DesertGrandma said:Opinions please...
The baby leopard I had that died pooped out quite a bit of some whitish stuff on the first day or two after I got her. Reading on the forum that "urates" are normal I didn't worry about it. She was about two months of age. She wouldn't eat and didn't poop for the entire time I had her. I took her to the vet and had her euthanized apprx. 6-8 weeks later because she was beyond saving. She was soaked every day, kept in a warm, humid environment and offered a variety of healthy foods. Now, since then I have had several leopard babies, given them all the same care and they are all thriving. None have every pooped out "urates."
Do you see this as possible vermiculite problem?
I have to admit that being new I wouldn't have known the difference between "urates" and vermiculite in the poop.
It was more than likely just urates. Any idea on how the breeder housed the tortoise for those two months before you had her? Are you aware of the status of any of her clutch mates?