Is my sulcata sick?

[David howarth]

Hey everyone,
I got a baby sulcata from ballands tortoise ranch on the 4th of feb.It's my first sulcata. I have a Russian and a redfoot which are doing great.when I opened the box with my baby sulcata, the baby just looked sickly. It's eyes were shut, it wasn't moving and had bubbles coming from it's nose.

Here's my set up. A black tub with reptibark. A UVB heat lamp. Another UVB only bulb. a temp and humidity thermometer. I make sure to.keep the humidity above 60. I have a cool place and a water dish with moss so it's easy for the baby to get in and out. The water might be too cool.

The baby eats, it's gained 7 grams since I've had it. It poops and will move around changes into different temperatures.
But the baby still has bubbles from it's nose and doesn't really move much, just sleeping all day. For instance if I put it in a warm bath, it just goes to bed right away.
I'm just worried and I'm hoping I can learn some more. Thanks everyone!

 

[Yvonne G]

Sounds like they sent you a sick baby. Any chance you can send it back and get a healthy one?

 

[David howarth]

Sounds like they sent you a sick baby. Any chance you can send it back and get a healthy one?

Maybe, if it passes. Which isn't what I want obviously.

 

[Markw84]

Your baby will have its best chances of recovery and doing well if you give it optimal conditions. For it to fight off the start of a respiratory infection, it should be kept in and enclosure that never goes below 85° at the coldest part of the enclosure and humidity of 90%+. Just a we humans develop a fever to fight off colds, a tortoise will need you to raise its temperatures to a better metabolic level for him to have a better chance to fight off illness.

Keep in mind you need to check temperatures where you tortoise will instinctively push into the corner or hide and dig down into the substrate. That is the coldest part of an enclosure and a reading under the basking light or simply on the cooler side will not tell you what that is. It can be 5°-10° cooler there, and that is what temperature the tortoise's body will take on. That is one of the biggest problems with tanks, totes and tubs used for enclosures. The sides and bottom of the enclosure will take on the room temperature, not the "enclosure" temperature.

Soak your tortoise at least 30-60 minutes a day in nice warm water. Have the bath water come 1/2 way up the sides of the tortoise and 95°-100°. That is a great way to ensure its core body temperature has time at an elevated level. Most people have bath water way too shallow for this to happen.

 

[David howarth]

Your baby will have its best chances of recovery and doing well if you give it optimal conditions. For it to fight off the start of a respiratory infection, it should be kept in and enclosure that never goes below 85° at the coldest part of the enclosure and humidity of 90%+. Just a we humans develop a fever to fight off colds, a tortoise will need you to raise its temperatures to a better metabolic level for him to have a better chance to fight off illness.

Keep in mind you need to check temperatures where you tortoise will instinctively push into the corner or hide and dig down into the substrate. That is the coldest part of an enclosure and a reading under the basking light or simply on the cooler side will not tell you what that is. It can be 5°-10° cooler there, and that is what temperature the tortoise's body will take on. That is one of the biggest problems with tanks, totes and tubs used for enclosures. The sides and bottom of the enclosure will take on the room temperature, not the "enclosure" temperature.

Soak your tortoise at least 30-60 minutes a day in nice warm water. Have the bath water come 1/2 way up the sides of the tortoise and 95°-100°. That is a great way to ensure its core body temperature has time at an elevated level. Most people have bath water way too shallow for this to happen.

 

[David howarth]

Your baby will have its best chances of recovery and doing well if you give it optimal conditions. For it to fight off the start of a respiratory infection, it should be kept in and enclosure that never goes below 85° at the coldest part of the enclosure and humidity of 90%+. Just a we humans develop a fever to fight off colds, a tortoise will need you to raise its temperatures to a better metabolic level for him to have a better chance to fight off illness.

Keep in mind you need to check temperatures where you tortoise will instinctively push into the corner or hide and dig down into the substrate. That is the coldest part of an enclosure and a reading under the basking light or simply on the cooler side will not tell you what that is. It can be 5°-10° cooler there, and that is what temperature the tortoise's body will take on. That is one of the biggest problems with tanks, totes and tubs used for enclosures. The sides and bottom of the enclosure will take on the room temperature, not the "enclosure" temperature.

Soak your tortoise at least 30-60 minutes a day in nice warm water. Have the bath water come 1/2 way up the sides of the tortoise and 95°-100°. That is a great way to ensure its core body temperature has time at an elevated level. Most people have bath water way too shallow for this to happen.

That's where the baby is
Do you think the baby is too cold?

 

[Maggie3fan]

While you try to help him and decide what to do...if your black tub is what I picture can you close the top some how trying to keep heat and humidity in better? I think 60% is not enough, but if your temp is not right too much humidity might be bad also...I like to keep a sick baby warmer. Also...soak him in warm strained carrot baby food. Sometimes helps, can't hurt if you end up not getting a healthier one. Most of all...don't give up. They sometimes can be brought back from the brink...

 

[Maggie3fan]

I think the basking light could be closer and point it straight down, not at an angle...also...if you are in Washington state where I think you are...there's a great chance he IS too cold.

 

[Markw84]

Exactly what I mean. that stick on thermometer is grossly inaccurate and on the black tub side directly under the light gives no indication of the temperature just a few inches away in the corner under 3" of substrate - which is too dry as well.

Your tortoise is too cold to recover and needs more humidity. It would also benefit greatly from a few plants to hide beneath and feel secure.

 

[Maro2Bear]

Hopefully, you can get the temps & humidity up to par. This Sully care sheet pretty much covers everything very succinctly.

How To Raise A Healthy Sulcata Or Leopard, Version 2.0

It's been three years since the original care sheet, http://www.tortoiseforum.org/thread-63788.html , and I think its time for a review and an update. A lot of new info has come to light over the last three years and new insight has been gained through numerous experiences. What follows is my...

www.tortoiseforum.org

 

[Maggie3fan]

Leopard and Sulcata Care Guide

(Reprinted with permission from "Everything-Turtles" on Facebook0 PLEASE BEAR IN MIND THIS IS A GUIDE AND IS NOT THE BIBLE ON TORTOISE CARE

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Tom]

Leopard and Sulcata Care Guide

(Reprinted with permission from "Everything-Turtles" on Facebook0 PLEASE BEAR IN MIND THIS IS A GUIDE AND IS NOT THE BIBLE ON TORTOISE CARE

tortoiseforum.org

Have you read what you just linked? It says to use soil for substrate and that 68 degrees is an acceptable temperature? Its full of all sorts of wrong info and lacks the key elements of correct info.

 

[Tom]

That's where the baby is
Do you think the baby is too cold?

You'll never get conditions correct in an open topped tub like that. The cool dry room air is going to continually dilute the warm humid air you are trying to generate. You need a closed chamber. Like Mark said, the coldest corner of the enclosure, farthest from the heat lamps should be no lower than 85 day or night for a sick baby. Daytime ambient in the low 90s will help too.

 

[Maggie3fan]

Have you read what you just linked? It says to use soil for substrate and that 68 degrees is an acceptable temperature? Its full of all sorts of wrong info and lacks the key elements of correct info.

No, Tom, I didn't. I assumed that...
1. Because it was written by my sister, I assumed it was correct.
2. Because it was printed here on the forum, by the Forum, I assumed it was correct. But as you pointed out...I AM an ***... and I will say here and now both of those things are wrong, and I am embarrassed at myself and apologize to the keepers who come here looking for up to date information. I am sorry...

 

[Maro2Bear]

No, Tom, I didn't. I assumed that...
1. Because it was written by my sister, I assumed it was correct.
2. Because it was printed here on the forum, by the Forum, I assumed it was correct. But as you pointed out...I AM an ***... and I will say here and now both of those things are wrong, and I am embarrassed at myself and apologize to the keepers who come here looking for up to date information. I am sorry...

I think those pretty flagrant errors were noted & pointed out many threads ago. That care sheet was reposted by @Yvonne G from a FACEBOOK turtle page since it had lots of other “good” info. But, the temps & substrate not correct.....

TFO should probably remove that link since temps are so darned critical to a healthy tort!

 

[Yvonne G]

No, Tom, I didn't. I assumed that...
1. Because it was written by my sister, I assumed it was correct.
2. Because it was printed here on the forum, by the Forum, I assumed it was correct. But as you pointed out...I AM an ***... and I will say here and now both of those things are wrong, and I am embarrassed at myself and apologize to the keepers who come here looking for up to date information. I am sorry...

Maggie, thanks for the vote of confidence, but I didn't write that. I saw it on FB and liked the pictures, so asked the author if I could reproduce it here. I like everything about it except for the info about temperature. I wish there were a way for me to correct that portion.

 

[Maggie3fan]

Maggie, thanks for the vote of confidence, but I didn't write that. I saw it on FB and liked the pictures, so asked the author if I could reproduce it here. I like everything about it except for the info about temperature. I wish there were a way for me to correct that portion.

After Tom brought it to my attention and I read it I knew it wasn't you.

 

[Maro2Bear]

Something lime this...

 

[Yvonne G]

Something lime this...

View attachment 286171

Yeah, but it would be better to black out that whole 'housing' section. If you can do that, I'll copy it and replace the one on the Forum

 

[2wgasa]

Yeah, but it would be better to black out that whole 'housing' section. If you can do that, I'll copy it and replace the one on the Forum