Titleist is a Leopard Tortoise. He was an emergency surrender. His people reported he had been lethargic for about a week. Then one day, they noticed his shell was soft, so they immediately contacted us for help. His people had all the right supplies for a tortoise, but maybe not the right set-up for a hatchling. When you read online about all the ways to properly care for a tortoise very few resources give specific information for hatchlings. Care of hatchlings is very intense. Titleist’s age is estimated to be 6 months old. He is only a little bigger than a half-dollar.
Captive-bred hatchlings are already at a deficit when they enter this world. Everything they truly need is in nature, not a reptile habitat. They need sunlight at least 10 hours a day. They need a steady, warm temperature. They need vitamins and minerals found in dirt and fresh vegetation. They need a healthy diet. They need hydration from water, not just food.
It is very difficult to meet these needs sufficiently in captivity for an established tortoise, so imagine the difficulty for a hatchling.
Although to Titleist’s people it seemed the illness was sudden, we know it has been progressing for months. Illnesses are silent in tortoises. Symptoms develop gradually and tortoise keepers often miss the early warning signs. A tortoise can appear very healthy until, well…it doesn’t.
Titlist has Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). MBD is a serious condition often caused by calcium deficiency and improper UVB lighting. Simply providing a UVB light source does not mean the tortoise is receiving sufficient UVB. You have to make sure the tortoise has full access to the UVB light and make sure the light is not too far away.
Metabolic Bone Disease cannot be reversed, but it can be stopped. And we are doing EVERYTHING we can to help Titleist. We do not believe he has any organ damage or organ failure at this point.
Titleist has been here two weeks and while we want to believe we see improvements the truth is it will be at least six months before we can say for sure if we are having any success.
He barely moved or opened his eyes the first 72 hours he was here. He is more active now and explores his little enclosure. He is outdoors in a monitored environment from sunrise to sunset.
His care is intensive.
Hobby tortoise keepers should never attempt to treat any serious condition without veterinary guidance. Reptile illnesses NEVER have an over-the-counter treatment option.
We will continue to share regular updates about Titleist.
Here’s info on how to sponsor his care:
paypal.me/pinetreehillwildlife
VENMO: @PTHWild (security code 1350)
Checks/Gift Cards: PTH Wildlife, PO Box 1523, Camden, SC 29021
