Help

[tkoehle]

Hey I have a leopard tortoise hatchling and his shell has become soft, and he is sleeping a lot I'm and using a Arcadia t5 high output desert bulb. Please help!!! Quickly!!!

 

[mainey34]

What are your temps. What are you feeding and what is your set up like? These are all important questions

 

[pfara]

What are your temps. What are you feeding and what is your set up like? These are all important questions

Knowing where you got him from and how he was started (hot, humid, varied diet, etc.) can also help. Providing pictures, if possible, helps too.

 

[wellington]

Can you get it outside for some natural sunlight. Making sure he has shade and does not over heat? Also, what is the humidity? When everything is back to normal, please readToms threads below in my post for proper housing a leopard. The sulcata thread will apply also.

 

[tkoehle]

My hot side is around 90 and my cool side is high to mid 70s. My hot side is humid and my cool side is dry. All I have is a water dish and food dish. Only because I'm afraid that he'll get flipped over. I also have a 20 gallon long aquarium. I feed him romaine lettuce every day and vitamins every three days. The vitamins are rep-cal.

 

[sibi]

Are you saying that when you got your hatchling, he was not as soft as he is now? Because, generally, hatchlings would be soft when slightly pressed in. As a hatchling, it's normal to feel soft, but not mushy. Can you explain how you know he has softened, and at what point you noticed it?

Btw, romaine lettuce is not ideal food for your Leo. How long have you had him, and does he ever get out into the sun? Are you giving him any calcium supplements?

 

[tkoehle]

Well when I press on the shells edges it flexes and if I gently press on the bottom it bends too. Here are some pics of his enclosure.

 

[wellington]

70 is too low for a hatchling. Get the temp to 80 all over day and night and bump the humidity all over to 80% with a basking spot of 95+. Also, you need to feed him a much better diet then romaine. Dandelion, endive, mustard greens, optunia cactus pads, grass if he will eat grass, Mazuri, and stop feeding the romaine and only add a little back in once you have him eating a better diet. Please read atoms threads below in my post.

 

[tkoehle]

Yes I'm giving him rep- cal and no it is winter where I am so I can't. Low 60s

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Okay thank you all for the advice. Will this help his soft shell.

 

[wellington]

Get a ceramic heat emitter for night time temps. Also either get that tube light so it fits the whole length of the enclosure or get a mercury vapor bulb. Your tort isn't getting much UVB with the position of that light . Also, cover at least 3/4 of it and bump up both the humidity and temps.

 

[sibi]

Do you have a uvb bulb or is that just a red light? Listen, you need to answer these questions above. How long have you had your baby? Has he ever been taken outside for sun? If so, how often and for how long? Do you give calcium supplements? If the answer is no to all of the above, your baby may be developing metabolic bone disease and you'll need to act quickly if you want your baby to get over this.

Okay. If you have not taken him out for sun, then you need a uvb light like a mercury vapor bulb 100w. If you are giving him rep-cal, does it have D3 in it? In the absence of real sun, your baby absolutely needs UVb in the enclosure. He also needs to be warmer...much warmer especially at night. A ceramic heat emitter will do just that since it gives no light, it also allows your baby to sleep without lights. Read Tom's threads on raising sulcatas which also applies to Leos. What country or state do you live in?

Well when I press on the shells edges it flexes and if I gently press on the bottom it bends too. Here are some pics of his enclosure.

 

[pfara]

Hatchlings' shell and plastron will be soft for a while. A little "give" is normal. A good description that I've read is that it should feel like pressing on a plastic container (ie. tub of butter) but not like pressing into a sponge. Also, I'd still provide a hiding spot. If you're afraid of flipping, make the hide cube shaped or have really steep sides. Hides provide a sense of security and can be a huge stress reducer, in my opinion. It seems like, to me, they stop trying to flip themselves after a few times of doing so.

 

[sibi]

Good advice Alma The UVb you have should be T-8 for max output of UV rays. Also, the UV rays would be useless without calcium. The rep- cal puts out vitamins and they put out calcium. If you have the vitamins, you really need the calcium they put out. That, together with proper diet, heat and humidity, along with exercise will help with the softness. No one thing will cure this. It's a combination of all the above factors I mentioned that will help with the softness problem.

 

[mainey34]

You have asked for help and there are people trying to help you. Please respond so they know you are getting their suggestions. If it is winter where you are can you put your set up on a table or dresser? This may help with your temps some...

 

[tkoehle]

Okay thank you all I will get on these changes as soon as possible.

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Okay here are a bunch of pics of my supplies. You say I should change to t8 if so what brand.

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I am from central Pennsylvania USA

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Also do you recommend the uv mercury bulbs or the UVB tubes (t5 or t8)? And what brand and wattages do you guys use? Soo sorry I haven't been getting back to you it was night time and I was sleeping