Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi, i've had my sulcata hatchling for about 2 and a half months... and i got him when he was a month old. he has irregular scutes in the back, and was slightly smaller than his siblings. we've had him a while now, and he seems to be doing okay but the thing is this. i've only seen him eat once or twice. he drinks all the time, though. he's been offered collard greens, broccoli, timothy hay, some romaine lettuce (no nutritional value, i know) every day, now and he snubs it. so i put some in with him just in case. and he's living on some alfalfa pellets and timothy hay right now. he's ALWAYS sleeping. he's got a lot of room to graze, and is always sleeping somewhere different when i check on him. (although i've seen active spurts) he's got a good heat gradient and plenty of UVB. has he been eating in secret when i'm not around? would he be alive this long if he wasn't eating? he's been to the herp vet for a check up and she seemed to think everything's fine. is there something wrong with him, or is it normal for them to be really lethargic? I mean REALLY lethargic. is there anything I can do to stimulate him to eat? or at least eat in front of me so i know that he IS eating?

-gina

Sulcata's are not known to be lethargic. Do you know if your vet is a good choice for herps? If not, seek a specialize vet. I'd suggest having a fecal smear or other diagnostic to determine illness. If you see no signs of respiratory illness, your tort may have parasites. Normal protocol for a Sulcata is active nearly every day if the temps are in check. If you feel your environment is right, something else must be wrong.

I raised a Sulcata for 5 years and there wasn't a day that she wasn't stomping around and she would have eaten every day, if I fed her every day.

Let us know how it goes.

Paul

Hi Gina, I have two hatchling Sulcata. My two are thriving and eat like little piggies. But I would like to mention a couple things that might help you. One thing I do is use a chef's knife and chop whatever greens I'm feeding into tiny bite-size pieces. They do not need to bite through any leaves or tear off anything. On the days that I feed Mazuri I soak it until completely saturated and mush this into the greens. They attack it voraciously. I also soak them EVERY DAY. And one more thing I keep mine on lizard litter covered with orchard grass. The lizard litter I keep moist especially under their heat emitter. I read alot before I brought these kids home and saw that it is not true that they must be kept in low humidity but they must be kept very warm when increasing any humidity. I use a small mortar mixing tub from Lowes so they have low sides and open top. In eight weeks they have doubled their weight from when I brought them home and they show no pyramiding at all. I am learning also but I just wanted to share and encourage you. Good luck.

I recently acquired a hatchling Hermann's tortoise, and his behavior was much the same as you describe. He would nibble, but not much, and he was lethargic, with very brief periods of activity. He is now being treated for parasites, and it has made a 100% difference in his behavior. He still isn't eating quite as much as I would like, but now instead of sleeping all the time, he is active and marching all over (still taking naps, of course).

If the vet who examined your tortoise didn't suggest doing a fecal exam, you should have one done, but I'd also consider getting another vet. The symptoms you describe are typical of parasite infestation. Is your tortoise doing any pooping at all? If so, what do the poops look like?
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Sohni
Northern California

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.2 Hermann's Tortoises
plus my kids' herps:
0.0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko

well, he tries to eat. somewhat. i'll cut up all of his collards for him, mix it with a teeny bit of dogfood every once in a while, and then put it, with him in a small soup bowl. and he'll bite at the air. literally. he knows he's near food, and that he's supposed to be eating it, but all he'll do is nip at the air surrounding it. strange. he drinks plenty of water, though. is there anything i can put in the water to help?

we went to the vet for a completely different reason before. when we first got him he had a cut on his eye, but it's been treated since, and that problem is fine now. i actually never see him poop at all! i've never even found one. i don't think he would have lived this long without eating ANYthing, so there must be poop somewhere, but he lives on alfalfa pellets, so it may be difficult to spot. can he be treated for parasites if I DON'T have a sample? My vet IS actually a quite capable herp vet, and is listed on several herp vet directories so I am not changing vets, especially since I researched this person several months ago, and just went for the first time in November. Can I just tell the vet that he has parasites and should be treated? is there another way for testing for them? Thanks for all the help, guys. )

-Gina

You can't really just tell him that he has parasites. Their are different things to use on different parasites.

He is likely pooping (if he is eating the pellets and hay) and just turning around and eating as fast as he produces it.
I would avoid feeding that dog food though. Not the best thing to feed him. I would consult your vet again about the parasite issue and the fact that you can't get any feces from him. He may just try giving him so broad spectrum thing to deparasitize him.

Gina, I'd take out the alfalfa pellets; it's not the best thing for them to walk on and not that good to eat, either. Timothy hay is OK, or you could use aspen. Either would make it easier to see any poop. Also, no dog food. Have you tried using a food processor or blender to cut the food in very small pieces? That might be easier to eat. They do tend to "miss" the food at times, although obviously not all the time. If you are pleased with your vet, then I would continue with that one. Naturally, if your tort was being treated for a cut, a fecal exam wouldn't necessarily be suggested, lol.

Do you have a scale? That would help give you an idea if the tortoise is losing weight. I would also put the food in a dish and leave it in the enclosure all day. Some tortoises seem to be fussy about when they eat. Mine might nibble a bit earlier in the day, but they eat most in the late afternoon. If you are really concerned, or noticing any other symptoms, I would consult with your vet.
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Sohni
Northern California

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.1 Rubber Boas
1.0 Leopard Gecko
0.0.2 Hermann's Tortoises
plus my kids' herps:
0.0.1 California King Snake
1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa
0.1 Leopard Gecko