potty troubles.....

[The Morrigan]

I live in Southwest Michigan and I'm a mail carrier. About 6 months ago a male sulcata was found as stray on my route. Long story short, he has lived in our four seasons room ever since. I've done quite a bit of online reading and am trying my best to keep him happy. In the last few days he seems to be having a hard time pooping. He doesn't seem to enjoy the baths. So I soak him maybe once a week. He pouts for the rest of the day. Should I soak him anyway? He is also good sized. I'm guessing around 25 to 30 pounds. He has a strict diet of timothy hay with romaine and strawberries occasionally.I top dress with calcium and vitamin supplements. Is he just dehydrated? He also has the UVB lamp and a heat lamp.I feel so sorry for him. Any suggestions are much welcomed

 

[wellington]

I would improve his diet to a bigger variety. You also may want to soak him every day until you see a poop inprovement. Also soaking in a tub that they can move around in sometimes helps with passing things along.

 

[The Morrigan]

Can you give suggestions for good? So many conflicting reports about what is safe and what is not

 

[The Morrigan]

Food*

 

[wellington]

Check,out http://m.thetortoisetable.org.uk/m/tortoise_home_1.asp

 

[Jodie]

Here is a great link.
I have had pretty good luck with feeding cucumber for constipation in my 20 lbs leopard tortoise. I peel it for her and give her one a day until she goes.

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/sulcata-diet-sheet.52677/

 

[Jodie]

Fyi cucumber and strawberries are not a normal good food. It is like candy or chips for kids. They like it a lot, but is not really good for them. Calcium should only be sprinkled on his food 2X a week.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

+1. Most tortoises poop while soaking

 

[The Morrigan]

Thanks everyone! This is very helpful! I'm sure he will be smiling again in no time

 

[ShannonC]

Yeah.....he definitely needs a much more varied diet!! More nutritious greens than Romaine, like turnip greens, mustard greens, etc. Sulcatas are grass grazers, so as soon as you can, give him some fresh, untreated grass. You can even grow trays of grasses inside to feed to him, as well as many other plants.

 

[phebe121]

Yes fruits are a no no bit cucumber does help with potting,try feeding mustard green ,some spring mix ,grass ,clovers,dandelion, cats ear ,pansy,bittercress,deadnettle, wandering jew,spider plant,mallow,

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I can only guess that it is not 90 degrees there like it is here and would like to point out that unless the tortoise can be in temps above 80, he can't correctly process what he has eaten and might not go because of this reason.

 

[The Morrigan]

He lives in the house with us. We keep the house at 70 degrees Ferenheight. He sits under the heat lamp all day

 

[The Morrigan]

Hey guys! Tortoise is doing much better. I tried to post a pic.....he is sitting under the lamp doing the squishy kitten face with his head propped up on his leg. Tried a bit of everything....he is pooping like crazy now. Kinda funny to get excited over poop

 

[ShannonC]

Haha!! Me and my daughter laugh about that all the time!! We do Bearded Dragon rescues and rehabs......when we have one that is in particularly bad shape, if it poops normally, we get all excited!! It's almost a celebration!! Especially if we've had one that hasn't pooped at all or has had problem poops. The one we are working with right now was in terrible shape when he got here.....half the size he should be....MBD.....no appetite.....and definitely no poop......You should have seen the jumping and squealing we did when he finally pooped!!! (after working on getting him to eat weeds and roaches for a week or so) I guess it's a parent thing, no matter what you are parenting!!

So glad he is doing better!!

 

[The Morrigan]

HAHAHA! We raise horses. Poop is very important!

 

[wellington]

He lives in the house with us. We keep the house at 70 degrees Ferenheight. He sits under the heat lamp all day

He should be in his own enclosure where his temps are at least 80. If he is always huddled under the heat lamp, he is probably getting constipated from little movement.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hey guys! Tortoise is doing much better. I tried to post a pic.....he is sitting under the lamp doing the squishy kitten face with his head propped up on his leg. Tried a bit of everything....he is pooping like crazy now. Kinda funny to get excited over poop

Welcome to our world.

 

[The Morrigan]

Honestly, I think he was a bit dehydrated......after a good soak last night he pooped 6 or 8 Times today. The consistency was softer also