Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have 2 baby Desert Tortoises about 8 months old and today when I went to clean their tank I noticed one of the babies was sort of gagging. Then when I looked closer I realized he had bubbles coming out of his nose. I have them in a 10 gal glass aquarium on paper towels with a heat lamp and I've had them like that since I got them. I feed mainly Romaine Lettuce and other assorted vegetables and fruits dusted with rep-cal pure calcium.

He was fine yesterday and ate and good and I dont know how he could've got sick.

He is the bigger of the 2 and the one I thought was always the healthiest.

Any advice or tips or anything would be greatly appreciated.

Hi, I dont know too much about desert torts aside from the fact that I'm not sure its legal to have them. In any case romaine is a crappy diet even with "other veggies". What about uv lighting? What is the temperature in there? 10 gallon tank is way too small to heat properly. Theres a lot wrong here. Have you googled how to care for them?

What about a vet? www.herpvetconnection.com for one in your area.

Carole
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www.reptilecare.com

Well the temperature fluctuates depending on what time of day it is but the basking spot is usually hovering around 88 or so. I dont have UV lighting but they do get plenty of exposure to the sun outdoors in a box whenever weather permits so D3 isn't an issue.

I actually raised these 2 Tortoises' parents from babies on a base diet of Romaine supplemented with assorted veggies and pure calcium so I doubt diet has anything to do with it.

Its just so puzzling to me because he had no symptoms of anything before yesterday morning. I mean, he ate, pooped, marched around and did everything else a Tortoise would normally do.

Thank you so so so so much for responding.
I appreciate it!!

Ahh, that Grandfather clause I bet. Otherwise you'd be neck deep in legal payments!!
Where do you live?

Matthew

LA.
He's eating and acting normally now.
Thankfully!

As in City of Angels & not (hopefully) Louisiana. Nevermind, Desert Torts wouldn't last a week in that humidity. I lived there for years, but the summers were ALWAYS murder.

Matthew

IM A LITTLE LATE AND DID NOT RREAD THE OTHER THREADS BUT THIS HAPPENED TO ME ONCE AND I THEY WERE OVERHEATING. MIGHT BE TO HOT. THE FOAM FROM THE MOUTH IS LIKE A COOLING EFFECT.

Desert tortoises need to be outside in natural sunlight eating natural desert plants. They CAN NOT survive in a 10 gallon aquarium. If you have any compassion for these beautiful creatures please give them to someone who can provide a healthy and proper habitat for them.