constipated?

larlar · 28-12-2009, 02:26 AM

my baby sulcata tortoise apears to have a small ball of poop stuck to her tail. i have tried to gently remove it with a tissue or wipe. she eats drinks and is active. she also seems to be urinating and passing urnates...um i think thats what the white chalky substance is named excuse me if im wrong. but im worried that this excremant is blocking her from pooping. i have also soaked her a couple times. she doesnt seem to have any swelling or bloating as i have compared her to my other sulcata. i am still worried though um would enjoy some help. could it be her diet? or dehydration?

her diet is mainly carrots, zuchini squash, and green bell pepper. i am trying to add grass to their diet and need to buy them calcium but havnt been able yet. ii hope shes ok please give suggestions thnx.
ps. i have been reading that it may be from lack of fiber and would it help to add more grass into their diet?

**Alan1** · 28-12-2009, 08:27 AM

It's usually best not to try to remove it in case a hair is attached, they usually work their way out eventually. I don't know anything about Sulcatas but I would assume they should be bathed daily in a basin or tub for 20 minutes or so at a time like other torts. If so then try it twice a day to see if it helps. Someone on here pulled a hair that was hanging out and it pulled the torts intestines out

so I wouldn't pull it though it could be cut off (if it is attached to a hair)

larlar · 28-12-2009, 08:18 PM

yes i read about that o_o um that wouldnt be good. but i dont think its a hair because its like just balled there um it seems better today a little bit but thats why i stopped trying to remove it um that would be bad um thank for the advice. im still hoping to fix their diet

so ya thanks for the reply

**egyptiandan64** · 28-12-2009, 10:41 PM

You can put some petrolium jelly on it and that will soften it up enough to wipe off in a day or 2.

Danny

Paulg1 · 28-12-2009, 11:07 PM

to answer your question about fiber, yes, sullys need approx. 70-80% grass making up their fiber diet. Work your way to that and off what you have been as soon as possible.

larlar · 29-12-2009, 02:07 AM

ya i tried to give them some grass today i dont think they liked it too much lol ill work on it though and ill try the petroleum thing hope it help :/
what are some suggestions to transition them to grass and weeds? i got these torts from my frend as she couldnt keep them when she moved and they had been fed non grasses
thanks for quick replies ^-^

jayne2942 · 29-12-2009, 06:51 PM

alfaha hay that rabbits have for fibre is also good fibre for tortoises.

larlar · 12-01-2010, 04:22 AM

hey quick update shelly is all better ^-^

28-12-2009, 02:26 AM	#1
larlar Junior Member Egg Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Az Posts: 13	constipated? my baby sulcata tortoise apears to have a small ball of poop stuck to her tail. i have tried to gently remove it with a tissue or wipe. she eats drinks and is active. she also seems to be urinating and passing urnates...um i think thats what the white chalky substance is named excuse me if im wrong. but im worried that this excremant is blocking her from pooping. i have also soaked her a couple times. she doesnt seem to have any swelling or bloating as i have compared her to my other sulcata. i am still worried though um would enjoy some help. could it be her diet? or dehydration? her diet is mainly carrots, zuchini squash, and green bell pepper. i am trying to add grass to their diet and need to buy them calcium but havnt been able yet. ii hope shes ok please give suggestions thnx. ps. i have been reading that it may be from lack of fiber and would it help to add more grass into their diet?

28-12-2009, 10:41 PM	#4
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	You can put some petrolium jelly on it and that will soften it up enough to wipe off in a day or 2. Danny __________________

28-12-2009, 11:07 PM	#5
Paulg1 Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 2,116	to answer your question about fiber, yes, sullys need approx. 70-80% grass making up their fiber diet. Work your way to that and off what you have been as soon as possible. __________________ 0.1.0 G. sulcata/Larry 0.1.0 G. pardalis babcocki/Leo 1.0.0 G. pardalis pardalis/Tino "Stop the world, I want to get off!"

29-12-2009, 06:51 PM	#7
jayne2942 Member Hatchling Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: WALSALL WOOD,WALSALL Posts: 567	alfaha hay that rabbits have for fibre is also good fibre for tortoises. __________________ 3 horsfield torts 1 redfoot tort 1 rabbit pond fish 4 baby horsfield hatchlings

28-12-2009, 08:27 AM	#2
Alan1 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sunny Scotland Posts: 21,512	It's usually best not to try to remove it in case a hair is attached, they usually work their way out eventually. I don't know anything about Sulcatas but I would assume they should be bathed daily in a basin or tub for 20 minutes or so at a time like other torts. If so then try it twice a day to see if it helps. Someone on here pulled a hair that was hanging out and it pulled the torts intestines out so I wouldn't pull it though it could be cut off (if it is attached to a hair)

28-12-2009, 08:18 PM	#3
larlar Junior Member Egg Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Az Posts: 13	yes i read about that o_o um that wouldnt be good. but i dont think its a hair because its like just balled there um it seems better today a little bit but thats why i stopped trying to remove it um that would be bad um thank for the advice. im still hoping to fix their diet so ya thanks for the reply

29-12-2009, 02:07 AM	#6
larlar Junior Member Egg Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Az Posts: 13	ya i tried to give them some grass today i dont think they liked it too much lol ill work on it though and ill try the petroleum thing hope it help :/ what are some suggestions to transition them to grass and weeds? i got these torts from my frend as she couldnt keep them when she moved and they had been fed non grasses thanks for quick replies ^-^

12-01-2010, 04:22 AM	#8
larlar Junior Member Egg Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Az Posts: 13	hey quick update shelly is all better ^-^

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