Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, I just had my leopard tortoise Hercules (18 months old - 14 ounces) out in the back yard for a few hours in the sun in a small enclosure. I went to get him and he felt a bit cool, I put him back in his indoor enclosure and noticed that his back legs did not seem to be working too well. He could walk but particularly his back right he would pull way in and then push out and miss the ground with it so that he would end up landing on his right knee. The backyard just has clean yard grass, some clover, and a couple other weeds mixed in, and this had never happened before. I seemed that for maybe the past hour he was in the shade which might have been around 65 degrees. He has always been in good health otherwise.

Should I take him in to the vet? Might he have eaten something bad? did he get too cold?

any help?

Hi, I don't know if this will help, or if this has anything to do with the problem, but I have read that a lack of calcium over time will cause a tortoise to lose control of his hind legs and to drag himself by the front legs..Do you give him daily calcium? Best wishes, if his legs are still not working properly I would take him to the vet....Shawne1

Thanks for the message. Yes, I give him calcium everyday - he seems fine now - I do not know what the deal was?

Thanks again