My sulcata is 30 years old. I rescued him about 7 months ago and just found out he has been eating my cala lillies. His eyes water all the time, no bubbles, just water. But DRIPS of water, he seems very dehydrated, is this because of the lillies? His energy was down big time yesterday and didnt come out of his house till way later then normal. He is going to the vet today, however any help concerning posion food and how to flush his tummy would be great. And what the hell is a substrate? Also he has NEVER dug into the earth, everyone keeps saying how they dig but this 30 year old male never does. Why not?
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What happens when they eat posion food?
lourdes
Mar 27, 2008 10:53 AM
Replies (4)
dawgcr
Mar 28, 2008 12:45 PM
What did the vet say? You may want soak him 2-3 times per week--Luke warm water up to the bottom of his carspace.
Substrate is what people use to house their tortoise in/usually indoors. Some use hay as bedding, others use sand/soil mixes, some use bed-a-beat mixed with sand--it's just a bedding used for tortoises while housed in some sort of tortoise table or enclosure.
If your feller is outside quite a bit chances are he will start digging a burrow--my 5 year old didn't start until just a few weeks ago--my 3 year old started digging at the age of 2, and my marginated tortoise started at just a few months old. If they have shelters like dog houses or sheds that they can get away from the heat/cold then they may not start digging a burrow--why dig when shelter is provided? Some provide shelters to hopefully keep them from digging burrows--my opinion--DIG DIG DIG. They can better thermoregulate by getting down into the cooler earth then they can by sitting in a doggie igloo. It gets HOT in AZ so I'm actually very happy my 5 year old just started digging--so maybe he was a little behind but he finally caught on. It's been a few weeks and the burrow is already 5ft deep.
lourdes
Apr 02, 2008 06:15 PM
the vet said blood work was ok, but to soak him once a day for 30 mins, for the next 30 days.
dawgcr
Apr 03, 2008 04:29 PM
Oh good to hear!
amazonreptile
Jun 08, 2008 10:47 PM
see my post above at black eyed susans.
Your tortoise's runny eyes may be an allergy to something in the yard.
A slcata male will not dig if he already has a house. I am sure you provide shelter so why should he dig?
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