A lot we don't know about your husbandry. I would be absolutely sure this little tortoise is hydrated, and if you are keeping it in the same pen as a large adult, that might be problematic. Hatchlings in the wild spend time in burrows and relatively humid conditions (not wet!), are you providing for that? Does it have access to a warm basking area? Natural sun light? Is the former diet adequate, not primarily spinach? You might try daily soaking, carefully monitored basking in the sun, and offer it some favorite foods, i.e. yellow dandelion flowers, maybe some grated yellow squash (not as a staple, just to stimulate it) Desert tortoises can be real fun and hardy animals, but they must have basic needs met or problems are likely. I hope you can get it going again. Big tortoises are pretty oblivious and occassionally antagonistic to juveniles, hence my reluctance to keep them together. You may want to check with California Turtle and tortoise club, and/or San Diego Turtle & tortoise Society, they have some real desert tortoise enthusiasts who may give you guidance? Good luck, Vic

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• Sick Desert Tortoise - DrGonzo615, Wed Jul 1 19:00:39 2009
• RE: Sick Desert Tortoise - VICtort, Wed Jul 8 16:55:17 2009