i am a first time owner and have had my two 5 month old redfoots for about 4 weeks now. they seemed healthy when they came to me. active and eating well. after a couple of weeks they started to go downhill. eyes not opening, rubbing their eyes and then soft plastrons. i took them to the vet to have them examined but he did nothing for me and told me nothing i didn't already know or wasn't already trying. i felt as tho i was educating him but he is the only vet in my town who will see tortoises. he said not to worry and keep doing what i'm doing and to be concerned if they stop eating. since my visit about a week ago, they've gotten even worse...not eating and completely inactive and now their top shells are aslo softening. i'm bringing them back to the same vet this afternoon where he said he will try giving them some shots. if this doesn't work, i'm lost. they are so tiny and i feel like they are close to death. please help me!!

What temps you keeping them at?  What vits you using.

Do they have a runny nose?

Sorry for the questions trying to help narrow it down.

Hello, I'm sorry you are in this position. As Sky has stated you need to fully explain your set-up, so that suggestions can be made. There is a list of recommended vets if you click on "Vets & Health Issues." The bit of advice I want to give is - don't keep testing their 'shells', it is normal for them to be slightly pliable at 5 months.
Regards
Tom

thanks for the response. i keep the temp in the low 90's during the day on the warm end and at about 50-70% humidity. i use a heat spot lamp as well as a fluorescent for uvb. i use zoo med repti calcium with D3. for substrate i use a coconut coir on the bottom that you cant even see thru the heavy layer of sphagnum moss i keep on top. the thing is, when i got them, they were active and eating very well immediately after shipping. now they have stopped eating altogether and seem very sickly. it were the eyes that i first noticed a couple of weeks ago...not opening and they were rubbing them. i took them back to the same vet yesterday where he gave them injections. a cocktail of fluids, calcium and antibiotic. they seem even worse and i fear they may be near death. i'm freaking out cuz i'm not sure what to do and he is the only vet in my area who will see torts and they are so small. he also gave me some drops called 'baytril' and told me to drip one drop on their beaks and they will lick it off, once a day for 10 days. i did this this morning. they did not lick and it bubbled out their noses. a few minutes later, one started heaving and gagged up a thick, clear, foamy, gel like substance. i hope this vet knows what hes doing but i've done plenty of research on my own and seemed to know more than him...also some warn not to always trust that these "exotic vets" always know best. i'm sorry to ramble but i'm desperate for help. this is the second forum i've joined and have been waiting two days for a response. someone please help!!

thanks tom. i realize it's normal for them to be a little soft at this age but if you could see how sick they look. one won't even poke his head out when they used to be out all the time, even while sleeping. that one hasn't eaten in over a week when they WERE feasting like little monsters daily. i also appreciate the vet info but would benefit more from a list in canada. i'm going to look more into it in the morning and see if i can find someone in my surrounding areas.
thanks for your concern
joelle

also sky, i can't really that they have runny noses. when they do sometimes open their eyes after a soak...which they haven't done in at least two days...they're eyes may seem a little weepy. i fear maybe their faces are a little cakey from the vit powder so i give them a good warm soak daily and then give them a gentle wipe with organic baby wipes that i have rinsed well. also read that cod liver oil will help with the eyes but i only tried that once as i am unsure of the dosage for such little guys and the vet said to concentrate on getting their shells back to norm...he doesn't seem concerned about their eyes at all. is this right? or could it have lead to worse problems? it was the eyes before anything else.

Hello Joelle, I was hoping a member who keeps the species would advise. You state "maybe their faces ...cakey" from the vit powder" - too much is as bad as none. Re the cod liver oil, the idea is to drop a spot onto a closed eye & massage extremely gently. That's not to say that it's that simple. When you soak the torts, just let the eyes dry, don't wipe them. Minimise handling to reduce stress. I assume they were from a dealer, save your vet bills & seek redress.
Regards
Tom