My husband and I own a few red neck sliders but are new to land tortoises. We were looking to adopt a tortoise when our friend offered to give us three baby desert tortoises that belong to someone she knows. We gladly accepted and took them home last night. They came in a 10 gallon tank, a heat lamp and the tank was lined with newspaper which had dried excrements and dried lettuce that looked untouched.
Each of the 3 babies are about 2 1/2 inches in length, their hind legs look shriveled up, and their shells are soft. My initial impression was they were dead. After doing some online research, we replaced the dried lettuce with spring mix sprinkled with small amounts of human calcium tablet. We soaked the babies which seem to give them some life, and turned on the heat lamp.
This morning, I saw one baby taking a few bites of the spring mix and drank some water (other two didn't move from last night's position).
I am very concerned and want to bring them back to health.
This is what I plan to do tonight
1. Change the newspaper lining to something more suitable... some type of soil (what is best?)
2. Buy a UV lamp (can the heat lamp and the UV lamp be on at the same time?)
3. Soak them again in luke warm water.
4. fresh spring mix with thinly sliced carrots and laced with vitamin.
I read on the other thread that babies with soft shells will most likely not make it. I hope we will have exceptions here....
If I am doing something wrong, pleaset let me know!! all of your advices will be greatly appreciated!!!
Each of the 3 babies are about 2 1/2 inches in length, their hind legs look shriveled up, and their shells are soft. My initial impression was they were dead. After doing some online research, we replaced the dried lettuce with spring mix sprinkled with small amounts of human calcium tablet. We soaked the babies which seem to give them some life, and turned on the heat lamp.
This morning, I saw one baby taking a few bites of the spring mix and drank some water (other two didn't move from last night's position).
I am very concerned and want to bring them back to health.
This is what I plan to do tonight
1. Change the newspaper lining to something more suitable... some type of soil (what is best?)
2. Buy a UV lamp (can the heat lamp and the UV lamp be on at the same time?)
3. Soak them again in luke warm water.
4. fresh spring mix with thinly sliced carrots and laced with vitamin.
I read on the other thread that babies with soft shells will most likely not make it. I hope we will have exceptions here....
If I am doing something wrong, pleaset let me know!! all of your advices will be greatly appreciated!!!