6 years pyramiding

[Stoneysyd]

Okay guys I need help. This is crush, she is almost 7. I got her a year ago in the middle of winter so I didn't want to put her outside just yet being as she had been an aquarium tortious in the previous house she lived in. I feel she's unhealthy and I'm not sure what to do.. shouldn't she be bigger? She's super shy and scared, I just want her healthy and happy.

 

[Yvonne G]

She needs either to be set up outside in a yard with real sun and shade, or in a very large indoor enclosure with a GOOD UVB light. She's suffering with Metabolic Bone Disease, and it's painful.

Feed her calcium rich foods, soak her daily, and maintain a waterer that she can fit into for self soaking.

When she realizes she's safe and you're the food god she'll become less shy. Move slowly around her and be kind.

If you show us her underside including her tail we can let you know for sure if she's really female.

 

[harrythetortoise]

View attachment 326618
Okay guys I need help. This is crush, she is almost 7. I got her a year ago in the middle of winter so I didn't want to put her outside just yet being as she had been an aquarium tortious in the previous house she lived in. I feel she's unhealthy and I'm not sure what to do.. shouldn't she be bigger? She's super shy and scared, I just want her healthy and happy.

Oh man... looks like she is suffering from MBD.

Follow the directions given above and please keep us updated. Hoping for the best!

 

[Stoneysyd]

She needs either to be set up outside in a yard with real sun and shade, or in a very large indoor enclosure with a GOOD UVB light. She's suffering with Metabolic Bone Disease, and it's painful.

Feed her calcium rich foods, soak her daily, and maintain a waterer that she can fit into for self soaking.

When she realizes she's safe and you're the food god she'll become less shy. Move slowly around her and be kind.

If you show us her underside including her tail we can let you know for sure if she's really female.

 

[Tom]

Because of the lack of proper nutrition, lack of growth, and MBD, this torotise still looks like a juvenile. Its not yet showing any of the secondary sexual characteristics the would be apparent at this age in a torotise that had been raised correctly. The tail is small, which suggests female, but the anal scutes haven't developed into the male or female shape yet. No gular scute development and no plastron concavity could mean female, or a male that just hasn't developed yet.

I'm glad this torotise is now in better hands and will get better treatment. The previous owners are in need of some castigation. What they did was cruel and inhumane. Whether they did it deliberately or out of ignorance matters not. I will be happy to hep you with anything you ned to care for this poor tortoise. Ask questions any time.

 

[wellington]

Wow poor thing. How anyone could think a tortoise can live its life in an aquarium is just ignorant and should be charged with animal abuse. It's just common sense or even a Google search would tell even the most stupid person the size these guys get.
So glad you took her in. Read and listen to the advice and you will be able to give her a better life.

 

[Stoneysyd]

Because of the lack of proper nutrition, lack of growth, and MBD, this torotise still looks like a juvenile. Its not yet showing any of the secondary sexual characteristics the would be apparent at this age in a torotise that had been raised correctly. The tail is small, which suggests female, but the anal scutes haven't developed into the male or female shape yet. No gular scute development and no plastron concavity could mean female, or a male that just hasn't developed yet.

I'm glad this torotise is now in better hands and will get better treatment. The previous owners are in need of some castigation. What they did was cruel and inhumane. Whether they did it deliberately or out of ignorance matters not. I will be happy to hep you with anything you ned to care for this poor tortoise. Ask questions any time.

Thank you so much!

 

[Stoneysyd]

Because of the lack of proper nutrition, lack of growth, and MBD, this torotise still looks like a juvenile. Its not yet showing any of the secondary sexual characteristics the would be apparent at this age in a torotise that had been raised correctly. The tail is small, which suggests female, but the anal scutes haven't developed into the male or female shape yet. No gular scute development and no plastron concavity could mean female, or a male that just hasn't developed yet.

I'm glad this torotise is now in better hands and will get better treatment. The previous owners are in need of some castigation. What they did was cruel and inhumane. Whether they did it deliberately or out of ignorance matters not. I will be happy to hep you with anything you ned to care for this poor tortoise. Ask questions any time.

Can I get help on her diet please

 

[Tom]

Can I get help on her diet please

To save me a lot of time and typing, scroll down to the diet info in here:

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...

tortoiseforum.org