New sulcatas, worried one might have MBD

[TeaQueen22]

I bought 2 sulcata tortoises 2 days ago and I'm noticing the male is not lifting the back end of his shell when walking, he has weak back legs. He also has a soft spot on his shell. I have been reading about MBD and I think that's what's going on. I was told they are about 2 years old. Though they seem small for 2 years, about the size of my hand.
Any suggestions to help this little guy out? Going to switch out the tank with some soil and sand (this is what they came in) once they are settled a little more. I added a UVB light to the tank in hopes that might help him feel better. Here is a picture to show his legs.

 

[wellington]

First do not house them together. Tortoises should not be in pairs
Second, they should have always had uvb, they need 80 temps day and night and basking area of 95-100F.
Do you know how they were housed before you got them?
How big and old are they and what are you housing them in?
What is and was their diet?
Post pictures of them and their enclosures

 

[wellington]

Wrong substrate, separate them.

 

[TeaQueen22]

First do not house them together. Tortoises should not be in pairs
Second, they should have always had uvb, they need 80 temps day and night and basking area of 95-100F.
Do you know how they were housed before you got them?
How big and old are they and what are you housing them in?
What is and was their diet?
Post pictures of them and their enclosures

Thank you, I will separate them. I had them together as that is how they came.
The man I bought them from gave me 2 UVA lights and I read about the UVB so I switch one out right away. He said they have been eating "dark greens, carrots and cucumber" I have been don't sprouts with a tiny bit of calcium powder on top. I read that aloe is good, offered it but they didn't seem to care much for that snack.
I'm going to switch out the hay for some soil and sand. I soak them once a day for 15-20 minutes. He pooped yesterday, good sign I think. The temp is between 70 and 80, and the humidity is at about 40-60. Here are a few pictures. Keep in mind I got them 2 days ago and have been changing things as fast as I can learn them. They came in a glass tank together. With this in the tank. I have only change the light and the food of course. She is hiding harder to see. Again thank you so much for you advice!!

 

[wellington]

No soil or sand. Use fine grade orchid bark and/or coconut coir.
I would forget what the other owner told you. I can already tell they didn't do their research.
Please read our care sheet and follow.
@Tom can help further.

 

[wellington]

We need to know the size of enclosure. It's likely mbd, not enough room or lack of any good calcium that is preventing him from properly walking.
Btw, they really can't be sexed at this size.

 

[TeaQueen22]

No soil or sand. Use fine grade orchid bark and/or coconut coir.
I would forget what the other owner told you. I can already tell they didn't do their research.
Please read our care sheet and follow.
@Tom can help further.

Thank you very much!!

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

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Give this a read

 

[Tom]

I bought 2 sulcata tortoises 2 days ago and I'm noticing the male is not lifting the back end of his shell when walking, he has weak back legs. He also has a soft spot on his shell. I have been reading about MBD and I think that's what's going on. I was told they are about 2 years old. Though they seem small for 2 years, about the size of my hand.
Any suggestions to help this little guy out? Going to switch out the tank with some soil and sand (this is what they came in) once they are settled a little more. I added a UVB light to the tank in hopes that might help him feel better. Here is a picture to show his legs. View attachment 353950

Hi TeaQueen! Welcome to the forum. Buckle up! You are about to go for a wild ride. We aren't selling anything. Our only interest is to help your tortoises live long healthy lives, and to help you have a positive tortoise keeping experience. As you will soon read, almost all of the care info out in the world is all wrong. Start with the thread that ZEROPILOT left for you.

Here is the care sheet specifically for sulcatas:

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[TeaQueen22]

Hi TeaQueen! Welcome to the forum. Buckle up! You are about to go for a wild ride. We aren't selling anything. Our only interest is to help your tortoises live long healthy lives, and to help you have a positive tortoise keeping experience. As you will soon read, almost all of the care info out in the world is all wrong. Start with the thread that ZEROPILOT left for you.

Here is the care sheet specifically for sulcatas:

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...

tortoiseforum.org

Thank you so much those are both very helpful, I'll be redoing my tank. I have removed the male to someone I trust so they will not be together anymore. Thank you!

 

[TeaQueen22]

We need to know the size of enclosure. It's likely mbd, not enough room or lack of any good calcium that is preventing him from properly walking.
Btw, they really can't be sexed at this size.

Bonnie is in a 40 gallon tank right now. Clyde is going to be with a trusted friend. Oh thank you, Bonnie might not be a Bonnie. At what age can I tell? Im going to redo the enclosure as I have learned so much in the articles in the thread. Everything about the tank is wrong.

 

[Tom]

Bonnie is in a 40 gallon tank right now. Clyde is going to be with a trusted friend. Oh thank you, Bonnie might not be a Bonnie. At what age can I tell? Im going to redo the enclosure as I have learned so much in the articles in the thread. Everything about the tank is wrong.

Its not age, it is size. Males will sometimes "flash" their penis when they are in the 10-14 inch range. Absent that, you can usually tell by the time they are 16-18 inches. Occasionally, the secondary sexual characteristics will show up in older individuals that are undersized for their age.

 

[Maggie3fan]

Bonnie is in a 40 gallon tank right now. Clyde is going to be with a trusted friend. Oh thank you, Bonnie might not be a Bonnie. At what age can I tell? Im going to redo the enclosure as I have learned so much in the articles in the thread. Everything about the tank is wrong.

You need to get a bigger enclosure...40 gallon is way too small. That baby needs all the exercise he can get. Walking helps with digestion as well as making for stronger muscles...he needs to walk...a lot.good luck...please hang out and ask questions....

 

[wellington]

I second Maggie3fan post. A much larger enclosure ASAP.

 

[TeaQueen22]

You need to get a bigger enclosure...40 gallon is way too small. That baby needs all the exercise he can get. Walking helps with digestion as well as making for stronger muscles...he needs to walk...a lot.good luck...please hang out and ask questions....

Thank you. I'm separating them and getting bigger enclosures as well. My friend has a setup that's ready to go and much bigger, he is going to foster and help me get the larger of the 2 strong again. While I focus on the small one, also going to be in a larger enclosure tomorrow. I'm going to look into the lighting as well. I don't believe I have the best for her (maybe him)

 

[TeaQueen22]

I second Maggie3fan post. A much larger enclosure ASAP.

They will be moved in the morning for sure. Poor guys. I want them to thrive, just on my way to getting things just right for them. Officially removed everything I thought I learned before this Forum and only up hill from here!!

 

[TeaQueen22]

Its not age, it is size. Males will sometimes "flash" their penis when they are in the 10-14 inch range. Absent that, you can usually tell by the time they are 16-18 inches. Occasionally, the secondary sexual characteristics will show up in older individuals that are undersized for their age.

Oooooh they are way too small right now.

 

[TeaQueen22]

Oooooh they are way too small right now.

Is there a way that I would be able to tell age. I was told about 2 yours old but they are not big at all. I took a picture with a Bic lighter next to the larger for reference. He isn't much longer than the lighter. If he is 2 he is really small for his age, correct?

 

[Tom]

Is there a way that I would be able to tell age. I was told about 2 yours old but they are not big at all. I took a picture with a Bic lighter next to the larger for reference. He isn't much longer than the lighter. If he is 2 he is really small for his age, correct?

Correct. They grow at highly variable rates, but a 2 year old should be 10-20 pounds in most cases.

 

[TammyJ]

Welcome to the forum and follow the advice and the care sheets for the best chance for them both!