Baby leopard tortoise won't eat

[Julia Urban]

My 12 year old son received a leopard tortoise as a gift from his step mom. We have done some research before hand and were doing well with the baby. I am in the process of moving and sent the tortoise to my son's father til we are settled in the new house. I got a call the other night that the tortoise died, which he didn't really die but was not moving for a small period of time. He's normally friendly and will come up to Joshua when he feeds him. Then I was told he hasn't been eating much if anything since we sent him 2 weeks ago. I sent Joshua up to see the tortoise and this is the first anyone has seen the tort move. We are soaking him in a 50/50 mixture of unflavored Pedialite and water to hydrate him. His tank is in the low 90s during the day. He's still not eating.

 

[dmmj]

Temps are usually the reason a young tort won't eat. Are you using a temp gun? What type of light?

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Like dmmj said.
We'll need more information about it's housing, lights and maybe food being offered.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hello and a very warm welcome to Tortoise Forum.
It must be a very worrying time for you and you son.
Trouble is it's also a worrying time for your tortoise.
He seems to have been happy and healthy with you and now he's been sent to a new 'territory' he doesn't know and doesn't like.
Other things may have changed, the humans, diet, humidity, temps, etc and I think the tortoise is probably stressed and in the midst of trying to adapt to his new environment.
As the other guys have said, details of his enclosure and a photo if possible may help isolate a specific problem.
Thanks for coming here to try and help him.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Remember they said temps and you said low 90's during the day what temps at night and what type of light during the day . And a pict of the tort in its enclosure will help a lot !

 

[Tom]

My 12 year old son received a leopard tortoise as a gift from his step mom. We have done some research before hand and were doing well with the baby. I am in the process of moving and sent the tortoise to my son's father til we are settled in the new house. I got a call the other night that the tortoise died, which he didn't really die but was not moving for a small period of time. He's normally friendly and will come up to Joshua when he feeds him. Then I was told he hasn't been eating much if anything since we sent him 2 weeks ago. I sent Joshua up to see the tortoise and this is the first anyone has seen the tort move. We are soaking him in a 50/50 mixture of unflavored Pedialite and water to hydrate him. His tank is in the low 90s during the day. He's still not eating.

Are you still there? We need more info to help.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Julia, and welcome to the Forum!

What a shame the dad didn't know enough to give the baby the proper care. Hopefully we can help you bring the baby back to health. Start by giving it a warm 20 minute soak daily and double check the temperature all over the floor of the habitat. You can also read the care sheet pinned at the top of the leopard section and make adjustments and tweaks where necessary.

 

[pam]

Welcome how is he doing?

 

[Julia Urban]

He was moving a little more but still isn't eating. We are soaking him in a Pedialite water mix 2 times a day. Someone told us that he might have gotten a respiratory infection from the move and not to turn off the second bulb at night. He has both a 100w reptile basking light and a black one (not sure of the wat). That's at 99 right now with 28% humidity.

 

[Yvonne G]

Yes, you should not allow the habitat to get below 80F at any time, so keeping the black light on at night is a good idea.

 

[Julia Urban]

Yes, you should not allow the habitat to get below 80F at any time, so keeping the black light on at night is a good idea.

Of course we always left the nocturnal black heat lamp on all night. But he told me to leave both lights on. He told me that when they are sick to have it hotter all the time.

 

[Jodie]

You want it hotter, but he needs it dark to sleep. I recommend a CHE, ceramic heat emitter, on a thermostat set at 85F to 90F. Your humidity should be over 80% though.