underweight Russie?

[tortiechik]

I have 5 healthy Russies but today had a russie dropped pretty much on the doorstep. The abondoning owner said he 'was hibernating and won't eat'. He is the shell size as my russies but he is able to pull himself very, very far back into his shell. I makes it look like his shell is way too big for him.... like he is underweight. His eyes are bright and alert and he is very active. He wouldn't eat anything i offered except some pureed pumpkin which he ate a few bites of. I was not able to find out if he had been kept at any particular temp or if he was kept under the correct uva/uvb bulbs. Ideas? Is his ability to pull so far back into his shell an indication of being 'underweight'?? I weighed one of my russies who is about 3/4 inch less carapace length than the abandoned one and there is about 1 once difference in their weight. Mine weighed 20.3 ounces and the other one weighed 19.5 oz. I was surprised he weighed that much, it just looks like there isn't very much tortoise inside of that shell. Anybody know how much weight the shell itself contributes? How can I best get weight on him and how fast? I will post some pics tomorrow to show what I mean by how far he can pull into his shell and will also try to post some pics of his shell. He has some loose scutes which I am not willing to mess with as well as a couple other concerns but no shell rot. I soaked him an hour and he did expell a large amount of urates. He does not act ill.

 

[Yvonne G]

I would keep him away from yours until you're sure he's not sick. Just set him up in a quiet place and leave him alone to settle in. Feed him every day. Place him in front of the food. Make sure he's warm enough.

If the previous owner thought he was hibernating, it might give you a clue that he hasn't been eating for a while. If you can get a poo sample, try to get a parasite check.

 

[ascott]

I also would add....if he passed a bit of urates I would add a warm water soaking every other day for a few weeks......and yes if he is underweight he will almost appear to disappear within his shell.....so offer him ALOT of food (I mean as often and as much as he will eat) to get em plumped up

 

[tortiechik]

Ok, I added a pic of the abandoned tortoise that I think is underweight. You can see that he really goes way back into his shell, as if it is too big for him.

I compared his measurements to one of my others and actually the measurements werent much different, which really surprised me...

My tort (Bernard) SCL 6.5 in/165.1 mm and his weight is 20.4 oz/578.330g

The abandoned tort SCL is 7.0 in/177.8mm with a weight of 20.0 oz/566.990g. He sure doesn't look like he weighs that much

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Ok, I added a pic of the abandoned tortoise that I think is underweight. You can see that he really goes way back into his shell, as if it is too big for him.

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I also would add....if he passed a bit of urates I would add a warm water soaking every other day for a few weeks......and yes if he is underweight he will almost appear to disappear within his shell.....so offer him ALOT of food (I mean as often and as much as he will eat) to get em plumped up

The urates he passed were very runny, nothing gritty but there was a lot of it, more than I've ever seen with mine (except my Sulcata of course). He is quarantined from all of the others right now. I am planning to soak him daily for the first week or so (he just got dumped off on me yesterday)

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[ascott]

Oh yeah...treat em like a pig and stuff em..... but seriously, offer him food several times a day for awhile till he plumps up a bit...... IMHO

 

[Talka]

Ooh! Give him a grape tomato! It's so cuuuute when they eat those!

 

[HerpDaDerp26TV]

Ooh! Give him a grape tomato! It's so cuuuute when they eat those!

I second that. I adore the moment that Algonzo takes a huge bite of grape tomato

 

[Grigor.Love.]

It does look like his shell is too big... I rescued a Russian tortoise that had had previous mal-nutrition. But, she received too much of the wrong stuff and is FAT. Exactly the opposite of your situation. Good luck friend.

 

[lynnedit]

Yep, soak him in warm water as you plan and offer him as much as he will eat. Otherwise let him be.
It still has to be the usual greens and weeds, which don't sound very fattening, but once he feels comfortable, I bet he will pig out.
Good luck and nice of you to take him!

 

[Weda737]

Could that also be from dehydration? I know that flubby little squishy place between their neck and arm is a pretty good indication right? And if he passed a lot of urates maybe that could be part of it? lol I dunno, but I'm glad he's not acting sick, maybe you got it early enough to get it on the path to health and happiness. Keep us posted. ^.^

 

[tortiechik]

Could that also be from dehydration? I know that flubby little squishy place between their neck and arm is a pretty good indication right? And if he passed a lot of urates maybe that could be part of it? lol I dunno, but I'm glad he's not acting sick, maybe you got it early enough to get it on the path to health and happiness. Keep us posted. ^.^

I think maybe he was a bit dehydrated. I don't know why they said he wasn't eating. He is eating extremely well now and i am giving vitamin and calcium supplements once a week mixed in pumpkin puree and smeared on lettuce (my husband calls them 'pumpkin boats'). This has worked well to get supplements into all my others and he seemed to really love the 'pumpkin boat' thing too. I am going to wait another week and then weigh him again but I think he is going to be fine. I think they got tired of taking care of a tortoise, neglected him and then (obviously) dumped him.

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Could that also be from dehydration? I know that flubby little squishy place between their neck and arm is a pretty good indication right? And if he passed a lot of urates maybe that could be part of it? lol I dunno, but I'm glad he's not acting sick, maybe you got it early enough to get it on the path to health and happiness. Keep us posted. ^.^

Oh yeah, I forgot to say that I agree with you about the 'flubby squishy' place. I have always noticed that they plump up in that area after they are soaked. He is definitely not acting sick, he almost breaks into a run when he sees the food coming! And everybody with a tortoise knows that they really CAN run!

 

[Weda737]

Lol yeah, they really can run, still surprises me some days. It sounds like you're definitely right about the neglect thing. That Pumpkin boat is a great idea, I did that with some squished up mazuri to get mine started on it, like a little tortoise burrito lol.