Rehab time for baby leopard tort

[GaiasFamily]

Newbie here and how I wish I’d found this site earlier! We got a baby leopard tortoise three weeks ago from an exotic pet store, and we’ve had good results from them in the past. But I’m now realizing that we were advised very wrong about tortoise care care!
I am now following all the guidelines from Tom’s guide and also giving baby food vitamin baths several times a day to correct what I suspect is dehydration and vitamin A deficiency. I’m getting the recommended eyedrop today. How quickly should I see an improvement and appetite and activity level once I have corrected the enclosure climate? Gaia is 33g grams today, and she hasn’t eaten in three days.
TIA for any guidance, and I appreciate y’all!

 

[zovick]

Newbie here and how I wish I’d found this site earlier! We got a baby leopard tortoise three weeks ago from an exotic pet store, and we’ve had good results from them in the past. But I’m now realizing that we were advised very wrong about tortoise care care!
I am now following all the guidelines from Tom’s guide and also giving baby food vitamin baths several times a day to correct what I suspect is dehydration and vitamin A deficiency. I’m getting the recommended eyedrop today. How quickly should I see an improvement and appetite and activity level once I have corrected the enclosure climate? Gaia is 33g grams today, and she hasn’t eaten in three days.
TIA for any guidance, and I appreciate y’all!

You seem to be doing the right things now, but from the appearance of the tortoise in the photos, the lack of appetite, and the very low weight, I would say that you should most likely prepare for the worst. If you are able to pull the animal through, it will be a great achievement, but it is probably not overly likely.

That being said, are you keeping it warm and in a closed chamber with high humidity? If not, that should be very beneficial. I would recommend a temperature of 88-90F throughout the enclosure, with just a slight drop to 85F at night. I would not bother with a basking area for that tortoise at this point as it would possibly further dehydrate it, even in the closed chamber. A basking area and bulb could be added in a couple of weeks if the tortoise recovers and becomes more active.

Good luck!

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

Are her eyes closed? Usually baby food baths get them opened in 3 to 4 days. After this their appetite should perk back up.

After you get her weight up, her overall behavior should improve too.

 

[wellington]

I agree with Zovick on preparing yourself for the worst.
I disagree about the basking light. I would keep temps at 85 day and night and have the normal basking of 95-100. Basking temp is for digestion and keeping things inside moving properly.
Be sure humidity is 80%.
Add piedialyte to the soak water too.

 

[GaiasFamily]

You seem to be doing the right things now, but from the appearance of the tortoise in the photos, the lack of appetite, and the very low weight, I would say that you should most likely prepare for the worst. If you are able to pull the animal through, it will be a great achievement, but it is probably not overly likely.

That being said, are you keeping it warm and in a closed chamber with high humidity? If not, that should be very beneficial. I would recommend a temperature of 88-90F throughout the enclosure, with just a slight drop to 85F at night. I would not bother with a basking area for that tortoise at this point as it would possibly further dehydrate it, even in the closed chamber. A basking area and bulb could be added in a couple of weeks if the tortoise recovers and becomes more active.

Good luck!

Yes we moved to closed chamber on Sunday and have been maintaining those temps.
Should I take the tort to a reptile vet? Or is there likely nothing more they could do than we are doing at home?

 

[GaiasFamily]

I agree with Zovick on preparing yourself for the worst.
I disagree about the basking light. I would keep temps at 85 day and night and have the normal basking of 95-100. Basking temp is for digestion and keeping things inside moving properly.
Be sure humidity is 80%.
Add piedialyte to the soak water too.

Thank you! I’ll add a basking zone and am keeping pedialyte in the soaks and water bowls. Should I try to syringe feed the baby food or pedialyte?

 

[GaiasFamily]

Thank you! I’ll add a basking zone and am keeping pedialyte in the soaks and water bowls. Should I try to syringe feed the baby food or pedialyte?

And would there be any vet care that could make a lifesaving difference at this point?

 

[GaiasFamily]

Are her eyes closed? Usually baby food baths get them opened in 3 to 4 days. After this their appetite should perk back up.

After you get her weight up, her overall behavior should improve too.

She opens them sometimes in the soak, when she’s trying to climb her way out… but keeps them closed mostly. They seem less puffy today but still not healthy. Would you suggest trying to syringe feed?

 

[GaiasFamily]

She opens them sometimes in the soak, when she’s trying to climb her way out… but keeps them closed mostly. They seem less puffy today but still not healthy. Would you suggest trying to syringe feed?

Today is Day 2 of the baby food baths

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

She opens them sometimes in the soak, when she’s trying to climb her way out… but keeps them closed mostly. They seem less puffy today but still not healthy. Would you suggest trying to syringe feed?

I wouldn't suggest syringe feeding. It is hard to do and very risky, sometimes leads to chocking. Since this is only the second day of baby food soaks, I would still wait to the fourth day + using the eye drops before getting worried about his eyes not improving.

Unfortunately, we have seen many times that tortoises with eye problems lose their appetiete which can be dngerous to small tortoises. Their appetite usually comes back once they get their eyes open.

I would offer food right after soaks and always if you see her eyes open. These are the moments you might get her to eat.

 

[zovick]

And would there be any vet care that could make a lifesaving difference at this point?

IMHO, a vet visit would most likely be futile, costly, and might even do more harm than good. I could count on one hand the number of vets in this country to whom I would take that tortoise.

A vet might want to give injections of unnecessary meds or vitamins and/or put in a feeding tube (which could be helpful, BUT you would need to be very well instructed on how to use it without drowning your tortoise or giving it pneumonia.

Personally, I think you are best off continuing with your current regimen and seeing if it helps for another few days to a week before going to a vet.

Did you have a vet in mind? Perhaps I can get a recommendation for him/her from one of my veterinarian friends.

 

[zovick]

Thank you! I’ll add a basking zone and am keeping pedialyte in the soaks and water bowls. Should I try to syringe feed the baby food or pedialyte?

Is this tortoise moving around in its enclosure by itself? The reason I advised against any basking light was because it appears to me to be an animal which is not moving on its own very much if at all. I am concerned that if it gets under a basking light and does not move, it could easily become overheated and cook itself.

 

[zovick]

@GaiasFamily

A search on the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV) web site shows only one reptile vet member within 50 miles of Austin, TX.

His name is Brandon Louth and he is in Pflugerville, TX 78660 at the White Rock Veterinary Hospital.

I don't know him or where he was trained. His email might indicate that his main area of expertise is not tortoises, though. It is [email protected]

 

[GaiasFamily]

Is this tortoise moving around in its enclosure by itself? The reason I advised against any basking light was because it appears to me to be an animal which is not moving on its own very much if at all. I am concerned that if it gets under a basking light and does not move, it could easily become overheated and cook itself.

It doesn’t move much, but will relocate to different sides of the enclosure. But I’ll check the surface temp near her

 

[GaiasFamily]

IMHO, a vet visit would most likely be futile, costly, and might even do more harm than good. I could count on one hand the number of vets in this country to whom I would take that tortoise.

A vet might want to give injections of unnecessary meds or vitamins and/or put in a feeding tube (which could be helpful, BUT you would need to be very well instructed on how to use it without drowning your tortoise or giving it pneumonia.

Personally, I think you are best off continuing with your current regimen and seeing if it helps for another few days to a week before going to a vet.

Did you have a vet in mind? Perhaps I can get a recommendation for him/her from one of my veterinarian friends.

Thank you! We’ve used this vet in the past for geckos, and thank you for the other referral. I’ll hold off for now with the home nursing plan.

Veterinarian In Leander, TX 78641 | Agave Veterinary Care And Exotic Animal Hospital

We look forward to seeing you soon! Get to know the amazing team at Agave Veterinary Care and Exotic Animal Hospital and why we love what we do so much.

agavevetcare.com

 

[GaiasFamily]

She opens them when trying to get out of the soak tub, but that’s about it. Are there any particular foods/smells that are more likely to stimulate appetite? Specific flowers? Prickly pear pads?

 

[zovick]

Thank you! We’ve used this vet in the past for geckos, and thank you for the other referral. I’ll hold off for now with the home nursing plan.

Veterinarian In Leander, TX 78641 | Agave Veterinary Care And Exotic Animal Hospital

We look forward to seeing you soon! Get to know the amazing team at Agave Veterinary Care and Exotic Animal Hospital and why we love what we do so much.

agavevetcare.com

Good luck. Hopefully your tortoise will recover and become more healthy and happy.

 

[GaiasFamily]

Good luck. Hopefully your tortoise will recover and become more healthy and happy.

Does it move around the enclosure by itself or not?

only to move to a hide, and sluggish even then

 

[wellington]

Thank you! I’ll add a basking zone and am keeping pedialyte in the soaks and water bowls. Should I try to syringe feed the baby food or pedialyte?

No, I wouldn't. If done wrong it could go bad.