Grunting?

[FlapJackrage]

My Sulcata grunts and seems like it sneezes often to. Its been doing since i got it like 5 months ago and it seems to still be healthy. But is it normal?

 

[Tom]

None of mine do that. How old is he and what substrate is he on? What are your four temps?

 

[FlapJackrage]

Loose coconut fiber substrate, and it stays about 95 degrees in there day and night.

 

[Tom]

95 where? There should be four temps that you watch. Warm side, cool side, basking spot and night. If the whole tank is just 95 everywhere, day and night, I think we have found your problem. Are you using one of those stick on dial type thermometers from the pet store? Are you leaving the light on at night too?

 

[FlapJackrage]

Oh no. One side is 95 and the other is about 70. But thats it usually.

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I dont leave light on at night

 

[Tom]

If your coco fiber is kept damp and your enclosure is humid, then 70 is much too cool. Your tortoise might have a respiratory infection. My first course of action would be to warm things up. 80-85 in the entire enclosure 24/7, and a 100 degree basking spot for 12 hours a day. I'd would do this for a couple of weeks and see if the grunting stops or slows down.

Do you see him yawn often? Stretch his neck out? Any nasal discharge ever? Nose bubbles?

 

[FlapJackrage]

I see him yawn maybe every 2 weeks. Thats all

 

[mary t]

If your coco fiber is kept damp and your enclosure is humid, then 70 is much too cool. Your tortoise might have a respiratory infection. My first course of action would be to warm things up. 80-85 in the entire enclosure 24/7, and a 100 degree basking spot for 12 hours a day. I'd would do this for a couple of weeks and see if the grunting stops or slows down.

Do you see him yawn often? Stretch his neck out? Any nasal discharge ever? Nose bubbles?

Tim, what do you suggest in an outside hide for substrate? Willie grunts a Littleton but seems to be only when one of us is sitting right by him and he is eating. We are outside in florida. My temps and everything is run by mother nature.. Lol.. I also have no lights or anything inside the house. Heater in cold months.. Do I have a problem or just a protective eater...thanks

 

[Tom]

I feel ill-equipped to answer this since I have never kept tortoises in an area with that sort of high humidity. I can only share my observations. In the wild, I doubt their burrows ever drop much below 80, even during the "colder" time of year. Based on my observations of wild temps compared to the burrow temps in MY burrows during similar temps, I think they stay pretty warm. My burrows are only three feet deep and when our temps here, simulate the winter temps there, my burrows stay 80, all the time, with no artificial heat source. During their summer, the temps should be even higher. Sulcata burrows are reported to be up to 40' deep. Not 40' long, 40' DEEP. I have no idea what the temp gets too at 40' deep under ground, with a 118 degree sun with 80-90 degree nights, everyday for months on end, but I bet it's warm. Even if it is cooler down deep, which seems likely, they can move upwards to get as warm as they want.

So, if your night temps are staying 80 and never dipping into the 70's, I think you are fine with no heat. If I lived in a damp, rainy, humid area, I would want some night heat set on a thermostat for my tortoises. Seems like cheap insurance to me.

 

[FlapJackrage]

Yeah he does grunt a lot after eating.

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And he is 3 years old. Almost 4.