Re: My Sulcata Isn't Eating!

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Posted by Terry on November 04, 2000 at 12:42:55:

In Reply to: Re: My Sulcata Isn't Eating! posted by Georgia on November 04, 2000 at 12:16:23:

Cara,
exactly how big is your tortoise?
As Georgia mentioned although they don't live in water, and infact come from an arid environment, they still need water.
Do you ever see stools in the enclosure, or urates?
Urates are soft white deposits and are normal.

I would soak him twice a week, or every 2-3 days
depending on his size.
Soak him in shallow baby bath warm water. Soak him in a tupperware or something similar, it should be large enough for him to stretch right out and be able to turn round in.
The water should only come up to the bottom of his chin, or where his top shell ( carapace) meets the bottom shell ( plastron).
Soak him for around 10 minutes each time, if the water gets too cool replace it with more luke warm 9 not hot) water.
Once he's had his soak, dry him off and put him back in his enclosure.

You mentioned that you feed lettuce (as well as other foods) don't just feed one type offer a variety each feeding.
Endive, romaine lettuce, escarole, chicory,dandelion, watercress (the large variety).
You can feed hibiscus flowers, mulberry leaves, hibiscus leaves, grasses, clovers and opuntia cactus.

Anyway, give the little tortoise a nice soak today and depending on his size ( hatchling to yearling) soak him every three days.

You can also leave water in his enclosure, for small tortoises the lid of a small tupperware container works well.
It's flat and very shallow.

You will find lots of sulcata info at Sulcata Station, I linked it in my last post.

Find a vet, very important as at some point you may need to seek veterinarian attention.

Here are some web sites to help you find a reptile vet near you, call the ones nearest you and ask if they see tortoises:

http://www.sonic.net/melissk/society.html#United States

http://www.arav.org/

Below I've linked Turtle Cafe, you will find enclosure ideas, lists of edible plants and you can order cactus from Teresa, or visit the many other web sites linked from Turtle Cafe.
Hope this helps,
Terry.

Turtle Cafe.

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Re: My Sulcata Isn't Eating Cara 11/04/00 (0)

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: Cara, : exactly how big is your tortoise? : As Georgia mentioned although they don't live in water, and infact come from an arid environment, they still need water. : Do you ever see stools in the enclosure, or urates? : Urates are soft white deposits and are normal. : I would soak him twice a week, or every 2-3 days : depending on his size. : Soak him in shallow baby bath warm water. Soak him in a tupperware or something similar, it should be large enough for him to stretch right out and be able to turn round in. : The water should only come up to the bottom of his chin, or where his top shell ( carapace) meets the bottom shell ( plastron). : Soak him for around 10 minutes each time, if the water gets too cool replace it with more luke warm 9 not hot) water. : Once he's had his soak, dry him off and put him back in his enclosure. : You mentioned that you feed lettuce (as well as other foods) don't just feed one type offer a variety each feeding. : Endive, romaine lettuce, escarole, chicory,dandelion, watercress (the large variety). : You can feed hibiscus flowers, mulberry leaves, hibiscus leaves, grasses, clovers and opuntia cactus. : Anyway, give the little tortoise a nice soak today and depending on his size ( hatchling to yearling) soak him every three days. : You can also leave water in his enclosure, for small tortoises the lid of a small tupperware container works well. : It's flat and very shallow. : You will find lots of sulcata info at Sulcata Station, I linked it in my last post. : Find a vet, very important as at some point you may need to seek veterinarian attention. : Here are some web sites to help you find a reptile vet near you, call the ones nearest you and ask if they see tortoises: : http://www.sonic.net/melissk/society.html#United States : http://www.arav.org/ : Below I've linked Turtle Cafe, you will find enclosure ideas, lists of edible plants and you can order cactus from Teresa, or visit the many other web sites linked from Turtle Cafe. : Hope this helps, : Terry.

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