Help - tortoise is non-responsive

[missmarilyn]

I have a very young Hermann tortoise and he seems to be almost non-responsive. He stopped eating about two days ago. i've been soaking him every day and he was awake in his soak today. But since then he hasn't moved even when i pick him up. Just looks lethargic. What can i do?

 

[WillTort2]

What are your temperatures and humidity? Pictures of enclosure and tortoise will help.

The soaks are a good start, try adding baby food to the soak water. Warm water like a baby's milk.

What lighting are you using?

 

[missmarilyn]

I starting using a baby food soak just today.
Temp and humidity vary a bit. 100 under the basking lamp, 80 towards the edges.
Humidity tends to stay around 40 - 50%. i'll post a picture when i can. i have a uvb light along the back. It's on a timer, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The heat is from a 75W infrared basking light.

 

[WillTort2]

Temperatures sound good, but I do advise using a temperature gun to get better readings the wall mounted small thermometers are very inaccurate. (You may already be using a temp gun, if not get one from most any hardware store).

For a young tort I would advise higher humidity.

 

[missmarilyn]

ok thanks, i'll work on that. i've been planning to get the temp gun.

 

[Tom]

Infra red is no good for daytime. It makes things look like night time. Get a regular white bulb. What are your night temps? Are you using night heat? What kind of UV bulb are you using? The coil types can burn their eyes and the symptoms would be similar to what you are seeing.

 

[missmarilyn]

Ah--now i didn't know that about infra red. But wouldn't the UV make a difference? i have a white bulb but i actually got the infrared so i could keep it on at night while the tort is so small. THE UV i have is not a coil Its a Reptisum 36" high outbut 39 watt 5.0. Does that make sense to you? i have an open tort table right now; i'm going to cover it to keep the humidity in more.

 

[missmarilyn]

Ah--now i didn't know that about infra red. But wouldn't the UV make a difference? i have a white bulb but i actually got the infrared so i could keep it on at night while the tort is so small. THE UV i have is not a coil Its a Reptisum 36" high outbut 39 watt 5.0. Does that make sense to you? i have an open tort table right now; i'm going to cover it to keep the humidity in more.

That's a picture of my tort. She's a hatchling--very small. only about 1 1/2"

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

I can't see picture Yes, that UVB sounds great. Tubes are best. You can also just use a 60w flood lightbulb (that gets my basking area up to 90s ) I read that in one of @Tom's posts

 

[Tom]

Ah--now i didn't know that about infra red. But wouldn't the UV make a difference? i have a white bulb but i actually got the infrared so i could keep it on at night while the tort is so small. THE UV i have is not a coil Its a Reptisum 36" high outbut 39 watt 5.0. Does that make sense to you? i have an open tort table right now; i'm going to cover it to keep the humidity in more.

If you feel you need night heat, I would use a CHE set on a thermostat instead of a light emitting bulb.

Your UV bulb is a good one, but a strong one. What height above the substrate is it mounted?

 

[missmarilyn]

If you feel you need night heat, I would use a CHE set on a thermostat instead of a light emitting bulb.

Your UV bulb is a good one, but a strong one. What height above the substrate is it mounted?

it's about 9" above. I actually think i'm losing this little guy. He's almost non-responsive. i gave him a second baby food soak this morning. He actually thrashed around in a circle for about 6 seconds and then stopped. Other than that he's just limp. I know he's warm enough. i've put him in a little driftwood hide on the substrate close to all his light and heat. i'm feeling really sad here. i may have to try to give him back to the guy i bought him from. i don't want him to die.

 

[Jodie]

So sorry. I am struggling with a baby Leopard right now too. I think the baby food soaks might be helping. She has stopped getting worse and was a little more awake this morning during and after soak. This is the 3rd day I have been doing this 2X per day. Best of luck to you. Sending positive thoughts.

 

[Tom]

it's about 9" above. I actually think i'm losing this little guy. He's almost non-responsive. i gave him a second baby food soak this morning. He actually thrashed around in a circle for about 6 seconds and then stopped. Other than that he's just limp. I know he's warm enough. i've put him in a little driftwood hide on the substrate close to all his light and heat. i'm feeling really sad here. i may have to try to give him back to the guy i bought him from. i don't want him to die.

9" is WAY too close for an HO bulb. Way too much UV. Those are meant to be mounted 20-24" away. You may have damaged his eyes. Do you have a UV light meter?

 

[missmarilyn]

9" is WAY too close for an HO bulb. Way too much UV. Those are meant to be mounted 20-24" away. You may have damaged his eyes. Do you have a UV light meter?

No I don't but i'll move the light. It's not a coil light btw.

 

[missmarilyn]

No I don't but i'll move the light. It's not a coil light btw.

Just checking on the box it came in--it says 'always have your lamp at least six inches away from your repitel" It's a long tube lamp not one of the coil lamps.

 

[missmarilyn]

So sorry. I am struggling with a baby Leopard right now too. I think the baby food soaks might be helping. She has stopped getting worse and was a little more awake this morning during and after soak. This is the 3rd day I have been doing this 2X per day. Best of luck to you. Sending positive thoughts.

Thank you. At least some encouragement. I will try doing the soaks 2x a day. i thought i had everything prepared and good advice when i got this little guy. it's really only been a month. Best of luck to you too.