Re: Sulcata Problem

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Posted by Eric S. on December 17, 2000 at 13:02:27:

In Reply to: Re: Sulcata Problem posted by Dan on December 16, 2000 at 16:55:11:

One thing caught my eye in your original message.. You said you had him on calci-sand. It's VERY good that you got him off of that stuff. We lost a tortoise last year because of an intestinal blockage caused by calci-sand.

I'd suggest taking him to a vet and getting him x-rayed. It may reveal a mass of minerals (calcium) in his middle. If this is the case, the vet can suggest a course of action. Our vet was giving Beaker shots of fluids to hydrate him, plus an oil enema and a mild laxative each week. It was helping, his poop was almost completely calci-sand 3 weeks after he was taken off of it, but it was too late for him. He basically starved to death..

We now have a new 2-year old that is kept on timothy-hay, and she's doing great. Just had a 6-month checkup, and she'd doubled her weight.. Up to 800 grams now. :)

Good luck!

-- Eric

: He gets fed Mesclun Mix from the supermarket, plus dandelion leaves, and other assorted greens.
: We have some tortoise chow that we give him now and then.

: When we soak him he does his duty now and then, but now that I think about it, not as much as he used to. With the reptile bark in the enclosure it is hard to tell if he is going regularily. With the calci-sand you could tell.

: Tonight I am going to make the enclosure half sand/half bark. Maybe that will do something. My sister-in-law has tortoise's, I will ask her advise in the AM. I tried to call the shop where I bought him, but they must be closed.

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Yeah, about that Calci-sand stuff Esther 12/17/00 (0)

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: One thing caught my eye in your original message.. You said you had him on calci-sand. It's VERY good that you got him off of that stuff. We lost a tortoise last year because of an intestinal blockage caused by calci-sand. : I'd suggest taking him to a vet and getting him x-rayed. It may reveal a mass of minerals (calcium) in his middle. If this is the case, the vet can suggest a course of action. Our vet was giving Beaker shots of fluids to hydrate him, plus an oil enema and a mild laxative each week. It was helping, his poop was almost completely calci-sand 3 weeks after he was taken off of it, but it was too late for him. He basically starved to death.. : We now have a new 2-year old that is kept on timothy-hay, and she's doing great. Just had a 6-month checkup, and she'd doubled her weight.. Up to 800 grams now. :) : Good luck! : -- Eric : : He gets fed Mesclun Mix from the supermarket, plus dandelion leaves, and other assorted greens. : : We have some tortoise chow that we give him now and then. : : When we soak him he does his duty now and then, but now that I think about it, not as much as he used to. With the reptile bark in the enclosure it is hard to tell if he is going regularily. With the calci-sand you could tell. : : Tonight I am going to make the enclosure half sand/half bark. Maybe that will do something. My sister-in-law has tortoise's, I will ask her advise in the AM. I tried to call the shop where I bought him, but they must be closed.

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