amidoingthisright
New Member
Hey! I am new here to tortoise forum. I have been sleuthing around for a year or so now, and have finally made myself an account! I have had quite a few reptiles, yet am not really experienced with tortoises. I have read up all I could before getting my own baby sulcata and planned on getting him from an online resource. Things change though... I found a craigslist post saying that they have a 1-year-old sulcata and that he had stopped eating. My heart melted and I couldn't help but go to save him. Once I picked him up I really didn't know what to think. He was TINY. So small that I have been calling him, Little Bit, for the time being. They told me that they purchased him as a hatchling in early January last year. They said he really hasn't eaten for the past month. So, I took him home and let him settle in a 10-gallon quarantine tank while I finish setting up his 45-gallon tub. (Which is getting finished up later today). I've had him for three days. simply offered him food and freshwater for the first 2 days, and misted his cage down around 3 times a day. His temporary cage hasn't had the proper humidity because of how it's set up, but his new cage will keep it about 80% like suggested for young ones. The temps are all like the ones suggested. 100 degrees basking and 80 degrees all around. He hasn't eaten food since I have gotten him. I have been giving him daily 30 minute soaks in warm water with unflavored Pedialyte and baby food to get some nutrients in him. He also doesn't move around and has only opened his eyes once or twice, to my knowledge. I want to know when it is time to force-feed him, if at all. Please feel free to ask any more questions, I just really need some help from experienced tortoise keepers. Thanks! - this is how much he weighs.- this is him compared to a dollar bill.- this is his temporary cage setup.There is a water bowl, but it is getting cleaned while this picture was taken.