Hello from LA and our 23 yr old Sulcata, Escher.

[keithandcil]

Hi Everyone,
We have a 23y/o male Sulcata tortoise that we’ve raised since he was a wee little hatchling at 8 weeks old. He’s healthy at 117 lbs today. Well, our big guy ate a fair share of bark on the ground while eating is food last week and now he’s unable to pass his stool. He got an enema at his vet two days ago to help clear him up and we’ve done 3 warm water soakings for 30min at a time. So far, no stool with exception of what our vet could pull out. Has anyone experienced this unfortunate occurrence? Our vet is suggesting to feed if he’s able to ingest anything, veggies/fruit with a high water content as it will help provide more moisture to his intestinal tract. So far he has only eaten a handful of strawberries. We’ll attempt watermelon and cucumbers today. He’s very backed up and we don’t expect he’ll eat much. If anyone here can offer some suggestions, we’d greatly appreciate it. He’s scheduled for another enema tomorrow! We feel terrible he got into the bark. He’s never eaten it before! But noticed some of of his alfalfa hay got on there. Thanks in advance.

 

[Tom]

Soak for an hour or two and keep the water warm the entire time. If he starts trying to scramble to get out, all the better. Tortoise treadmill.

Car rides in a large tub will often do it too.

Don't feed fruit. That upsets their GI tract.

Does he eat spineless opuntia pads? That stuff is slimy and it lubes them right up. Get some at any Mexican grocery store, if you don't have your own growing. Vallarta or Tres Sierras will have it.

 

[Ray--Opo]

Wow hopefully the enema will work. I have done the long car rides 2 times when my sully was backed up before. It was suggested to me and it worked. This situation might be different, I am sure a member with more experience will chime in soon. @Tom , @Yvonne G .

 

[Yvonne G]

Like Tom mentioned, lo--o-o-o-o-o-ong soaks in your bath tub. Scrambling around trying to get out loosens everything up and pretty soon you will have a giant mess in your tub. I never worried about the water getting cold. If your house is in the 70's that means that water is in the 70's, but if you want to position a light over the water to help warm it, that works too. Just make sure the light is safe and can't fall into the water. Make the water deep enough that he can barely touch the bottom. And keep a close watch on him during the soak to make sure he's not getting into trouble.

 

[Yvonne G]

Oh, and Welcome to the Forum!! I'd love to see pictures of Escher.

 

[Tom]

Like Tom mentioned, lo--o-o-o-o-o-ong soaks in your bath tub. Scrambling around trying to get out loosens everything up and pretty soon you will have a giant mess in your tub. I never worried about the water getting cold. If your house is in the 70's that means that water is in the 70's, but if you want to position a light over the water to help warm it, that works too. Just make sure the light is safe and can't fall into the water. Make the water deep enough that he can barely touch the bottom. And keep a close watch on him during the soak to make sure he's not getting into trouble.

Evaporative cooling will drop the water temp lower than room temp. Also, warmer water will get more activity.

 

[keithandcil]

Soak for an hour or two and keep the water warm the entire time. If he starts trying to scramble to get out, all the better. Tortoise treadmill.

Car rides in a large tub will often do it too.

Don't feed fruit. That upsets their GI tract.

Does he eat spineless opuntia pads? That stuff is slimy and it lubes them right up. Get some at any Mexican grocery store, if you don't have your own growing. Vallarta or Tres Sierras will have it.

Thanks Tom. We’ll definitely give this a try with a longer warm soak. Yes he eats the spineless pads. Will pick some up. Will let y’all know how he does.

 

[Tom]

Thanks Tom. We’ll definitely give this a try with a longer warm soak. Yes he eats the spineless pads. Will pick some up. Will let y’all know how he does.

Handsome boy. That water can be quite a lot deeper than that.

What size is the enclosure?
Do you have a heated shelter for night time, and what temperature do you keep it at?

Small enclosures and cool nights can contribute to impactions.

 

[keithandcil]

T

Evaporative cooling will drop the water temp lower than room temp. Also, warmer water will get more activity.

Thanks Yvonne. He definitely moves plenty in the empty sandbox we have him in. will keep him in much much longer.

 

[keithandcil]

Handsome boy. That water can be quite a lot deeper than that.

What size is the enclosure?
Do you have a heated shelter for night time, and what temperature do you keep it at?

Small enclosures and cool nights can contribute to impactions.

His enclosure is 4x6x4. His temp inside is regulated with heat two heat lamps… currently set to 65 degrees at night so it doesn’t drop below. Should I adjust it higher for now? Will fill the water level higher

 

[Maro2Bear]

In addition to Opuntia cactus pads & the associated “tuna” fruit pods, i have found that International markets often sell nice large aloe vera pads. Our Sully loves those. Very cleansing. Definitely up those temperatures! 80 should be the minimum.

Ps - good looking Sully.

 

[keithandcil]

In addition to Opuntia cactus pads & the associated “tuna” fruit pods, i have found that International markets often sell nice large aloe vera pads. Our Sully loves those. Very cleansing. Definitely up those temperatures! 80 should be the minimum.

Ps - good looking Sully.

Escher loves our aloe vera. Forgot to mention that. We have a large plant. My mistake on the temp. Actually set to 70 at night and we’ve just upped the temp. Hopefully will help.

 

[Tom]

His enclosure is 4x6x4. His temp inside is regulated with heat two heat lamps… currently set to 65 degrees at night so it doesn’t drop below. Should I adjust it higher for now? Will fill the water level higher

There is your issue: This species should never drop below 80. Where they come from, its near 100 every day. Our summers are like their winters, and their summers are even hotter. Ground temps there are 80-85 all year and that is where they spend 95% of their lives. They bask in the morning sun at the mouth of their burrows and go back underground when they feel hot enough. At 65 you are lucky he hasn't gotten a respiratory infection.

When they are not warm enough, they are not active enough. Tortoises, much like a horse, require locomotion to keep food moving through the gut. When they become too sedentary, things get backed up. Cold temps also hamper the immune and digestive systems. The gut flora and fauna need warmth to survive and do their work of breaking down plant fibers.

What size is the enclosure? Not the night box, but the whole pen.

Heat lamps are not effective for larger tortoises and usually end up slow-burning the top of the carapace. It looks like you might have a little of that going on in your pic. Here are two different and effective methods for heating the night box:

Single Tortoise Night Box

I like my larger tortoises to live outside full time. My climate permits this year round with a little help. For people who live where it snows all winter, this type of box is still good for warmer weather, getting them out earlier in Spring, and keeping them out a bit later into fall. You'll...

tortoiseforum.org

Double Door Night Box

As the years have gone by and I build more of these boxes, I learn more and more each time. This one is the latest and I incorporated everything I've learned over the years. I also tried to take lots of pics so I can explain in more detail some of what is going on. It will take multiple posts to...

tortoiseforum.org

Temperature, diet, hydration, and enclosure size all have to be right to prevent this sort of thing from happening.

 

[keithandcil]

He seems to be passing a bit of gas which he wasn’t doing yesterday

There is your issue: This species should never drop below 80. Where they come from, its near 100 every day. Our summers are like their winters, and their summers are even hotter. Ground temps there are 80-85 all year and that is where they spend 95% of their lives. They bask in the morning sun at the mouth of their burrows and go back underground when they feel hot enough. At 65 you are lucky he hasn't gotten a respiratory infection.

When they are not warm enough, they are not active enough. Tortoises, much like a horse, require locomotion to keep food moving through the gut. When they become too sedentary, things get backed up. Cold temps also hamper the immune and digestive systems. The gut flora and fauna need warmth to survive and do their work of breaking down plant fibers.

What size is the enclosure? Not the night box, but the whole pen.

Heat lamps are not effective for larger tortoises and usually end up slow-burning the top of the carapace. It looks like you might have a little of that going on in your pic. Here are two different and effective methods for heating the night box:

Single Tortoise Night Box

I like my larger tortoises to live outside full time. My climate permits this year round with a little help. For people who live where it snows all winter, this type of box is still good for warmer weather, getting them out earlier in Spring, and keeping them out a bit later into fall. You'll...

tortoiseforum.org

Double Door Night Box

As the years have gone by and I build more of these boxes, I learn more and more each time. This one is the latest and I incorporated everything I've learned over the years. I also tried to take lots of pics so I can explain in more detail some of what is going on. It will take multiple posts to...

tortoiseforum.org

Temperature, diet, hydration, and enclosure size all have to be right to prevent this sort of thing from happening.

Escher is incredibly active. This is my setting in the colder months. He will bask at the opening of his enclosure when the sun hits his entrance and he’s out all day til late afternoon. In the summer months he is out at sunrise and will spend most nights sleeping out in the open. He’s never had a respiratory infection. You’ve got a great enclosure! We modified a rubbermade shed with a similar set up.

 

[keithandcil]

Hi All, we are happy to report that Escher is back to his good ole self. After much of the advice of this great forum, our amazing vet, and a ton of patience, Escher’s bowel movements are back in order. Thank you for taking the time to read our post and offer sound advice. We are so relieved. -Cecile

 

[Ray--Opo]

Great news! Escher is looking great. 😁

 

[keithandcil]

Great news! Escher is looking great. 😁

Thanks Ray!