Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have had my sulcata hatchling about 2 1/2 months now.(from same clutch as the person a few posts down'0 motivation?')Hes been doing great,eating regularly,soaking,drinkin,pooping ok. just today while i was going through our usual,soaking and feeding routine, i noticed his shell was so much more softer then normal. i looked on his underside and noticed on his shell right before each of his leg sockets it looks to be bruised underneath,it is light red colored, definately looks like a bruise.and his shell is so soft im so worried about it. it wasnt like this before when i bought him,i just noticed this today. ive noticed hes also been a little out of it. everyday it requires a soaking for him to open his eyes,and once he shuts them again after that,they wont open back up.he has his routine, i soak him while i prepare his food and spot clean,then hell eat and go to sleep. at night hell go hide in a halflog to sleep. but he sleeps the entire day, hell move a ilittle,put his head down and go to sleep. hell move a little more a little later and put his head down and go to sleep. the behaviorrs always worried be a bit.i have a herp vet in my area i know well through work(in a pet store)but he requires a $50 fee, i am going to schedule an appointment anyways because money is no object when it comes to the babies health. im so worried,can someone help me out?

Check for parasites (Entameoba and Flagellets). These attack the Liver and Kidney. I found that this are the most likely the cause of your problem if you are taking good care of them. There is always the assumption that because they come from a breeder they are clean which is not always the case and is not a bad reflection on the breeder.
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Ed
Tortoise_Keepers-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

how much will the visit and treatment cost in case of parasites? i have about 70 $ available now, but i was going to wait until my boyfriend came home from being out of state not this mondy but the next. because i'll have more finances then. is this an immediate problem? should i take him to the vet RIGHT away on my own? because i'll do that if that's what he needs.

-gina

thank you so much for your help. i am going to take him to the vet ASAP. i was reading about the soft shell problem and alot of caresheets say its from an improper diet or not enough vitamins. i know have all of that straight so i dont see how that couldve been the problem. parasites sounds much more correct and i thank you so much again for your help.any more advice will be so helpful.

What kind of light do you have on him? I sounds like a calcium/vitamim D defficiency which can be caused by lack of UVB rays.

i have one of those UVA-UVB lamps(the coil kind) as well as a basking lamp.one on each side of the cage

well,i talked to my vet in work today and he has sulcatas of his own, so he definately knows what hes doing and i trust him. i have made an appointment but it isnt until the 9th(2 weeks) i am trying to get ahold of his other office for an earlier appt. i hope he can hold on until then. doc said getting a stool sample will really help but as a procaution he always deworms anyway. so well see how it goes!