Hi guys,

recently iv'e noticed Dave seems more lethargic than normal, he used to just roam and walk around his cage and  the house when we had him out, however now he ill fall asleep on me at night and i'll put him back in his cage and he'll be asleep in the same spot when i wake up in the morning, i can pick him up and move him around the house or even put him in his bath and he still doesn't wake, he isnt respnding to food as he used to, He's a leopard tortoise so i won't be hibernaing him and wondered if it's normal for a leopard to get lethargic in the winter months or is something wrong?

Hi Lauren,

What lighting/uvb and heating are you using please? I really dont think its a good idea you let him wander around the house. Tortoises need to have the correct environment and uvb etc. It sounds to me like he isnt warm enough.

Ali

He's got a repti glow Uv bulb and the reccomended heat light from the reptile centre. Ever so confused now, as i'm not at home my Mum informed me of a runny nose last night and said he hasn't moved since she looked at him ladt night and he's retreated fully into his shell with no movement or response, my mum seems to think he wants to hibernate but i think he may have died :( x

Just taken Dave to the vets and they couldn;t detemine if he was alive still or not, she's taken him home onight to monitor him :)

Fingers crossed :)

Hi Lauren,

I am shocked that a vet cannot determine if a tortoise is dead or alive, you must be beside yourself. Have you a number i can contact you on please? You can send it to my email address ali@tortoise-protection-group.org.uk

Ali

Hi Ali,

sorry about the late reply, i rang the vet on Friday moning and she confirmed Dave had died :( So sad especially when we do not know what caused it, he was kept int eh right enviroment with everything he needs, the vet said they could fin out what teh cause was, but i didnt fancy them vutting him up. All i can think of is perhaps the man i bought him from wasn't actually a breeder and perhaps Dave was imported and was carrying some disease. Other than that i am clueless Does anyone know of anything else it could have been?

Lauren

Hi lauren,

Im so sorry to hear your tortoise died. Would you mind forwarding the name of the so called breeder to us at contactus@tortoise-protection-group.org.uk

Regards

Ali