Help there's something wrong with my tortoise

[sherlock15]

I have a hatchling redfoot which I got in march. He's in a 3ft by 2ft tortoise table with a lid and tin foil on half. His UVB light died a month ago but I have been taking him outside when it's nice. I do have a 100 w che and a 60 w heat bulb. He has a varied diet of greens and I sprinkle calcium on about once a week. I try to soak every day but sometimes it might be every other or every three. His humidity never gets below 60 and I try to keep it at 80 above. His temps are 78-80 on cool side 80-85 on warm side and 73-78 at night. He was fine until this morning. But this morning he wouldn't open his eyes and wasn't moving. Even after I soaked him. His eyes did open for a little. I changed his substrate it was cypress mulch and moss. Now its repti bark its all I left. I think he might of been getting a respiratory infection. So I lowered the humidity and made his temp higher. But in the last hour his plastron has sunk in a little I'm really worried.

 

[tortdad]

take it to a experienced reptile vet. You've most likely got a respiratory infection going on. a hatching should NEVER be allowed to get below 80, day or night. Cold + Humidity = RI

 

[sherlock15]

Ill contact them. He's not making any wheezing sounds or bubbling and no discharge though.

 

[sherlock15]

I did lower the humidity and raise his temperature. Is there anything I can do for him tonight?

 

[sherlock15]

He was also very active when I took him outside yesterday. I feed him cucumber for the first time yesterday too could that have something to do with it ?

 

[Careym13]

I did lower the humidity and raise his temperature. Is there anything I can do for him tonight?

Just keep him warm...no lower than 80. You may even want to bump that up closer to 90 but I'll let the redfoot keepers chime in on that part.

 

[SarahChelonoidis]

Your temperatures were too low for a red foot hatchling. Letting them get under 80F at night is unwise. Make sure you keep him warm and well hydrated.

 

[Gillian M]

A warm welcome to the forum. And so should the temperature be for your tortoise: WARM.

At the same time, I'd recommend you take him to a vet, and good luck.

 

[Anyfoot]

I have a hatchling redfoot which I got in march. He's in a 3ft by 2ft tortoise table with a lid and tin foil on half. His UVB light died a month ago but I have been taking him outside when it's nice. I do have a 100 w che and a 60 w heat bulb. He has a varied diet of greens and I sprinkle calcium on about once a week. I try to soak every day but sometimes it might be every other or every three. His humidity never gets below 60 and I try to keep it at 80 above. His temps are 78-80 on cool side 80-85 on warm side and 73-78 at night. He was fine until this morning. But this morning he wouldn't open his eyes and wasn't moving. Even after I soaked him. His eyes did open for a little. I changed his substrate it was cypress mulch and moss. Now its repti bark its all I left. I think he might of been getting a respiratory infection. So I lowered the humidity and made his temp higher. But in the last hour his plastron has sunk in a little I'm really worried. View attachment 144634View attachment 144635

Does your tort spend most of its time in the warm end?

 

[TMartin510]

I would advise replacing the uvb bulb aswell.. unless you take him out 8 hrs+ a day. And when it's nice might not be enough sun or uvb.
Also there's the chance that the uvb bulb you had wasn't reaching far enough down to him. I found out mine was like that, those compact little dome lights really only get 6 inches down and if it's too high then it's not doing anything. My new one reaches 20 inches now and is a fluorescent lamp. UVB Is very important to reptiles and can get since after a few weeks I believe if they don't get enough and also will eventually develop MBD.

 

[tortdad]

He was also very active when I took him outside yesterday. I feed him cucumber for the first time yesterday too could that have something to do with it ?

No that had nothing to do with it. Keep the temps in the upper 88-89 range while its trying to recover

 

[sherlock15]

Does your tort spend most of its time in the warm end?

No he spends equal time between the cool side and warm.

 

[sherlock15]

On Wednesday ill be able to get a new mvb , night bulb and hopefully a new more powerful Che.

 

[sherlock15]

His poop has also not been normal for a few days. Is this a symptom of the ri ?

 

[sherlock15]

So I found a vet about 40 minutes away but my family just bought a car and there's money for school stuff. I might not have enough money to bring him. Is there anything else I could do to help him ?

 

[Yvonne G]

Put some sort of cover over the habitat to keep the cool house air out and the warm, moist air inside. Don't allow the temperature to drop below 85F day and night.

I don't know why the plastron has sunk in, I've never encountered that before.

 

[sherlock15]

Put some sort of cover over the habitat to keep the cool house air out and the warm, moist air inside. Don't allow the temperature to drop below 85F day and night.

I don't know why the plastron has sunk in, I've never encountered that before.

I have tin foil over half. I only have the Che at night but it does not keep the habitat at 85 should I keep his day bulb on all the time ?

 

[sherlock15]

I noticed yesterday after I brought him back in the house his eyes looked a little swollen. Could his plastron sunken in because of the ri or is it something else ?

 

[SarahChelonoidis]

I have tin foil over half. I only have the Che at night but it does not keep the habitat at 85 should I keep his day bulb on all the time ?

Don't keep the day bulb on at night - either lower the CHE or cover your enclosure more fully.

 

[teresaf]

Dont worry about the tort not getting air you cant cover too much aespecially since you have to open it daily.