Advice need for rescued a tortoise

[vicki15]

Hello

We rescued a tortoise about 1 month ago that was found crossing the road in the summer. We have housed it in a home made tortoise table and initially we were using a mercury vapor bulb until it blew yesterday and now we are using a seperate uv bulb and heat bulb. The tortoise table has a pool and a ramp to a higher level as well as some plants weeds.

The tortoise (Sheldon) has been very in active, hardly coming out of his bed and not eating. We take him out every evening and give him a hot bath and a run, but still he does not eat. The only thing I can think of is that his table is not warm enough and since replacing the vapour builb I have noticed the basking spot under the heat bulb is only 26 and so i have lowered the bulb as much as i can and have set the thermometer up to test the temperature in the rest of the housing.

Can anyone advise me? Thanks

 

[Jacqui]

First we really need to know what kind of tortoise you have in order to give you correct advise. Also what temps are you keeping him at? Both the high and low temps during the day and also at night.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Vicki and welcome to the Forum!

First of all, if you don't live in a part of the world where tortoises occur naturally, then you have picked up someone's escaped pet. I imagine this person is devastated about losing their tortoise. You can put up fliers on the utility poles around the neighborhood where the tortoise was found, and place a "found" ad in the local paper.

If you put up a picture, we can tell you what kind of tortoise it is, then we can give you better care advice.

 

[vicki15]

Hi

Thank you. The tortoise was held by the local sanctuary for 4 months and the owner was found, however they no longer wanted him, so we re-homed him. It was quite a sad case, the old owner dumped him in a field and as we live in the uk, he would never have survived on his own come winter.

Under his new bulb the temperature is 28, however I am testing the rest of the enclosure temperatures. As the bulb is only 100w I am going replace it tomorrow (it was new yesterday) with a bigger one or ceramic heater or back to the mercury vapor lamps.

I believe he is a hermans however there is obvious signs of mistreatment as he has a flat pancake but lumpy shell. I will try and take a picture in the morning.

We are not sure how old he is, is there any way to tell?

As he was living outside on his own for some time, could his body clock sense it is hibernation time or is his enclosure just too cold to become active and feed?
How do I get him back on the road to recovery?
Thanks

 

[vicki15]

Also, his lamps are on for 14 hours in the day but off over night. It is quite cold here at the moment so perhaps I need to leave a ceramic or ultra red bulb on over night to increase the temperature as imagine if would be around 16/17degrees in our house at night.

He is fed mainly dandelions, plantain and tortoise pellets and has grass and weeds planted in his house. He also has a tomato s and strawberries as treats.

Other than adjusting the lighting for more heat in not sure what else to do.
Thank you

 

[vicki15]

Photos of Sheldon

 

[vicki15]

Update, have increased the temperature and active enough to feed but then back to sleep, is this normal?

Thanks

 

[Yvonne G]

Poor Sheldon! But how lucky for him that he now has a good home. Yes, you need to have some sort of heat on him at night (since you say your house is cold at night). It doesn't have to be too hot...70F would be ok.

Tortoises don't really do much more than eat, wander, poop, eat, drink, poop and wander...oh, and sleep. Give him a couple weeks to get used to his new home and you'll probably see more of him. At least he's eating!!!

 

[vicki15]

Basking

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Great thank you very much. I will either get a ceramic heater or under heated matting to create constant warmth. His enclosure is rather large and open so I think it needs at least 2 heaters so will also turn his infra red and uv on for 14 hours in the day.

I am also giving him some vitamin drops and have just ordered some dried flowers and lots of seeds to grow in his cage from shelled warriors