New to forum- need help w/ baby sulcata

[Zach B]

Hi everyone! I'm new to the forum and could really use some help.

I already have an adult Sulcata that we rescued after it was abandoned. I'm happy to say she is thriving in our backyard here in Phoenix.

Just before Xmas, a coworker dropped a baby sulcata on our doorstep. Unfortunately it was kept in a dry aquarium, heat bulb and spring mix only. It was severely underweight, only 19 gm. Its plastron was soft and it wouldn't open its eyes or walk. I began soaking it twice daily, ket it in a humid tub with a basking spot of 105F. I also began placing it in a dish with a paste made of crushed tums, grass and opuntia. After 2 days he finally began to eat. Now 1 month later he is very active, is eating diced opuntia mixed with grass and Dandelion greens. He seems to have a decent appetite, but to date he had only gained 3 gm. What can I do to help him gain weight and get back on track? Or is he too stunted to recover? Any advice would help!

Zach

 

[Jodie]

I don't have the experience to offer much, but wanted to say nice job. It takes time with tortoises. I am not sure a month is very long. How is his shell now? Mazuri might be a good option too.

 

[G-stars]

Hello and welcome. Just keep feeding as much as he can eat. Are you soaking him daily?

 

[Zach B]

Yes, still soaking daily and he comes out of the water hungry. I was just hoping he'd be putting on the weight a little faster at this point.

 

[G-stars]

He had a pretty rough start so it might take a while before you see any significant gains. And then there is the possibility that the initial damage was too much and he may have stunted growth. Time will tell but keep doing what works for you.

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hello Zack welcome to the TFO from Phx. You might want to cut down on the opuntia cause when I feed it to my tortsit gives my torts a watery poo . And that might help put on a little wait . But you have done a great job .

 

[pam]

Welcome can you post any pictures

 

[Yvonne G]

Find a feed store (horse and cattle food) that sells Purina products and ask them if they will order some Mazuri Tortoise Diet for you. A big bag won't be wasted, since you also have a larger tortoise. The Mazuri helps put weight on a tortoise, give him a little more substance to a greens only diet.

 

[Yvonne G]

...oh, and Welcome to the Forum!

 

[mike taylor]

Welcome to TFO! Keep ding what you're doing plus some outside time . It should come around.

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

Welcome!

 

[panaintevasile57]

Welcome :-]

 

[Zach B]

Thanks for the advice. I picked up some mazuri and moistened it with water, he seems to like it. His appetite is really good and I saw him drinking several times today , I'm assuming this is a good sign. He is very active over the last couple days
. Of course this is him eating some chopped opuntia a few days ago.

 

[Tom]

Opuntia is good, but only once or twice a week. In this case I'd offer Mazuri two or three times a week. I would also do more leafy greens for this guy with just a small amount of tender young grass shoots. Here are some food suggestions:
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/for-those-who-have-a-young-sulcata.76744/
At the grocery store look for endive, escarole and spring mix.

 

[Zach B]

I want to thank everyone for your advice. Topper is doing great! 2 months after taking him home and he has grown from 18 gm to 40 gm! He has a great appetite and is very active. Not too bad for a little guy that was so weak/dehydrated he wouldn't open his eyes! He is going to be behind the growth curve for a while but we have been taking him outside in the sun for 30 min 3 times a week and he is thriving. Here are some before and after picks, the first is when we got him, he was 18 gm at 7 months old, the second was taken today 9 months and 40 gm.

.

 

[Maro2Bear]

Great job Zach! Just goes to show you that proper " everything " and lots of TLC that you really can make a major difference in these ' lil guys!

 

[crimson_lotus]

You did a wonderful job, he looks great!

 

[TortsNTurtles]

Welcome!

 

[bouaboua]

Hello and for a late Welcome! ! !