I moved him into the turtle table today (since it's now empty), and he has spent SOOOOO much time trying to escape... trying to climb the walls, and climbing up and down the log... he has worn himself out! I was watching him trying to climb up the corner, slip, try again, slip, try again, slip... then fall fast asleep before he could try again! ROFL!!! It's so precious!
you definitely should take your beautiful Russian to an exotics vet. The vet I worked for would probably use his Dremel to rout/grind around the edges of the wound (not painful...like filing your nails)...to be sure there isn't infection hiding under it. The shell will usually grow back. I rescued my male Russian cause his plastron was wrinkly and puckered. I didn't know then what it was but I knew it wasn't right. I paid $10 for him. The vet had to remove about 2/3 of the plastron. I had to keep him on sanitary bedding for several months. It was worth all the trouble. It all grew back & he is so personable. Loves his head rubbed. He pushes against my finger & looks like he is thinking...that feels sooooo good.
He is sooooo adorable!!!!! I stear away from the reptiles at the petstore, My female Sveta loves having her head scratched, she will lay on my stomach and I will scratch her head and she will sit for hours.
Congrats on the new little guy....
Thanks!
Here's the little sweetie sleeping with his legs sticking straight out! Too funny! It's hard to tell but they weren't even touching the ground at all! (Yep he was under the basking light!)
![[Image: 103_4322.jpg]](http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g183/cvaldarieux/103_4322.jpg)
And look at that tail!!! I'd say that's an emerging male!
I know what you mean. I just don't have the money or room to be able to take in the numerous reptiles I find in horrible health and set-ups in the Petco I work by.
They have three Red Footed Tortoises in a 30 gallon terrarium with a water dish as high as their shells are tall.
Go you for saving him!
He's adorable Kelly! Way to go for opening your heart to him.
Misty
cvalda Wrote:Oh and I have to tell you all, this little fellow LOVES having his head rubbed sooooo much!!! He was sitting in his enclosure and I slowly put my hand in and started rubbing his head... he stuck it out and actually closed his eyes and just ate it up! He fell asleep with me rubbing his head! He is such a sweetheart, I just can't believe it!!!
Kelly...After I got my male Russian I took him in for a fecal. The vet was looking him over & asked if he could check something on his plastron...looked like dry flaky shell. He poked at it and pried up a piece to show me that under the hard shell was rotten smelly mush. He had to dremel drill about a 3" round area of his plastron. He flushed it out really well & gave me some Nolvasan to keep it clean. Had to keep him alone on paper towels for several months til it grew back. It is a little lighter color than the rest of it but it is all grown back hard like the rest. So, I am suggesting you might want to be sure there isn't anything rotten under the booboo! If the vet cleans back the edges it just might grow back to nearly normal!
He is adorable!! They have such great personalities don't they?
Patsy