is my baby sulcata going to die?!?! please help!

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Posted by gubugi on June 04, 2000 at 02:22:50:

hey guys...
my first time on this site. just got my parent's sulcata after they had kept it for about a month and a half. not sure about the age, but i think it's a bit older than a hatchling. the pet store owners didn't tell us much useful information on diet, heat, and lighting requirements, so i have in my hands what i believe may be a sick tortoise...
since i've brought it over to my place, it's diet has gone down drastically. it ate a few bites of lettuce for the first time today. it hardly opens it's eyes. actually it only opens one side. and it's not quite as active as all you describe yours to be. i called a local pet store here, who suggested that it was probably thinking that it's hibernating. i did some other research on these guys and it says sulcatas don't hibernate. the eye problem they said was probably a result of a vitamin deficiency...
i've since started using heat lamps, with day temps of about 103, and night temps of 90. i've also started the vitamin a drops on it's eyes, and soaking it more often then the once a week, 30 minutes that was initially suggested.
oh, i've also noticed that the bottom shell is very soft. i think that the sides may be a bit soft as well (is this part due to the soaking? not sure....)

any suggestions? i also would like to know what kind of setup i can look into as i only have it in a relatively small bin for now... any detailed plans? diet recommendations? etc?

Follow Ups:

Thanks all... i'll try the temp changes and other suggestions for now n/p gubugi 06/04/00 (1)
- Re: Thanks all... i'll try the temp changes and other suggestions for now n/p Terry 06/04/00 (0)
Re: is my baby sulcata going to die?!?! please help! Terry 06/04/00 (2)
- Re: is my baby sulcata going to die?!?! please help! / MORE Terry 06/04/00 (1)
  - Re: is my baby sulcata going to die?!?! please help! / And evenMORE Terry 06/04/00 (0)
Re: is my baby sulcata going to die?!?! please help! Kathy 06/04/00 (0)
Re: is my baby sulcata going to die?!?! please help! kelly 06/04/00 (1)
- i ment 80 - 85 degrees, not 880!!! oops!! n/p kelly 06/04/00 (0)
U NEED A UVB BULB!!! RKGJR 06/04/00 (1)
- Re: U NEED A UVB BULB!!! sonja 06/04/00 (0)

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: hey guys... : my first time on this site. just got my parent's sulcata after they had kept it for about a month and a half. not sure about the age, but i think it's a bit older than a hatchling. the pet store owners didn't tell us much useful information on diet, heat, and lighting requirements, so i have in my hands what i believe may be a sick tortoise... : since i've brought it over to my place, it's diet has gone down drastically. it ate a few bites of lettuce for the first time today. it hardly opens it's eyes. actually it only opens one side. and it's not quite as active as all you describe yours to be. i called a local pet store here, who suggested that it was probably thinking that it's hibernating. i did some other research on these guys and it says sulcatas don't hibernate. the eye problem they said was probably a result of a vitamin deficiency... : i've since started using heat lamps, with day temps of about 103, and night temps of 90. i've also started the vitamin a drops on it's eyes, and soaking it more often then the once a week, 30 minutes that was initially suggested. : oh, i've also noticed that the bottom shell is very soft. i think that the sides may be a bit soft as well (is this part due to the soaking? not sure....) : any suggestions? i also would like to know what kind of setup i can look into as i only have it in a relatively small bin for now... any detailed plans? diet recommendations? etc?

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