Kawaiibunny1
New Member
I have a rescue sulcata I don't know the age because they have changed hands but at the very least over a decade as that's how long the owner I get them from had them
We got them in October of 2021
I have attached a picture of them I know their shell is very deformed that's how I got them
Since we got them they've always breathed loud not whistly or anything just a noise simaler to if you really focus and listen to your self exhale never thought anything of it
In about January every so often maybe once a week I'd hear a loud noise come from where she's kept
I'd describe it simaler to a human clearing their throat but more grunty
Hard to explain but loud enough to be heard from across the house and up a level
I heard they can grunt sometimes when happy scared want to mate etc so thought nothing of it
Now in April it's become more frequent and tonight she did it multiple times in a row
So I got up to check on them, just in case gave them a soak and offered them some Romain
She seems fine is up walking around, eating with gusto begging for more when done, still comes to me when I come see them and I can not see any nasal discharge
But this noise has me fearing she may have an infection
and I have terrible anxiety so now that it's in My head I just can't unthink it and am now second guessing everything even though she seems fine
And dr Google is turning up nothing
So I figured the best way to maybe get some peace of mind is ask other people who have a large tort
TLDR : Has anyone's sulcata made loud grunty noises that sounds kinds like a human clearing their throat
And has anyone had a sulcata have a respiratory infection with no nasal discharge & still eating and roaming normally?
Since i know it is important
Information on husbandry
We live in ohio so they currently are in a pen in our basment that's 200 square feet
Organic top soil substrate
Ambient temp is high 60s but there are multiple heat lamps around that rise those spots to the 80s
And she has a heat pad that gets to 100 degrees she sleeps on
She always has access to a shallow pan of water with weekly soaks were I'll brush the dirt off her
And always has acess to hay and every couple days) gets some mixed greens that are soaked to give her more water
Verry Occasional veggies like cucumber or carrot
Greens are dusted with calcium with d3
Here in a couple weeks she will be moved outside as the temperatures here start being more consistently warm
We got them in October of 2021
I have attached a picture of them I know their shell is very deformed that's how I got them
Since we got them they've always breathed loud not whistly or anything just a noise simaler to if you really focus and listen to your self exhale never thought anything of it
In about January every so often maybe once a week I'd hear a loud noise come from where she's kept
I'd describe it simaler to a human clearing their throat but more grunty
Hard to explain but loud enough to be heard from across the house and up a level
I heard they can grunt sometimes when happy scared want to mate etc so thought nothing of it
Now in April it's become more frequent and tonight she did it multiple times in a row
So I got up to check on them, just in case gave them a soak and offered them some Romain
She seems fine is up walking around, eating with gusto begging for more when done, still comes to me when I come see them and I can not see any nasal discharge
But this noise has me fearing she may have an infection
and I have terrible anxiety so now that it's in My head I just can't unthink it and am now second guessing everything even though she seems fine
And dr Google is turning up nothing
So I figured the best way to maybe get some peace of mind is ask other people who have a large tort
TLDR : Has anyone's sulcata made loud grunty noises that sounds kinds like a human clearing their throat
And has anyone had a sulcata have a respiratory infection with no nasal discharge & still eating and roaming normally?
Since i know it is important
Information on husbandry
We live in ohio so they currently are in a pen in our basment that's 200 square feet
Organic top soil substrate
Ambient temp is high 60s but there are multiple heat lamps around that rise those spots to the 80s
And she has a heat pad that gets to 100 degrees she sleeps on
She always has access to a shallow pan of water with weekly soaks were I'll brush the dirt off her
And always has acess to hay and every couple days) gets some mixed greens that are soaked to give her more water
Verry Occasional veggies like cucumber or carrot
Greens are dusted with calcium with d3
Here in a couple weeks she will be moved outside as the temperatures here start being more consistently warm