Help with sick sulcata

Cn98

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McLean Illinois
We got 2 baby sulcata tortoises about a month ago. They seemed healthy. We give them kale and other greens no romane lettuce though. They gave a cuttlebone in the cage and they are on coconut substrate. 1 has little warts all over his body and has lost all but 1 nail on his foot. We soak them everyday and have multiple hygrometers in their tank to make sure temps are ok for them. We are worried about him. His eyes gave sunken in but he is eating and moving around fine. Can anyone help?
 

Isaiah C.

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Would you be able to get a picture of your tortoise? I'm sure others who know more will weigh-in soon, but a picture is worth a thousand words and will most likely help them figure out what's going on.
 

nicoleann2214

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We got 2 baby sulcata tortoises about a month ago. They seemed healthy. We give them kale and other greens no romane lettuce though. They gave a cuttlebone in the cage and they are on coconut substrate. 1 has little warts all over his body and has lost all but 1 nail on his foot. We soak them everyday and have multiple hygrometers in their tank to make sure temps are ok for them. We are worried about him. His eyes gave sunken in but he is eating and moving around fine. Can anyone help?
Post pictures of both of the tortoises are you housing them together? I would separate them ASAP.
 
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Cn98

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Post pictures of both of the tortoises are you housing them together? I would separate them ASAP.
This is the sick tortoise my boyfriend didn’t get pictures of the other one
 

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Cn98

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Would you be able to get a picture of your tortoise? I'm sure others who know more will weigh-in soon, but a picture is worth a thousand words and will most likely help them figure out what's going on.
 

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Cn98

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We got them off of a Facebook post. They said they came from Arizona they have a friend that breeds them and sends them to this guy to sell them.
 

Chubbs the tegu

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Not sure if thats what it is but here is a thread
 

Tim Carlisle

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You guys are awesome thanks so much! I work at a vet but she doesn’t deal with exotics but she is reaching out to other vets to see treatments for the tortoises!
Best wishes! If it is yellow bumps (austickia clelonae), it is usually fatal and untreatable. I can't tell with 100% certainty if that's what it is though by looking at the pics. Just to be on the safe side, make sure you separate the torts as it is highly contagious.
 

mastershake

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IF this is austwickia (yellow spots) there is no long term known treatment that we know works and much testing has been done. can you get a close up of the facial area for me? sorry i would have responded sooner but it never notifies me for some reason of the tags also please be very careful if this is autwickia its highly contagious even to some wildlife outdoors and or to any other reptiles you might have.

i believe this sadly is austwickia. the symptoms fit exactly and im so sorry to say that. note when the bumps fall off which they eventually do as they dry up this does not mean the bacteria is gone. once you see bumps all over and nail loss this is prob spread to internal structures. the eye issue is showing this. they do eat and act fine with this another symptom is they eat totally normal but barely will gain any weight. you can see just one of the many necropsy reports for this in the forum, if you have any questions you dont want to ask here you are welcome to message me. if you do go to the vet please make sure they are aware of what this is so they dont somehow spread this to anyone else they may have there in the office or anyone coming in it can remain for months contagious wise.
 

mastershake

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Best wishes! If it is yellow bumps (austickia clelonae), it is usually fatal and untreatable. I can't tell with 100% certainty if that's what it is though by looking at the pics. Just to be on the safe side, make sure you separate the torts as it is highly contagious.
sadly tim all the symptoms are exact fits for it.
 

Jan A

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sadly tim all the symptoms are exact fits for it.
I am sorry this has happened to you. Meanwhile, you do need to be extremely careful with your other tort & any other reptiles or animals you may have. Separation of the 2 torts is needed immediately. Do not use the same dishes, gloves or enclosures for both. The same if you have other reptiles.

The only cleaner that we think works to kill off the bacteria is ammonia. Sanitize everything you can with ammonia-based cleaners & soaps

Wash your hands frequently.

You need to warn your friend immediately that he/she may be selling infected torts & you both need to notify the breeder & tell them to STOP.

In no way is any of this your fault & we are in no way being critical of you or your friend. We are trying to get breeders to stop selling infected torts, which includes making them aware of the illness & take the steps to do what's necessary at their end. This often means destroying cages, other equipment & the like & possibly euthanizing infected torts.

I am so sorry this has happened to you & your torts. I hope it is not the yellow spot disease. Please let us know how we can help. We are here for you just to talk.
 

Obbie

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I am sorry this has happened to you. Meanwhile, you do need to be extremely careful with your other tort & any other reptiles or animals you may have. Separation of the 2 torts is needed immediately. Do not use the same dishes, gloves or enclosures for both. The same if you have other reptiles.

The only cleaner that we think works to kill off the bacteria is ammonia. Sanitize everything you can with ammonia-based cleaners & soaps

Wash your hands frequently.

You need to warn your friend immediately that he/she may be selling infected torts & you both need to notify the breeder & tell them to STOP.

In no way is any of this your fault & we are in no way being critical of you or your friend. We are trying to get breeders to stop selling infected torts, which includes making them aware of the illness & take the steps to do what's necessary at their end. This often means destroying cages, other equipment & the like & possibly euthanizing infected torts.

I am so sorry this has happened to you & your torts. I hope it is not the yellow spot disease. Please let us know how we can help. We are here for you just to talk.
What worries me is, the loss of his toes, they need them to dig, burrow etc
 

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