Columbus_Cauliflower
New Member
Okay, so I've had my hatchling for about 3 or 4 months now and he's very young, he's around 45 grams. His eyes are puffy, and they have been for about a month now. He's on his second respiratory infection and he's stopped eating. Someone suggested here that I should try baby food soaks for about half an hour. I am doing that now. My set up:
40gallon critter cage
UVB tube lighting
Zoo-med red night light 100w
Zoo-med daylight Blue 100w
2 hides, one artificial half-log and one corner hide with a hermit crab heater on the side (that one is on the cooler side).
bedding: alfalfa pellets
2 sets of temperature and humidity gages halfway down the tank (1 set on the warm side and the other on the cool side).
1 decorative plant from the reptile aisle in Petco
his warm side averages 85F and his cool side is like 75-80F
It is hard for us to keep his humidity high unless we turn off the lights...
He has cuttlebone in his habitat
I treat his water with reptisafe (it has added calcium)
he doesn't like it when I put calcium powder on his food
his favorite foods are cactus and romaine lettuce
he also eats dandelion greens, kale, mustard greens, and I bought some collard greens today for him to try that
I soak him at least 30 minutes once per day and I have since I got him.
His appetite was very good until a week ago and his shell has been getting softer. I've scheduled 3 actual vet appointments but I have taken him in to get shots to help with his respiratory issues (we've taken him in a total of 6 or 7 times) and he has another shot scheduled on Saturday. I will do anything to get my little guy better! He's on alfalfa pellets because when I had him on bark he tried to eat it. He isn't impacted, our vet X-rayed him on the 10th when I took him to see her. When I ask for advice (and oh, I have) on his care she's vague and kind of dodges the question... The most comforting thing I've gotten from her is "People have a lot of problems with tortoise hatchlings, this is normal." %^$* This shouldn't be normal! I live in Arkansas, and she's had experience with sulcatas before... there really aren't many exotic vets in Arkansas... I am so lost, I don't know what to do, he isn't eating and it's breaking my heart.
-Jessica
40gallon critter cage
UVB tube lighting
Zoo-med red night light 100w
Zoo-med daylight Blue 100w
2 hides, one artificial half-log and one corner hide with a hermit crab heater on the side (that one is on the cooler side).
bedding: alfalfa pellets
2 sets of temperature and humidity gages halfway down the tank (1 set on the warm side and the other on the cool side).
1 decorative plant from the reptile aisle in Petco
his warm side averages 85F and his cool side is like 75-80F
It is hard for us to keep his humidity high unless we turn off the lights...
He has cuttlebone in his habitat
I treat his water with reptisafe (it has added calcium)
he doesn't like it when I put calcium powder on his food
his favorite foods are cactus and romaine lettuce
he also eats dandelion greens, kale, mustard greens, and I bought some collard greens today for him to try that
I soak him at least 30 minutes once per day and I have since I got him.
His appetite was very good until a week ago and his shell has been getting softer. I've scheduled 3 actual vet appointments but I have taken him in to get shots to help with his respiratory issues (we've taken him in a total of 6 or 7 times) and he has another shot scheduled on Saturday. I will do anything to get my little guy better! He's on alfalfa pellets because when I had him on bark he tried to eat it. He isn't impacted, our vet X-rayed him on the 10th when I took him to see her. When I ask for advice (and oh, I have) on his care she's vague and kind of dodges the question... The most comforting thing I've gotten from her is "People have a lot of problems with tortoise hatchlings, this is normal." %^$* This shouldn't be normal! I live in Arkansas, and she's had experience with sulcatas before... there really aren't many exotic vets in Arkansas... I am so lost, I don't know what to do, he isn't eating and it's breaking my heart.
-Jessica
Last edited: