I have a baby tortoise and he hasn't been eating and his…

I am sincerely ***** ***** there was a delay in someone responding to your question. (Experts are independent contractors and as such are online based on their own schedules.) However, I am available and can assist you if you still need veterinary advice.

Hello and thanks for posting your question on JustAnswer.com. My name is***** and I have been a licensed and accredited veterinarian in the US for over 22 years, specializing in aquatics, reptiles, amphibians, avian and other exotic species. JustAnswer is a question and answer service, not a veterinary telemedicine or emergency service. On this platform veterinarians can provide insight and advice based on the information you provide, but as this is not considered a legal client-patient relationship and we cannot examine your pet, we are unable to provide definitive diagnoses, prescribe medications, provide medical records or sign documents for your specific pet. For any of those you would need to make an in person visit with a local veterinarian. If your pet has a serious illness or life-threatening emergency, I strongly recommend you obtain hands-on veterinary care with a local veterinarian or veterinary emergency service as soon as possible. I am happy to chat with you via the JustAnswer app via text. For US based clients, if you are interested in a phone call instead that is an option you can choose for an additional charge. In the meantime, I am putting together some questions and/or suggestions to help with your pet’s concern.

Thanks again for posting your question, I’m sorry that your baby tortoise Ralph is under the weather, low energy, lack or appetite and soft shell. I have some questions that will help me get a better idea of your pet’s environment and what may be going on with them:

-What type of tortoise is Ralph?

-How long have you had him for?

-What is the current enclosure set-up, e.g.,

What is the enclosure temperature gradient (cool, warm and hottest basking spot)?

What is the humidity in the enclosure?

What type of substrate or bedding are you using?

Do they have access to a shallow pan of water for drinking?

-Do they receive any access to UV light? If using a UVB bulb, when was the UVB bulb last changed?

-What do you normally feed them? Do they receive any calcium or vitamin supplements?

-Have they been pooping regularly and has it looked normal?

Thanks very much for providing additional information, it is very helpful for me to try and figure out what is going on with your tortoise and the history information will help me to do that.

If you can upload a photo or video that might be helpful. Use the upload attachment icon (paper clip) below the text box to attach them. The files you upload need to be less than 5 Mb in size, otherwise they won’t upload correctly.

With any sick tortoise, it is always a good idea to start by checking that their environment and husbandry are proper for their species. Taking a physical measurement of the temperature gradient within the enclosure and measuring humidity with a hygrometer are a good idea. Making sure the UVB bulb is appropriate for the size of the space and has been changed regularly. Even if they are still producing visible light, UVB bulbs have a limited lifespan and need to be changed every 6-12 months, depending upon bulb type. Making sure diet is varied and appropriate for their species of tortoise and supplemented with calcium and multivitamin powder as recommended.

For a sick tortoise, I would keep the air temperature at the upper end of their proper range. I don't know what type of tortoise you have, but here are recommended temperatures for tortoises commonly kept as pets:

Hermann’s Tortoise

Temperature ranges should be similar to the Mediterranean climate where these tortoises originated, ideally daytime temperatures in the 80s (80-85 F, 27-29 C), though they can take warmer temps of 85-100 F during the summer months) if provided with shade and a shallow pool to soak in. They should be provided a warm basking site of 95-100 F (35-38C) and night time temp of at least 65-70F (18-21C).

Indian Star Tortoise

Temperature: Require temperature gradient of warm (80F/26.7C) to a hot basking spot, 90-100F (32.5-37.8C), on during the day for 10-12 hours. Nighttime temperature of at least 70F (21.1C).

Leopard tortoise

Temperature: Require temperature gradient of cool to warm (75-90F) with a warmer, focal basking spot, 95F, on during the day for 12 hours. Nighttime temperature of at least 65F.

Red footed tortoise

Temperature: Warm temperatures of 85-90F are needed with a warmer basking spot up to 95F. Cool side should be 78-82F. If housed outdoors, they will need a heated outdoor shelter if temperatures go below 80F. They should not be housed outdoors at less than 70F even if provided with a basking area. Night time temperatures should be maintained at or above the low 70s.

Russian Tortoise

Temperature: Although Russian tortoises can accommodate to a wide range of temperatures, especially if kept outdoors, they do best when kept at daytime temperature of 70-80F with a warmer, focal basking spot around 90-95F degrees and a night time temperature of 65-75F. If temperatures are cooler at night, then a ceramic heat emitter is a good option for producing radiant heat without light. Outdoors, daytime temperature is seasonal ranging from 60-90F with a basking spot about 10 degrees warmer than the daytime temperature and nighttime temperature about 10 degrees cooler.

Sulcata (African Spurred) Tortoise

Temperature: 80-85 F (27-29 C) (though they can take warmer temps of 85-100 F during the summer months) with warm basking site of 90-95 F (32-35C), night time temp of at least 75C (24C). In cooler weather, they require supplemental heating and advise keeping the pen elevated off the ground to prevent chilling.

I do also have a care sheets for some of the more commonly kept pet tortoise species. If you let me know what type of tortoise you have, I can share it with you. Thanks.

Soft shells in tortoise can be caused by a number of things. It is not uncommon for young tortoises to have softer shells, though the shell should still look normal in shape and coloration. With proper diet and environment, the shell will harden up by 6-9 months old.

However there are reasons why a shell might be abnormally soft, such as dietary deficits (most commonly calcium and vitamins like A and D3), metabolic bone disease, or an infectious process called shell rot.

I am concerned that you are not only seeing a soft shell but also weakness or lethargy and a lack of appetite. These are not normal signs in a young tortoise. While I would look first at measuring and correcting environmental temperatures, dietary supplements (when he's eating), humidity, and UVB lighting, I would also strongly encourage you to get baby Ralph a hands on assessment by a local reptile veterinarian.

To find a local veterinarian with reptile experience, here is a useful website you can use to search for a local reptile veterinarian:

https://arav.site-ym.com/search/

(please note this site may not work on older browsers like Safari)

These veterinarians are active members of the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians, which means they have interest and experience in treating reptile patients.

It’s especially important if your pet is under the weather to make sure that their enclosure is clean, food and water are fresh and prepared hygienically and that the temperature is appropriate and that your UV-B bulb is in proper working condition. Here are some additional recommendations of how you can support your tortoise while they are under the weather or are awaiting their veterinary appointment:

-Keep them warm. If they’re not moving around much on their own, place them in an area of the tank that near the upper end of their warm zone, but not on top of a hot rock or under the hottest basking area as they can overheat or get burned. I provided some temperature guidelines earlier for many of the more commonly kept species of pet tortoise but if you let me know your species of tortoise, I can provide additional care guidelines for that type of tortoise, thanks.

-Offer food, even if not eating. If your tortoise is having difficulty reaching or getting to their food, put the food dish next to them or you can also hand or tong feed them. Place a favorite food item gently against their lips and if they are hungry, they will bite at it. If not, don’t force it.

It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to force feed an uncooperative tortoise. They are likely not eating because they are not feeling well. Finding and resolving the underlying cause (environmental or medical) should hopefully help restore their appetite.

-To prevent or treat dehydration, you can give your tortoise a soak in a shallow dish of warm water for 15-30 minutes once or twice a day. Water depth should be to the shoulder but not deep enough for the head to submerge. If they are lethargic, monitor them while in the bath to make sure their head does not submerge. Dry them off after the bath to prevent cooling from evaporation.

-It's important to make sure their environment is clean as build up mold or bacteria in bedding material or excess dust can predispose or lead to respiratory infections. I recommend changing out the bedding completely at least weekly while your animal is ill (otherwise every 2-4 weeks is fine). Using a bedding that is not volatile or irritating (avoid cedar or pine), or overly dusty are recommended, such as coconut coir, organic topsoil, orchid bark, cypress mulch, and peat or sphagnum moss or even a mixture of these (for example, I like organic vermiculite free topsoil mixed with coconut coir and then topped with a layer of cypress mulch to help keep in moisture).

-It is also a good idea to re-evaluate your current husbandry practices as some common disorders, such as metabolic bone disease, are unintentionally caused by deficiencies or imbalances in diet, UVB lighting and calcium/vitamin supplementation.

I should be notified if/when you respond with additional information or photos so we can connect about your sick baby tortoise Ralph but, in the meantime, I hope this information is helpful and I wish you both the best. Thanks again for posting your question to JustAnswer.com. Sincerely, ***** *****