I currently have a 4-6 month old leopard tortoise hatchling. I have had it for a little over a week.
It was doing fine up until yesterday but honestly has hardly ate since I’ve brought it home and it ate nothing yesterday. Also wasn’t as active yesterday and has not been very active today. It usually sleeps a lot but basks and moves to nearby shelter near the heat lamp. Yesterday it hardly moved after basking and hid under a half pot for most of the day which hasn’t been typical. I will say I added a spider plant in the enclosure today but nothing else has changed.
I have read Tom’s documents and have been trying my best to set up a proper enclosure and I know what I have isn’t ideal because I have an open top which is letting humidity escape near the heat lamp area. I will put tinfoil around the heat lamp. I am currently waiting for a smart tortoise enclosure from Mark which should be done in 2-3 weeks.
I have been feeding Dandelion greens, spring mix, mustard greens, collard greens, green lettuce, red lettuce, Italian parsley, 1 pellet mazuri LS(soaked)and 1 pellet grassland tortoise diet(soaked).
Temps are 80-85 on low side with humid box (it never goes into this) and 95-100 under basking lamp which is an Arcadia 75W floodlight which I have zip tied in case of the clasp failing. Near the basking lamp it’s usually 90-95/97. I have a reptile systems T5 Ferguson zone 3 12% UV which is 12 in. From the substrate. I haven’t been able to get a T5 Arcadia tube anywhere.
I’m currently using coco coir hand packed for the bottom layer and forest floor over that. I’ve been misting daily and poring water in the corner of the tank which kinda makes it a little flooded.
I will say I’ve been struggling with humidity. It starts off above 80 after misting and drops to 60-70ish throughout the day but when lights go off it goes up to 80 again. Night temp is around 78 but sometimes drops to 75. I do daily soaks for 30-40 minutes with water every morning. I did do an electrolyte soak twice this week because the place where I got the tortoise from recommended to do it a few times a week. This morning after reading posts about babies not being active, not eating, shut eyes, I did a carrot soak which I saw it put its head under water several times and open its mouth. When I placed it in the tank after the soak, it has stayed in the same spot out in the open all day. It did turn in a circle 3 times and went to the dish but struggled to move and did not eat. When it rotates in a circle it’s butt is up in the air and it seems to not be lifting front legs to walk. Eyes were open a bit more after the soak but it’s still sleeping and has not basked all day.
I would love and appreciate any suggestions/advice that you guys can give me. I’d trying my best but I’m very stressed/distraughtThe place I got it from says that the behavior is normal because it’s only been with me 1 week and it’s somewhat typical to not eat but I don’t think they’re right.
It was doing fine up until yesterday but honestly has hardly ate since I’ve brought it home and it ate nothing yesterday. Also wasn’t as active yesterday and has not been very active today. It usually sleeps a lot but basks and moves to nearby shelter near the heat lamp. Yesterday it hardly moved after basking and hid under a half pot for most of the day which hasn’t been typical. I will say I added a spider plant in the enclosure today but nothing else has changed.
I have read Tom’s documents and have been trying my best to set up a proper enclosure and I know what I have isn’t ideal because I have an open top which is letting humidity escape near the heat lamp area. I will put tinfoil around the heat lamp. I am currently waiting for a smart tortoise enclosure from Mark which should be done in 2-3 weeks.
I have been feeding Dandelion greens, spring mix, mustard greens, collard greens, green lettuce, red lettuce, Italian parsley, 1 pellet mazuri LS(soaked)and 1 pellet grassland tortoise diet(soaked).
Temps are 80-85 on low side with humid box (it never goes into this) and 95-100 under basking lamp which is an Arcadia 75W floodlight which I have zip tied in case of the clasp failing. Near the basking lamp it’s usually 90-95/97. I have a reptile systems T5 Ferguson zone 3 12% UV which is 12 in. From the substrate. I haven’t been able to get a T5 Arcadia tube anywhere.
I’m currently using coco coir hand packed for the bottom layer and forest floor over that. I’ve been misting daily and poring water in the corner of the tank which kinda makes it a little flooded.
I will say I’ve been struggling with humidity. It starts off above 80 after misting and drops to 60-70ish throughout the day but when lights go off it goes up to 80 again. Night temp is around 78 but sometimes drops to 75. I do daily soaks for 30-40 minutes with water every morning. I did do an electrolyte soak twice this week because the place where I got the tortoise from recommended to do it a few times a week. This morning after reading posts about babies not being active, not eating, shut eyes, I did a carrot soak which I saw it put its head under water several times and open its mouth. When I placed it in the tank after the soak, it has stayed in the same spot out in the open all day. It did turn in a circle 3 times and went to the dish but struggled to move and did not eat. When it rotates in a circle it’s butt is up in the air and it seems to not be lifting front legs to walk. Eyes were open a bit more after the soak but it’s still sleeping and has not basked all day.
I would love and appreciate any suggestions/advice that you guys can give me. I’d trying my best but I’m very stressed/distraughtThe place I got it from says that the behavior is normal because it’s only been with me 1 week and it’s somewhat typical to not eat but I don’t think they’re right.