Tortoise having eyes closed

MenagerieGrl

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BTW, I'm Marsha, and you are....?
Nice to meet you, and Welcome.
Were all here to share info regarding these lovable lil creatures.
Were here to help, just remember that, K!
 

Torty23

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Take it easy. . . WE all have different circumstances.
It's about doing the best that you can, for the Tort, and keeping everything safe.
Grocery store available greens like curly endive, collard greens, turnip greens, chicory, escarole, and dandelion can be fed, I believe even Cactus
ok thanks
 

Lyn W

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I live in S Wales and our temps the last few weeks (if not longer) have barely reached double figures. Night temps have been down to 2C. and we haven't had much sun at all so I think it is probably far too cold for your tort to be outside yet.
This is the most up to date caresheet for your tort to help you keep him healthy
and this is very helpful written by a member from Kent with our climate in mind.

Even outside torts need to be in during cold weather so I think you should keep him in day and night until the temps are much higher or he could end up with a Respiratory Infection and then he definitely will need a reptile specialist vet and antibiotics.
Can you post pictures of his enclosure? We can help you put things right to make sure he's safe and healthy.
 

Lyn W

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I'm sorry but your enclosure is not at all suitable for your little tort and you will soon end up with a very sick tort or worse if you don't change things asap.
Is he in a box or just a sectioned off area of floor?
Do you monitor the temps at his level? Even with central heating in a house, floor level temps are much lower.
The heat at one end is Ok as it gives a hot end and cooler end but we don't have enough sun in the UK during winter for it to be a substitute for a heat source, and no uvb passes through glass or plastic. Do you have any night heat? What sort of bulb are you using?
The carpet needs to be replaced with a substrate as recommended in the caresheet.
Torts usually become ill because of things we do or don't do for them so please read the caresheet I linked and try to follow it as closely as possible, but ask as many questions as you like and we can help you provide a better home.
 

Torty23

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I'm sorry but your enclosure is not at all suitable for your little tort and you will soon end up with a very sick tort or worse if you don't change things asap.
Is he in a box or just a sectioned off area of floor?
Do you monitor the temps at his level? Even with central heating in a house, floor level temps are much lower.
The heat at one end is Ok as it gives a hot end and cooler end but we don't have enough sun in the UK during winter for it to be a substitute for a heat source, and no uvb passes through glass or plastic. Do you have any night heat? What sort of bulb are you using?
The carpet needs to be replaced with a substrate as recommended in the caresheet.
Torts usually become ill because of things we do or don't do for them so please read the caresheet I linked and try to follow it as closely as possible, but ask as many questions as you like and we can help you provide a better home.
alright,it's a sectioned area off the floor, I'm not in UK there is enough warm sunlight where i live ,and i just ordered a heat lamp that will be here in a couple of days....substrate though is my big problem....I wonder if a reptile pet would work ? like one of these https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MDQXK8S/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20
 

Lyn W

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What are the small coloured bits in the corner of the enclosure?
You should remove the lego as that is a choking hazard for your tort.
I don't see a water dish in there - they should have fresh water available at all times, A cheap terracotta/clay plant saucer will do.
 

Torty23

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What are the small coloured bits in the corner of the enclosure?
You should remove the lego as that is a choking hazard for your tort.
I don't see a water dish in there - they should have fresh water available at all times, A cheap terracotta/clay plant saucer will do.
coloured bits are just small stones for decoration (no she doesn't eat them ) - why are the legos bad she climbs on them sometimes ?....when i left a water dish she used to fall in it and just sit there and get stuck and also im worried she could flip it and i never saw her drink but i still soak here though.
 

Lyn W

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alright,it's a sectioned area off the floor, I'm not in UK there is enough warm sunlight where i live ,and i just ordered a heat lamp that will be here in a couple of days....substrate though is my big problem....I wonder if a reptile pet would work ? like one of these https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MDQXK8S/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20
Where is your London?
No carpet is suitable for tortoises - you need one of the substrates listed in the caresheet. But before that you need to find something like a decent sized tote box or an old book case that you can lay on its back, remove the shelves and line with a cheap shower curtain to make a safe enclosure.
What sort of heat lamp have you ordered? Some are safer than others and CHEs need to be run through a thermostat.
@Tom can help you find the cheapest way of providing heating and lighting if you are in the US
 

Torty23

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Where is your London?
No carpet is suitable for tortoises - you need one of the substrates listed in the caresheet. But before that you need to find something like a decent sized tote box or an old book case that you can lay on its back, remove the shelves and line with a cheap shower curtain to make a safe enclosure.
What sort of heat lamp have you ordered? Some are safer than others and CHEs need to be run through a thermostat.
@Tom can help you find the cheapest way of providing heating and lighting if you are in the US
i live in the middle east
alright i will look for a substrate
i ordered a ceramic heat lamp idk what CHE is
 

Lyn W

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coloured bits are just small stones for decoration (no she doesn't eat them ) - why are the legos bad she climbs on them sometimes ?....when i left a water dish she used to fall in it and just sit there and get stuck and also im worried she could flip it and i never saw her drink but i still soak here though.
Any small coloured stones or lego bricks are a choking hazard for torts. so all of that needs to be removed. Just because you haven't seen her eating any of them doesn't mean she wouldn't and they can also cause impaction which is very painful and often fatal.
Self soaking is often a way a tort hydrates itself - they can absorb water through the cloaca but water is essential.
 

Torty23

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Middle East
Any small coloured stones or lego bricks are a choking hazard for torts. so all of that needs to be removed. Just because you haven't seen her eating any of them doesn't mean she wouldn't and they can also cause impaction which is very painful and often fatal.
Self soaking is often a way a tort hydrates itself - they can absorb water through the cloaca but water is essential.
alright will do that
 

Lyn W

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i live in the middle east
alright i will look for a substrate
i ordered a ceramic heat lamp idk what CHE is
I have never heard of a London in the middle East - which part?
A CHE is what you have ordered (ceramic heat emitter) but you must run it through a thermostat to turn it on and off or it could over heat and cook your tort.
 

Torty23

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I have never heard of a London in the middle East - which part?
A CHE is what you have ordered (ceramic heat emitter) but you must run it through a thermostat to turn it on and off or it could over heat and cook your tor
ok i actually have no idea why is my city london i just noticed ops.....and sure i will get a thermostat too i was planing to do that anyways
 

TammyJ

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In the photo, the tortoise appears to be in very poor condition and sick. I am very sad to see it, and I hope that the owner who is seeking help, can provide the recommended conditions for it according to all the good advice here.
Torty, please continue to try your best and follow the advice given here. Thank you for caring for this poor little guy.
 
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