Baby not using from legs

Wes42

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Aug 18, 2021
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FL
I have two tortoises they are the same age I bought them together three months old one of the tortoises is much smaller and lately has had issues opening left eye it opens but not all the time. also not using front legs I’m not sure what happened they both are in the same cage get UV light or soak sun up outside i hope someone knows what could be causing this.
 

ZenHerper

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Welcome - so sorry to hear about this problem!

Essentially, the larger one may be intimidating the smaller one to death. This can be intentional (hogging or sitting on food; pressing against the smaller one's head; other more aggressive behaviors), or it can be biochemical (what happens in nature so that animals disperse to preserve resources and to prevent in-breeding--less dominant animals stay small and eventually leave the territory).

To turn this around, you need to have a second set up for the smaller one as soon as you can possibly put it together.

There are other things than can predispose a tortoise to not developing properly and thriving, such as congenital defects; or not being kept in the right hatchling conditions by the breeder; or being kept in less-than-optimal conditions at the new home (wrong temperature, level of humidity, dangerous cheap uvb radiation bulbs, incomplete nutrition, etc.).

Again, to address these issues, a failing youngster should be kept in a private habitat that is environmentally controlled and optimized for health.

If you let us know what species they are, we can get you the most up-to-date care information.
 

Wes42

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Joined
Aug 18, 2021
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FL
Welcome - so sorry to hear about this problem!

Essentially, the larger one may be intimidating the smaller one to death. This can be intentional (hogging or sitting on food; pressing against the smaller one's head; other more aggressive behaviors), or it can be biochemical (what happens in nature so that animals disperse to preserve resources and to prevent in-breeding--less dominant animals stay small and eventually leave the territory).

To turn this around, you need to have a second set up for the smaller one as soon as you can possibly put it together.

There are other things than can predispose a tortoise to not developing properly and thriving, such as congenital defects; or not being kept in the right hatchling conditions by the breeder; or being kept in less-than-optimal conditions at the new home (wrong temperature, level of humidity, dangerous cheap uvb radiation bulbs, incomplete nutrition, etc.).

Again, to address these issues, a failing youngster should be kept in a private habitat that is environmentally controlled and optimized for health.

If you let us know what species they are, we can get you the most up-to-date care information.
 

Wes42

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Joined
Aug 18, 2021
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4
Location (City and/or State)
FL
They are sulcatas
Welcome - so sorry to hear about this problem!

Essentially, the larger one may be intimidating the smaller one to death. This can be intentional (hogging or sitting on food; pressing against the smaller one's head; other more aggressive behaviors), or it can be biochemical (what happens in nature so that animals disperse to preserve resources and to prevent in-breeding--less dominant animals stay small and eventually leave the territory).

To turn this around, you need to have a second set up for the smaller one as soon as you can possibly put it together.

There are other things than can predispose a tortoise to not developing properly and thriving, such as congenital defects; or not being kept in the right hatchling conditions by the breeder; or being kept in less-than-optimal conditions at the new home (wrong temperature, level of humidity, dangerous cheap uvb radiation bulbs, incomplete nutrition, etc.).

Again, to address these issues, a failing youngster should be kept in a private habitat that is environmentally controlled and optimized for health.

If you let us know what species they are, we can get you the most up-to-date care information.
 

Wes42

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FL
Thank you for your response they are both sulcatas around 3 months old
 

ZenHerper

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Feb 27, 2020
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Location (City and/or State)
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This is the most up-to-date care info for Sulcata:


It's a long care sheet, but quite comprehensive.

We have a number of successful Sulcata keepers, so ask any follow up questions you have about the information.

This is the forum's general Sulcata section:
 

Jan A

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Jan 9, 2021
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Location (City and/or State)
Boulder, CO
Thank you for your response they are both sulcatas around 3 months old
Welcome to the forum. I'm glad you found us. There's a lot to read & consider. So ask as many questions as you need. The care sheet is based on what works & what doesn't, as found by many owners on this site. We are here to help.
 

Lyn W

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Jul 22, 2014
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Location (City and/or State)
UK
Hi and welcome,
Follow all the advice you've been given so far as well as the caresheet and your torts should do much better.
Forget anything you've been told before - there's a lot of old incorrect information about tort still being passed on that we've all been given, but with the help of TFO we've been able to put things right.
 

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