Need a some advice

[Dok_M]

36 hours ago I set my 8 month old sulcata out for the afternoon and couldn't find it when it was time to go in. I finally found him after 2 nights outside. He is in his shell and not coming out at all. He does pull in tightly if I touch his legs. I have soaked him and placed him in his tank under a spot lamp. Anything I should do or watch for while bringing him back to health?

 

[Maro2Bear]

Good that you found him. How cold were the nights? A nice warm soak like you did/are doing is fine, careful that you don’t overdo it with the heat.

Do you have a warm, dark hide? It’s probably very scared (and got chilled). Make sure your enclosures temps are good, maybe a bit warmer.

What does your enclosure look like? With a lid?

Give it time to warm up & reacclimatize to it’s enclosure... PS - check your outside pen, you got lucky this time!

 

[Dok_M]

54 was the lowest this morning. Temperature in the enclosure is 85 on the cool side. He has come out after an hour back inside. Was very scared of any noise or movement. He has retreated to a log hide.

 

[Maro2Bear]

Don’t “mess about” with it now, it will take time for it to get back to normal.

As an fyi, your substrate looks far too dry.

Take a read here of the Bible on Sully keeping

✅ - https://www.tortoiseforum.org/threa...se-a-sulcata-leopard-or-star-tortoise.181497/

 

[Dok_M]

Yes it has been about a week since I stirred up the substrate to get the moisture back up to the top.