Sleeping a lot

[Kmouse64]

Good afternoon. My 3 year old Sulcata tortoise normally sleeps in until about 1:30 in the afternoon and then he wants out of his enclosure and goes outside to graze until about 4:00, sometime later. The last time he did that on his own was last Friday. Since then, he just sleeps and I actually took him outside yesterday. He went through the yard and ate like normal. He is still pooping and urates look good. He does not have any rasping sounds or bubbles from his nose so I don't believe he has a respiratory infection. His temperatures in his indoor enclosure are good. Today I took him outside and he wanted to go back inside within 5 minutes. He is preferring to stay in the side of his enclosure that has the heat emmitter and not the UV light. He looks comfortable sleeping all splooted out. Any idea what might be wrong? He has done this at times for 1 day and was then his normal self. Thanks!

 

[Kmouse64]

What type of UV bulb and how close is it? What size tortoise are we talking about? What size is the indoor enclosure? What are the indoor temperatures? What type of enclosure are you using? Pictures help.

The UV bulb is a 10.0 and it is now about 6 inches from the top of his shell. He has been spending every day outside in the sun though until Saturday and today. He is around 8 lbs. The enclosure is 6 ft long and we modified it so we can open and close the side for him to walk out. The end you see is basking with UV and the other end just has a 75 watt heat emmitter. That is the side he is currently spending time in. He scratches from time to time in the corner but he has always done that.

 

[Tom]

The UV bulb is a 10.0 and it is now about 6 inches from the top of his shell. He has been spending every day outside in the sun though until Saturday and today. He is around 8 lbs. The enclosure is 6 ft long and we modified it so we can open and close the side for him to walk out. The end you see is basking with UV and the other end just has a 75 watt heat emmitter. That is the side he is currently spending time in. He scratches from time to time in the corner but he has always done that.

Is that the same tortoise in both pics? Its not pyramided much on the first pic, but heavily pyramided in the second.

What type of bulb is the UV? Is it a tube, or a coil? HO tube or regular T8? In any case 6 inches is too close.

Your tortoise is too large for a CHE and it is likely damaging the carapace. That enclosure is also WAY too small for a tortoise this size, and it's time for a new housing strategy. In the mean time, it's not safe to have them out loose on the floor like that. We see terrible tragedies on the regular from that practice. Everyone thinks they are watching closely and that nothing bad will happen. If they didn't think that, they wouldn't do it, right? But something bad does happen. Keep the tortoise in its safe enclosure indoors or out, and make the enclosures large enough.

Here are two night box examples with safe and effective heating strategies. With one of these your tortoise can live outside most of the year. I don't know what you are going to do for the winter cold spells, but you need to figure something out quickly.

Single Tortoise Night Box

I like my larger tortoises to live outside full time. My climate permits this year round with a little help. For people who live where it snows all winter, this type of box is still good for warmer weather, getting them out earlier in Spring, and keeping them out a bit later into fall. You'll...

tortoiseforum.org

Double Door Night Box

As the years have gone by and I build more of these boxes, I learn more and more each time. This one is the latest and I incorporated everything I've learned over the years. I also tried to take lots of pics so I can explain in more detail some of what is going on. It will take multiple posts to...

tortoiseforum.org

 

[Kmouse64]

Thank you Tom. We have an outdoor area designated for him and we still need to build the enclosure. Your ideas are just what we need.

 

[Tom]

Thank you Tom. We have an outdoor area designated for him and we still need to build the enclosure. Your ideas are just what we need.

You are welcome. Feel free to ask all of your questions. We are all here to talk tortoises.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

I noticed that there are two of these threads, a moderator like @Yvonne G can combine them for you.

 

[TammyJ]

He looks like he could use some regular long warm water soaks.
What's his diet like?