Jacqui said:Would help if we would be given more information. Things like type, age, and size are important. Information on how the animal is being kept are also vitial. Stuff like temps and substrate. If he is inside or outside, eating or not, ect..,
The more information given the faster and more accurate we can give help and ideas.
Jacqui said:Glad he seems to be improving. Watch him very closely for further troubles.
A couple of things really jump out. First if he is in a 20 gal aquarium at his size, it really isn't large enough. You have the problem with keep part of the cage warm enough and yet also have a cool side when it's that small. Then there is simply not much room after you add in a hide, the food dish and water dish, ect..,
I would strongly suggest reading the Leopard section for thoughts on diet and all his other basic needs. Pay attention to the temps he needs, caging, and his diet to start with.
Sounds like he was dehydrated perhaps. Does he have an available shallow water dish to soak in? Is this the firsty soaking you did with him?
Was he shipped or did you get him locally? If so, what can you tell us about what his environment was there?
More questions, I know, but needed...what kind of substrate? Humidity levels? UV light?
Is he just bobbing his head, moving legs slightly in and out? Or does he seem to really have trouble breathing? Or even something caught in his throat? Depending on exactly how he is moving it could be something simple and just plain normal for him. It could be stress or even all the way up to the start of respiratory troubles, but I am not thinking that is it. So let's get everything in his environment set up correctly, while closely watching him. Hopefully it's nothing, but environmental issues.
Just to also be on the safe side, do you happen to have a reptile Vet set up to look at your tortoise?