Sulcata refusing food, and inactive recently

[MikeyTriangles]

hey everyone, I have a male sulcata that is just under 10 years old. We had him since a hatchling and he has always been relatively healthy. Recently he has seemed almost depressed, and has been very inactive and not eating well. This is really abnormal for him, especially when it's really hot out I have him in doors and have uv and heat lighting, and have also been taking him out in the sun. He just isn't himself. My wife thinks he might be lonely; is that a thing?

Any help is appreciated!

-Mike

 

[TriciaStringer]

Hi Mike. Welcome. Sorry to hear your tort is out of sorts. First off, he isn’t lonely. Tortoises are solitary creatures. Sulcatas do not play nice with a friend. We need more info to help you. Pictures of his inside enclosure and outside. Does he have a secure outside area with water provided? Do you soak him? I hope we can help.

 

[daniellenc]

Is he pooping normal and have you had a fecal done? Could be constipated or could have a parasite load. If it continues I'd take a fecal in and in the meantime soak him daily for thirty minutes to help him eliminate.

 

[MikeyTriangles]

We do soak him, but maybe we have to do it more often. I have not had a fecal done and since he hasn't been eating much he hasn't had many bowl movements that I know of. Here are some pictures of the enclosure. I am going to soak him again now. What kind of parasites do I have to be concerned about? It's been a few weeks

 

[vladimir]

What are the temperatures like in various areas of the enclosure?

My sulcata is only three, but he went for a few days acting very lethargically and not eating. We took him to a reptile vet for an evaluation and he was found to have pinworms.

I'm sure some more experienced sulcata keepers will be in to offer advice soon.

 

[MikeyTriangles]

Range 80 to a little over 100. Parasite is my first thought based on the behavior with no noticeable physical signs of common illness. I just wasn’t sure what parasites tortoises are vulnerable too, and how common that is. I have a vet appointment Thursday morning but going to try and bump it up

 

[SULCY]

With all that beautiful grass outside why does he still live in the house at least during the summer, You should build him a nice outdoor enclosure for him and let him graze all day,

 

[Maro2Bear]

With all that beautiful grass outside why does he still live in the house at least during the summer, You should build him a nice outdoor enclosure for him and let him graze all day,

Thats exactly what I was wondering as well! I watch the outside temps like a hawk, as well as the ground cover..and can’t wait until the day i can move our Sully outside for a good six months of free food, sunshine...etc.

So, yes..id suggest getting an outdoor area set up...

 

[MikeyTriangles]

Thats exactly what I was wondering as well! I watch the outside temps like a hawk, as well as the ground cover..and can’t wait until the day i can move our Sully outside for a good six months of free food, sunshine...etc.

So, yes..id suggest getting an outdoor area set up...

I’d love to. This is his winter set up and needs work. I used to have him outside area in the summers, but he broke through the fence in a week spot one time and we thought we would never see him again as we are surrounded by miles and miles of woods and busy highways and a river. Fortunately about 9 days into the search my wife and her friend were searching for him with flyers and one of the neighbors let them know they just saw the big turtle in the picture on the highway. They rushed over and took him home. Since then we haven’t had him outside unsupervised, but I have plans to have a sunk fence put around my property to solve the problem. He broke through under a cheap fence that was not sunk. This was in 2015

 

[Tom]

What is the temp on the floor of the indoor enclosure day and night?
What type of UV bulb are you using?

You don't need a sunken fence, you just need an enclosure designed and built to hold a sulcata. There are many ways to do it.

 

[SULCY]

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Union-Corrugating-2-16-ft-x-12-ft-Corrugated-Steel-Roof-Panel/3317584

This is what I use. i do not have it buried and do not have a problem.

 

[MikeyTriangles]

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Union-Corrugating-2-16-ft-x-12-ft-Corrugated-Steel-Roof-Panel/3317584

This is what I use. i do not have it buried and do not have a problem.

That is what I was using. Definitely not going to work for my guy.

 

[MikeyTriangles]

I probably had too much space between the posts, but it was reinforced with welded wire behind it

 

[SULCY]

I overlapped the panels and put them tight to the ground with 4x4 post behind them.

 

[MikeyTriangles]

I overlapped the panels and put them tight to the ground with 4x4 post behind them.

Have any pictures? I’m going to build something outside this weekend. I was really just worried about flooding and hurricanes ripping it apart, but I’m sure I can figure something out.

 

[MikeyTriangles]

Have any pictures? I’m going to build something outside this weekend. I was really just worried about flooding and hurricanes ripping it apart, but I’m sure I can figure something out.

How about wildlife? Coyotes, raccoons, bobcats or foxes ever an issue with medium size sulcata?

 

[daniellenc]

Check out the pinned outdoor enclosure threads. Tons of ideas.

 

[SULCY]

Mine goes in his box at night and that gets closed up every night so no problems with predators. I have them all.