that high.
 

Ray--Opo

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Hi and welcome! It sounds like you've gotten this baby in the nick of time. He probably won't eat until his eyes are open, so keep up with the carrot baths. You should start seeing improvement soon. But try harder to get that enclosure up to 80-85F degrees all over the whole enclosure, all the time, day and night. You may have to cover it for the temp to get up that high.
Yvonne should the little sully be in a small enclosure will it's sick?
 

Tom

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Has not eaten in the two days we have had it. Friend said it had not been eating. It has swallowed water twice and the carrot bath once since we have had it. It was living in a box/drawer over a heating pad. Seems like the new set up is not as warm as that, but trying to keep it above 75 degrees. We have never owned a tortoise or reptile before. Giving it our best shot. Hoping it opens its eyes soon. Will figure out a picture soon.
Here is the care info. Make a set up like this and keep temps warm day and night like Yvonne said:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
 

aztortuga

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Hi and welcome! It sounds like you've gotten this baby in the nick of time. He probably won't eat until his eyes are open, so keep up with the carrot baths. You should start seeing improvement soon. But try harder to get that enclosure up to 80-85F degrees all over the whole enclosure, all the time, day and night. You may have to cover it for the temp to get up that high.
Thank you. Covered the top with foil. Sent my daughter to get a thermometer (and humidity). Sprayed twice today with warm water.
 

aztortuga

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Thank you. These are my current bible. It has moved today more than ever. Still not eating. Feeling hopeful. Is it bad if it eats the coconut coria flooring? Feel like it was putting its little head into it, but not the food directly in front.
 

aztortuga

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Just don't give up...if you don't the tort has no choice but to give it its best shot.......let it ride the coat tails of faith and just try :) Keep the tort warm, keep the tort hydrated and offer foods, even if the tort does not seem interested....offer up yummy stuff (even if will not be part of regular diet once stronger).....never let the temps drop below 78 and always offer a warm spot. Let me say now, I do not house this species of tortoise but I have cared for weak/ill/not well cared for torts and that is where my words come from :) may we see a pic of the tort...a pic says a bunch....then set back and take in all that is offered and customize those offerings for your individual set up...don't get caught in the trap of what an "ideal" set up is ....
Ok I am not great with pictures, but here you go. First day before finding this forum (it was 80 degrees out, first bath). Today (coconut flooring and tree house previously soaked). Enclosure is tiny (10 gallon). If it lives for 7-10 days we will get a kiddy pool and set up with screen etc. It should be 80 degrees out during the day, will need to go back into aquarium at night or something like that. Playing it by ear and hoping for the best. Very grateful for this place!

sully day1.jpg sullyday3.jpeg
 

aztortuga

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Ok I am not great with pictures, but here you go. First day before finding this forum (it was 80 degrees out, first bath). Today (coconut flooring and tree house previously soaked). Enclosure is tiny (10 gallon). If it lives for 7-10 days we will get a kiddy pool and set up with screen etc. It should be 80 degrees out during the day, will need to go back into aquarium at night or something like that. Playing it by ear and hoping for the best. Very grateful for this place!
On the second picture, we celebrated it moving out from under the little house! Sprayed it and sent out for thermometer.
 

ascott

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Ok I am not great with pictures, but here you go. First day before finding this forum (it was 80 degrees out, first bath). Today (coconut flooring and tree house previously soaked). Enclosure is tiny (10 gallon). If it lives for 7-10 days we will get a kiddy pool and set up with screen etc. It should be 80 degrees out during the day, will need to go back into aquarium at night or something like that. Playing it by ear and hoping for the best. Very grateful for this place!

get rid of the sand...even if you have to gather clean soil from the yard....sand is and can be deadly....I would not offer food off of the sand, ever.
 

Ray--Opo

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20190304_173059.jpg Should also get a thermometer/hydrometer like this. Not the one you stick on the side. Those are not accurate.
 
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aztortuga

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get rid of the sand...even if you have to gather clean soil from the yard....sand is and can be deadly....I would not offer food off of the sand, ever.
No worries. It is only hanging in coco coria for the past two days already! thanks
 

aztortuga

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So does that mean you have removed the sand?
Yes, it was on sand only on the first day for less than an hour. We are on day 6 now. Still alive. Still has not eaten. But today we can see its eyes! Doing carrot baths twice daily. Have her in an aquarium at 80-85 degrees battling to keep the humidity up to 80% (but gets to be as low as 60). Have her on the coco coria only. Fresh food daily, but not a bite yet. We added aloe to the carrot bath today in case she takes a gulp, as she did twice before. Thanks for your concern, I really appreciate this place.
 

aztortuga

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Just wanted to update, as things are looking up on day 15. Eyes are open and has moved on its own from under the hide. Still has not eaten anything but "bath" water. Twice daily carrot baths now complemented by "green baths" of weeds and opuntia pad and aloe, etc. We might even give it a name soon!
 

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