help!!! Baby sulcata question swelled up look at pictures!

[bigbeaks]

Hey everyone. I came home this evening to find my baby sulcata all swelled up. I have pictures of him. I don't have any idea what made him do this. I was thinking he ate too much so I soaked him. He did poop a good bit. I weighed him before I soaked him and after. He went from 63 grams down to 60 grams. Please give me your input if you have any or suggestions as to what I should do! It's the weekend so no vet to take him to!!!

 

[DeanS]

Did he get ahold of any chemicals? Is he lethargic or active?

 

[bigbeaks]

Did he get ahold of any chemicals? Is he lethargic or active?

No, not to the best of my knowledge. Nothing has changed in his enclosure. He's pretty active, not lethargic at all.

 

[ascott]

hmmm? have you added any new plants to his enclosure...like store bought plants and such? have you used any shell creams that maybe got into his water and was ingested? I am totally trying to rack my brain and other resources to come up with something, but honestly, I have never seen an inflated shell..... so his shell is still relatively soft by how small he looks, right?

 

[bigbeaks]

Well it's not extremely soft, but maybe a little. Nothing is new. He was fine at about five today. I put in some fresh food, came home at nine and that is what he looked like. I think it got a little better after I soaked him, but he's still very swollen. He is being fed dandelions, spring mix, soaked mazuri, a grass mix that was specifically for sulcatas, and I put a little yellow squash in their food today. I don't use the squash very often, but had given him that today. I've never given it to this tortoise before because I've only had him about two weeks now. He's still very active.

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Here's another pic of him

 

[Tom]

That really seems like some sort of gas build up, but I can't imagine what would cause that. Is it possible that he got some meat or dog poop? It would take a lot of bacterial activity to build up that much gas that quickly.

 

[ascott]

can you take a quick pic of the enclosure???? so we can take a peek see....trying everything here

 

[bigbeaks]

No that's not possible. He has been in his enclosure since I got him. Not exposed to any other tortoises or anything. When I soaked him I did see some "bubbles" a few times, but not a lot.

 

[Tom]

Sorry. I got nothin'. Never seen one blow up like that before. There are some really experienced tort vets around. I'd try contacting them.

 

[bigbeaks]

Here are more pics.

 

[ascott]

I am racking my brains here....how is he crawling? like is he wobbling like he is centered? or is he walking normal? I am sorry that I am asking so many questions.....I just don't know? Maybe if you pm exoticdr the first pic that you posted and ask him if he minds taking a look for you??????

 

[l0velesly]

It looks cute when its swollen! Do you happen to have any "before" pics before it swelled?

 

[bigbeaks]

I am racking my brains here....how is he crawling? like is he wobbling like he is centered? or is he walking normal? I am sorry that I am asking so many questions.....I just don't know? Maybe if you pm exoticdr the first pic that you posted and ask him if he minds taking a look for you??????

He seems to be getting around pretty good. I can't locate "exoticdr". Can you tell me how to find him? I did a search and it said user cannot be found.

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It looks cute when its swollen! Do you happen to have any "before" pics before it swelled?

Yes, here is one the day I got him.

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It looks cute when its swollen! Do you happen to have any "before" pics before it swelled?

Yes, here is one the day I got him.

 

[dmmj]

I have seen swollen limbs before, but never in the shell like that I will PM exotcicdr the link for this and see what he has to say about it.

 

[bigbeaks]

thank you, I would appreciate any help. I think it may be getting better, but not totally sure.

 

[froghaven5]

Wow, haven't seen anything like that. I hope someone has an answer.

 

[chase thorn]

wow that incredible! cant wait to see what causes this! hope he is doing well

 

[ascott]

How is your little one doing today?

 

[bigbeaks]

I think he may be better. Here's a pic I took about an hour ago. The good part is he's still moving around and active. I just can't for the life of me figure it out. I had also given him some food that is called "megadiet" yesterday but I soaked it like the directions said to since he's a hatchling. I had forgotten about that since I had given him that yesterday morning and his normal food yesterday afternoon. I wonder if it swelled up more inside him?? That was the first time I had ever given it to him. I am just totally at a loss.....

 

[JLSchmittou]

Holy crap!!! Poor little guy!!! I bought and was told to use the rep cal maintenance formula tort food..... Any word from the reptile doc?