Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I woke this morning to find our baby Sulcata that we got from on Christmas Eve is very limp. I've gotten him to move a little by picking him up and prying his mouth open. This seems to bother him enough that he stretches out for about 10 seconds, then goes back to a pretty lifeless looking state. His head and limbs are hanging out of his shell and head flops back and forth if I hold him and lean him back and forth.

My wife is home with him now soaking him in warm water, but she just told me on the phone that he isn't responding to anything now.

We've been calling around for a vet and found one available now for $75 intital visit and #50 deposit and another one that won't be in until this afternoon. Money is tight with us, so I'm not looking forward to a tortoise that cost $150 costing hundreds of dollars at a vet. I do really care for him though as does my son who received him as a Christmas present.

Any advice?

Update... it's about 25 minutes after my last post & my wife says he just opened his mouth, so he doesn't appear to be dead. He is really not doing well though. Any advise on how to try to revive him?

The vets seem very expensive. Does $75 fee upfront and $350 security deposit sound like a going rate fro vets? I'm wondering, since a lot of posts on this forum don't hesitate to say take their tortoises to the vet at the first sign of problems. That can get pretty expensive pretty fast it seems.

Please help. I don't want him to die.

I'm sorry to hear about your tortoise, and his condition sounds to be very serious. Until you get him to a vet, make sure that the temp is not too high or too low, the conditions are not too humid and check him for bubbles around the nostrils. Also take notes on any abnormal breathing... weezing etc..

What has he been eating, has he had regular bowel movements, and does he have UV lighting. Has he been drinking water. Have you added a lot of vitamins to his food. Too much can be toxic in small tortoises and reptiles.

Depending on where you live, I found a highly recommend vet named Dr. Greek in the greater Los Angeles area. From what others say he has much experience. I have an appt. to take my tortoise in next week. The initial vist is $54, and the medications and other things will cost what they cost.

Hope this helps, and good luck with him!
-Kory

Well two things,

1st soak him in luke warm water, just enough to cover the lower portion of his shell..

let him soak for 10 min. see if that livens him up.. look at his eyes/nose area for any liquidy discharge...

when was the last time he ate? drank?... what temps do you have the enclosure at...

all dehydration is most common issue w/ young ones..
followed by issues like Ri ( respiratory infections ) and mild to severe cases of impaction from sand / wood etc not being passed through his digestive track.

As for Vet bills..

Any pet owner will tell you that to have a sick animal and have him diagnosed and medicated will easily run you a few hundred dollars in most cases.

This is something you should find out PRIOR to purchasing your pet. and be ready and willing to make the payments. Most vets will allow a payment plan to be spread out if the bill is high.

To say that a pet that costs $150 to purchase isnt worth the few more hundred to keep healthy is not very fair to the animal.

In reality these animals should cost us $1000's for the free life they are giving up to bring us joy and entertainment.

They deserve the best care possible.