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Sixteen months ago I helped a friend get two Hermann's hatchlings. Yesterday she called me and asked me if I wanted them, because she didn't have the time to care for them anymore. I was shocked when I got them home! They are at least 18 months old and only weigh 34 grams apiece! One of them has a severe eye infection (I'm taking him to the vet tomorrow).

My question is, what can I expect for these little guys as far as quality of life goes. I've gotten them to eat, in fact they eat pretty good! Is their size a little too small for their age?


sorry this one is so blurry


same baby from the top


the healthier of the two looking for more endive!

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Hi,
They should do fine with the right diet and some TLC.
It depends on how long the eye infection has been going on as to how affected the eye is. Time will tell on that. A tortoise with one eye though will do perfectly fine through out it's life. Tortoises can adapt to most any traumatic condition.

Danny

Thats such a shame, Im so glad they are in good hands now.

JustAnja Wrote:Thats such a shame, Im so glad they are in good hands now.

Thanks, guys. I found out she had them on a diet of iceburg, romaine lettuce, and tomatoes only. Could this account for their low weights? I've put them on curly endive, raddichio, butternut sqash, carrots, and escarole. After I soaked them (they looked really dry) and got them warmed up they started eating pretty good. I am concerned about the other little guys eye, and the other one was closed. I don't know if I should have but I've been using turtle eye drops (vitamin A), two drops per eye once a day for the past few days, and the swelling has gone down on that one eye, and the other has opened. I am taking him to the vet tomorrow, though. I'll keep ya posted!

they're surelly underweight. my hermann's is 7 months old and weights almost double that at 58gr. And he's a Western Hermann's... those look like eastern to me.
it kills me to see torts fall due to bad husbandry... I'm really glad she gave them to you. keep us posted on how they progress.

They are very cute, I am glad they found a good home now. If they are eating I think once the one sees a vet for his eye they will probably thrive under the right conditions. They are really very beautifully colored.

I'm hoping the roads hold up until I get back from the vet...I thought they might be Eastern, but wasn't sure. Here is a pic of their undersides..sorry it's so yellow. I think it might be because of the UVB lighting (they were under it for the picture).



They are quite personable little guys. They didn't mind me handling them at all (trying to do that as little as possible). I'll post again when I get back from the vet. Thanks for your support everyone!

Glad you have them! I am sure they will thrive with you. Good Luck!

they are so lucky they found their way to you now I am sure they will do well. Good luck at the vet.

I'm sure your vet will give you a little tube of antibiotic eye ointment. Be sure to use it like you are told to. It is truly a miracle drug! I use the antibiotic eye ointment three times a day and within just a few days the eye problem has resolved. Your little guy's eye looks pretty bad, so it might take longer than a few days; but don't lose hope. That stuff really works!! Also, if after they swelling has gone down and you think the eye might be blind, they sometimes fool you and start to see out of it eventually some day! Might even take a year, but they are very resilient.

Yvonne

Well I get to the vet and he didn't even come in today! We are getting snow that started out as rain first, so the roads are getting slick. I was told to check back tomorrow. Guess I better call first to make sure he is there.

In the meantime I stopped by a local pet store to get some water treatment for my torts drinking water, and spotted a Russian tortoise in a 10 gallon set up (he is 5" SCL) and they were feeding him mushed up colored tortoise balls (I think ReptiCal?). So of course I had to rescue him. I will get pics when he settles in

I'm so sorry you made that trip for nothing. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Crazy1 Wrote:I'm so sorry you made that trip for nothing. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Well I called first today...vet wasn't in again today. However, he will be in tomorrow, and I've made a 4pm appointment with him. I'll keep you posted

did you post the new russian? can't wait to see him!

Just posted a couple