Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I just recieved a Leopard Tortoise hatchling as a gift. He's about the size of a golf ball and not very active at the moment. Frankly, I'm freaking out. I laid down coconut husk substrate and some grass hay in a five gallon tank, set up a heat pad on the side of the tank and got a standard UV aquarium light. (his food is served on a dish and does not come in contact with the substrate).
When I take him out in the sun he becomes active, though I live in an apartment and can't just stand there watching him for hours -- nor can I leave him unattended for fear of theft. Also, I live in Miami which is both hot and humid. He doesn't eat much (though he munches a bit every day). He seems to reject both watercress and calcium boosted cantaloupe. His eyes seem to be getting a bit white and watery. WHAT SHOULD I DO?? MOREOVER, WHAT KIND OF BEHAVIOR SHOULD I EXPECT?

>>So I just recieved a Leopard Tortoise hatchling as a gift. He's about the size of a golf ball and not very active at the moment. Frankly, I'm freaking out. I laid down coconut husk substrate and some grass hay in a five gallon tank, set up a heat pad on the side of the tank and got a standard UV aquarium light. (his food is served on a dish and does not come in contact with the substrate).
>> When I take him out in the sun he becomes active, though I live in an apartment and can't just stand there watching him for hours -- nor can I leave him unattended for fear of theft. Also, I live in Miami which is both hot and humid. He doesn't eat much (though he munches a bit every day). He seems to reject both watercress and calcium boosted cantaloupe. His eyes seem to be getting a bit white and watery. WHAT SHOULD I DO?? MOREOVER, WHAT KIND OF BEHAVIOR SHOULD I EXPECT?

To start, an uv bulb is not sufficient unless it puts out high levels of uvb, which is very unlikely. You must try to simulate the natural sunlight as much as possible, indoors creating the african sunlight of your torts natural environment is difficult, but can be done. Also the minumum size tank for a hatchling should be 20gallon. These are grazing animals, they require room for excersize. Also fishtanks tend to frustrate torts, they dont understand the concept of glass, a nice cheap rubbermade tub is what I use indoors for my hatchling sulcata, that way he has more room and doesnt sit infront of the wall trying to walk through the glass. You should avoid feeding fruit to a grassland tort as much as possible, especially a hatchling because the young microorganism population in the stomach is not matured enough for fruit treats, and could die off due to the acidity. You should do some research on their diet at africantortoise.com or sulcata-station.org. Now for the eyes, if you have white discharged you need to bring your tort to the vet immediately. Young hatchlings shouuldbe very active and curious eating machines.

He sounds ok- I wouldnt fuss too much, its still a baby and like baby's do they do sleep alot. Keep his temps high in the day 90s - 100 and cooler @ nite, 75 - 80s. Try the tortoise foods: Mazuri, Monster and or Pretty Pals soaked in water too. My Leo enjoys it alternating with his green mixes of dandilions and other grasses.