Help? (tortoise lethargic)

Navi

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Hey everyone,
I am a very worried mother at the moment. My sulcata has been acting somewhat strange. Very lethargic inside her cage, which is very abnormal for her, and she has been urinating every time I get her out the past few days. I haven't changed anything besides her light to a stronger one due to the fact that I live in CO and it is now freezing here. Also today after her bath I noticed her shell looked kind of weird, this on top of how she has been acting has got me really worried. Any help before morning when the vet opens would be appreciated :O
 

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Yvonne G

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What kind of light have you changed to? Maybe you have it too close to the ground????

Also, that white on the new growth doesn't look right.
 

Navi

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Thank you!
I do not believe it is the light just because it's the same setup I had for her last winter. I just changed from the summer 100 W ceramic bulb to the winter 150 inferred bulb (I couldn't get it as a ceramic). Do you think the switch from ceramic to inferred is causing it? I've never seen her shell look like that :(
 

Navi

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This is her enclosure that she is in, I just took out her water and food bowl while waiting to hear from the vet.
 

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Navi

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Okay!!!
How would that be causing what's happening to her shell?
 

Dizisdalife

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The physiology of the keratin layer is not completely understood. So, a full explanation of the white you are seeing on the new growth may be a guess, even from your Vet. I have seen this on my tortoise, and pictures of others, when growth conditions are less than ideal. Typically the tortoises are being kept inside, in a less than adequate space, under heat lamps. These conditions inhibit the tortoises ability to properly thermo-regulate it's core temperature producing a stress level that is not readily obvious. The indoor cage - under the heat lamp scenario also lowers the ambient humidity that affects the way the shell grows. Lethargy is most often attributed to the tortoise being keep too cool. It could also be from being kept too warm. When the tortoise can not regulate it's core temp the stress will cause a state of shock that alters it's behavior. It becomes less active, is not interested in eating, and seems less alert. In Tom's care sheets he stress the importance of providing 4 temps in the enclosure. Here is a link to his care sheet.
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/
 

Tom

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It looks like you are in need of some general tips in how to house your tortoise. I don't mean that as an insult, I say it because it looks like you have been give all sorts of bad advice.

The purpose of an indoor bulb is to simulate the sun when indoors. It needs to be white(ish) and offer warmth. Infrared bulbs are no good. The weird color makes things look, well, weird... You need to switch that to a flood bulb and you will need to adjust the height to get the right basking temperature under it. You can use you CHE to maintain ambient temps day and night, but run it on a thermostat. Thermostats are very easy to use and only cost around $30 at the pet shop or on line. Maintaining decent temps in that small open topped box is going to be very difficult.

Please read these to gain a better understanding of how you ought to be housing your tortoise:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/how-to-raise-a-healthy-sulcata-or-leopard-version-2-0.79895/

This is a much better environment, easy to maintain, and uses very little electricity:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/closed-chambers.32333/

What to feed:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/

What not to do:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/



Hope all this helps.
 

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