Need a bit of advise.

Thanatos

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Ok so I have a 3 yearish old male sulcata. We know he is male because he walks around with his stuff out...Yes we ran to the vet in a panic thinking it we a prolapsed anus or egg chute(we had been told he was a she). After 1k in bills the vet said all was well. The day we picked he up he did it again(put his package on display) we called the vet said as long as he dosent damage it it should be fine, but he would check with local zoo to be sure. He got back to us a day or so later stating that the zoo folks said "yep normal just watch for trauma"

Now I am not sure he is pooping, but he seems normal eats fine(like a pig). I would however like to find a definite fresh poo. What can I give him to help on the off chance he is a bit blocked?

Oh and Tank is VERY large for a 3 year old he weighs 23lbs and fills his rectangular rubber concrete mixing tub that we use to soak him.

We live in Southern AZ and morning temps have been cooling to about 55-60 for the lows.
 

Tom

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Hello and welcome.

Your vet charged you $1000 to tell you your male tortoise had an erection? And then had to call a zoo to ask if that is normal? You need a different vet. There are several good ones in the Phoenix/Mesa area. Dr. Jarchow is in Tucson and Dr. Funk is in Mesa.

20-30 pounds is normal for a 3 year old sulcata.

55-60 is much too cool for a sulcata. They need a heated night house and it shouldn't drop below 80. Something like this:
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/h...g-of-toms-night-box-with-exploded-view.97697/
https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/double-door-night-box.129054/
I am aware that many people in AZ simply leave them outside and some of them survive. This doesn't mean its good for them. There is no "winter" where they come from. Ground temps in the Sahel range from 80-85 all year.

What do you feed him? Opuntia will help keep the GI tract moving and it is great tortoise food too.

If the tortoise is constipated, I'd start soaking daily in warm water for an hour or more until the problem resolves itself.
 

Thanatos

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He made last winter ok. We used a space heater in his house kept it at 85ish. What do you use to heat that box? And we use mazuri mixed with some chopped alfalfa/timothy. and I get fresh stuff from around the yard and grocery store....He LOVES aloe(spine removed)
 

Tom

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He made last winter ok. We used a space heater in his house kept it at 85ish. What do you use to heat that box? And we use mazuri mixed with some chopped alfalfa/timothy. and I get fresh stuff from around the yard and grocery store....He LOVES aloe(spine removed)
Post number 4 in the double door thread shows and explains the heating.

I wouldn't recommend Mazuri more than once or twice a week. Same with alfalfa. I wouldn't use Timothy at all. Too stemmy. Orchard grass hay or Bermuda hay work better. Mine don't care for aloe much, but its good if yours does. Get some opuntia. You can grow your own easily, or buy it at the store or on-line.
 

Yvonne G

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Sometimes if a tortoise has a heavy parasite load, or is blocked with kidney or bladder stones, or is constipated, or is dehydrated, the penis keeps coming out. But it's quite normal for a young male to play with his equipment when he's first becoming old enough to breed.
 

Thanatos

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Vet did check all that stuff. Also he thought she was a female because we told him she was and he had put it mostly away when we got him there.
 

Donna Albu

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When needed, take Tank to Dr Kiedrowski (Dr K) at Dove Valley Animal Hospital in Cave Creek. We've been using him for over 10 years, and he is wonderful. He takes plenty of time with you, and explains stuff so that you can understand without a degree! His number is 480-595-5731, and they are open 7 days a week, except for holidays. He's at 48th St and Carefree Highway.
 

Donna Albu

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Mine eat the prickly pear that grow like weeds in our front yard. We feed orchard if they have it, otherwise bermuda. Parasites are very common here - they pick them up from bird droppings. And I'm sorry, but a decent reptile vet does not need to see a penis in order to identify a male sulcata. I'm pretty sure 3 years old is too young to breed. If he was mine, I'd get him to Dr K for his "annual" visit.

I've found that people around here don't usually get their sulcatas enough water. especially in the summer. It might be time to get him a bigger soaking spot. A kids plastic wadding pool works great. Like Tom Said, long warm soaks every day. And while this may sound odd, car rides work pretty well too. Just be prepared for the mess.
 

Tom

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Mine eat the prickly pear that grow like weeds in our front yard. We feed orchard if they have it, otherwise bermuda. Parasites are very common here - they pick them up from bird droppings. And I'm sorry, but a decent reptile vet does not need to see a penis in order to identify a male sulcata. I'm pretty sure 3 years old is too young to breed. If he was mine, I'd get him to Dr K for his "annual" visit.

I've found that people around here don't usually get their sulcatas enough water. especially in the summer. It might be time to get him a bigger soaking spot. A kids plastic wadding pool works great. Like Tom Said, long warm soaks every day. And while this may sound odd, car rides work pretty well too. Just be prepared for the mess.
Good tips Donna. Great post.
 

Tom

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Isn't that just a prickly pear cactus? I live in tucson they grow everywhere
Yes. There are many varieties of opuntia available. Some have more spines and glochids than others, but all are good tortoise food. Don't worry about the spines for your tortoise. As much as they bother us, the tortoises are completely unaffected by them. They just eat the spines and it causes no problem. In the wild, tortoises eat the fully spined varieties with no problems.
 

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