Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a problem that I need some advice on. Frist of all I want you all to know that I breed Dart Frogs. I say this because I dont want you to think that I am some loser that doesn't know I am doing. That is not the case...I am quite compitant when it comes to dart frogs.
My problem is: My brother is traveling the country this summer visting freinds. While he is gone I am careing for his Herps. Among these is a Russian Tortoise, that my brother got as a rescue last spring. When he got her she was a real big mess. He spent last summer (and I had her last summer while he was gone also.) nurseing her back to health. She was doing really great by the fall. But I think the winter was reallty hard on her. I have had her for a week and a half now. In this time she has not eaten nor has she voided. She sleeps all day long. She avoids being in any light, by going into the shade. She will not open her eyes, and her eyes are crusted over with this light brown gunk. If I take her out side in the direct sun and it is over 70. She will will open her eyes after a graet deal of effort, and she will move around a little. The problem is it has been sunny very often in rthis past week and a half. It has been cold and rainy. I have tried feeding her a wide of food: carrots, toematoes, swiss char, califlower, radishes, radishes greens(her favorite),onions, kale, collard greens, dandilions(also normaly a favorite), and cabbage. She will smell the food a bit then retreat into her shell. I would take her to a vet, but the only good Herp Vet retired two years ago. And there is a vet around here that I trust. Both me and my brother have had some really bad experances. If anybody has any advice, I would really could use it. Thank you. And if my spelling or grammer is bad. I am sorry. I am really upset right now and I am haveing a hard time thinking clearly.
Thanks
Scott

1) Provide the tort with a heat lamp that will allow it to warm up to about 100f. Check it with a thermometer - don't guess.
Allow it to bask as long as it wants during a 12 hour light cycle. Make sure the rest of the enclosure is at 70-80F. During the night (lights off!) the enclosure can drop to 65f.

2) Soak it in shallow, lukewarm water for about 15 minutes once a day for the next week. Just enough water to come up to the tort's chin. It may drink and it may also empty its bowels. If you see that the water has been fouled, change it and let the tortoise continue soaking. After one week then only soak it once or twice a week.

Go to www.russiantortoise.net for more details.

Bradtort has some good advice, don't guess on those temps, the sun/outdoor environment is not something that should be relied upon.

As for your herp vet, not having one is not an option. If your turtle continues to turn for the worse you will need to take it to the doctor. Monitor weight on a gram scale, especially since it is not eating.
www.arav.com and herpvetconnection are good places to search for a herp vet... you may have to take a small road trip depending on where you live.

Also for future interest, I would concentrate your diet more on the greens, (and perhaps add some timothy or alfalfa) and have the other vegetables in a lesser percentage. Tomatos, cabbage and raddishs should be fed in the smallest portion if they are to be a part of the variety offered regularly.