Over the past two weeks my biggest sulcata (only 4 yrs old at 14inchs) has become really lethargic, or rather lazy. He's always been really bold and pushy but recently hes seemed to become a recluse. He hardly moves from his corner of the shed even when i put the food out, he just seems to walk towards the heat lamp sit there for an hr or so watching his friend going in and out of the escape hatch to the garden and goes back to his corner. When he's put outside he waddles round sniffing and nibbling doesnt graze properly what do u think could be wrong? He's been in the shed now since ealy april with his lil friend who's v.active, but just recently he's become more and more lazy. The temps are apparently 25-30 in the hottest ambient areas (22ish where he sleeps) and 32ish under the lamps so this shouldnt b the problem? I also noticed today when i did a check of his plastron and he 'peed' a mucousy thick liquid. it was translucent having a slight opacity. What could this be a sign of? Please help i thought it was just a phase but now i'm getting worried

you really need to get a sample of the fluid and get it to a vet ASAP. and if he poos, take that too. this does not sound good. better to get a professionals opinion. it takes a long time for health problems to manifest in a tortoise, as there metabolism is so slow. so by the time a problem is visible, it has been there for a while.

do you have a good exotic vet?

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The goat made me remember!! all hail the mighty goat

thanks, yeh there's one that claims to be, think they get a tortoise specialist every other monday but i'll see if there's anyone a lil sooner. He still moves around ok but the mucousy fluid did spook me a lil.

Was the mucusy fluid sort of yellowish?

mainly whitish but i think there was a slight yellow tinge in parts. what would give it a yellow colour?

I see youre in suffolk, me too. Theres a brilliant exotics vet in sudbury, he sorted my tortoise right out and removed my bullfrogs toe under general anaesthetic(takes a lot of skill to safely put a frog out). his names Jan(pronounced yan) at mulberry court vets 01787 881888. Ive always been very pleased with the bill aswell. Get your tort down there asap. good luck

Mulberry Court Veterinary Surgery

Thanks inkyjoe, i would but i'm near bury st edmunds so is about a 40min/hr drive for me. The local tortoise club recommends my local vet so i guess they're ok. Find them a bit grabby and heavy handed at times tho...

Bury isnt that far away to go to for quality. Before jan was in sudbury, I used to take my animals over to colchester to get them seen. I really do have to take my hat off to the bloke though, he is extremely knowledgable on reptiles, both husbandry and medicine, and all the staff there are great, a few of them keep torts themselves

Helen What would it be if the tortoise urine was all yellow I have a tortoise with yellow urine the vet counldnt find a problem though

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alicia x

Do you bathe him , I would keep him well hydrated lots of warm baths to ensure he drinks . Mine are always hungry after a warm soak

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alicia x