Leopard Tortoise squeaking

Jackiethetortoise

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My leopard tortoise (about 8 months old) started squeaking. I tried to move her, I recently changed her enclosure to a bigger one, and I was trying to move her to adjust something and she squealed. I always pick her up gently and she never makes any noise. I put her up to my face again and she squeaked again. Like a whistle. I am wondering if there is any way I can tell if she has a respiratory infection? She is 8 months old and weighs about 5.5 oz, the first night she was in the new enclosure (3 days ago), her moss was cold and not warm enough. The new enclosure is wooden and I couldn't transfer her mat since her other tank was glass. I am thinking maybe that one cold night, she could've gotten sick? Is there any way to tell? And any sort of heater that could work for wood? The one side of the enclosure has no glass, its dark with a wooden top for "sleeping" but its cold in there and the heat lamp cant penetrate. Any advice is helpful.
 

zovick

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My leopard tortoise (about 8 months old) started squeaking. I tried to move her, I recently changed her enclosure to a bigger one, and I was trying to move her to adjust something and she squealed. I always pick her up gently and she never makes any noise. I put her up to my face again and she squeaked again. Like a whistle. I am wondering if there is any way I can tell if she has a respiratory infection? She is 8 months old and weighs about 5.5 oz, the first night she was in the new enclosure (3 days ago), her moss was cold and not warm enough. The new enclosure is wooden and I couldn't transfer her mat since her other tank was glass. I am thinking maybe that one cold night, she could've gotten sick? Is there any way to tell? And any sort of heater that could work for wood? The one side of the enclosure has no glass, its dark with a wooden top for "sleeping" but its cold in there and the heat lamp cant penetrate. Any advice is helpful.
If your tortoise is making whistling noises when it breathes, it is most likely a respiratory problem, although if the substrate is dusty, it may also be that dust has gotten into its nostrils and is causing that sound.

Can you see any type of discharge around the nostrils, such as mucus and/or bubbles forming? Does the tortoise open its mouth to breathe or pump its head in and out trying to get air? If so, those are signs of a respiratory problem which should be addressed.
 

Jackiethetortoise

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Beacon, NY
If your tortoise is making whistling noises when it breathes, it is most likely a respiratory problem, although if the substrate is dusty, it may also be that dust has gotten into its nostrils and is causing that sound.

Can you see any type of discharge around the nostrils, such as mucus and/or bubbles forming? Does the tortoise open its mouth to breathe or pump its head in and out trying to get air? If so, those are signs of a respiratory problem which should be addressed.
no discharge but she has been pumping her head more than usual, ill keep a close eye on her, I have a pet camera on her since im always afraid she could flip over and I won't be home to help her. I can go back and see. If it is an infection, what can I do? Is there antibiotics I can put in her water, something I can change in her enclosure? Her substrate is coconut fiber and sphagnum moss, the moss is pretty wet but it was cold that one night.
 

zovick

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no discharge but she has been pumping her head more than usual, ill keep a close eye on her, I have a pet camera on her since im always afraid she could flip over and I won't be home to help her. I can go back and see. If it is an infection, what can I do? Is there antibiotics I can put in her water, something I can change in her enclosure? Her substrate is coconut fiber and sphagnum moss, the moss is pretty wet but it was cold that one night.
One cold night shouldn't be enough to cause an otherwise healthy tortoise to lapse into a respiratory problem.

How cold do you think it got in the tortoise's enclosure? I would think not lower than 68-70F if it is inside your house/apartment, but what do you say?

The best thing would be to get Neo-Poly-Dex ophthalmic drops from a vet and put one drop into each eye and one drop into each nostril twice a day. If that doesn't clear it up, then you would be best off using injectable antibiotics rather than putting some in the water and hoping the tortoise drinks enough of them to do any good. You just cannot tell what dose the animal is getting that way, so injections are far more accurate and effective.

Just FYI, there is a vet in Pleasantville, NY who knows a good deal about tortoises. His name is Jeremy Sabatini and he used to be a volunteer at the Bronx Zoo Reptile House before he went to vet school.

Here is a link to his office web site in case you need it: https://www.pleasantvillevet.com/

Tell him I sent you and he'll treat you very well!
 

Jackiethetortoise

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Ok so I think my 8 month old leopard baby has gotten sick. I changed her all glass enclosure to a new wooden one with a "sleep side". The one side is glass and I have her lights, but the other side I am not sure how to heat. I do have a heating mat but not sure if its safe to put the coconut fiber and sphagnum moss on top since they are moist. Any advice on how you guys heat a non glass enclosure?
 

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Jackiethetortoise

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One cold night shouldn't be enough to cause an otherwise healthy tortoise to lapse into a respiratory problem.

How cold do you think it got in the tortoise's enclosure? I would think not lower than 68-70F if it is inside your house/apartment, but what do you say?

The best thing would be to get Neo-Poly-Dex ophthalmic drops from a vet and put one drop into each eye and one drop into each nostril twice a day. If that doesn't clear it up, then you would be best off using injectable antibiotics rather than putting some in the water and hoping the tortoise drinks enough of them to do any good. You just cannot tell what dose the animal is getting that way, so injections are far more accurate and effective.

Just FYI, there is a vet in Pleasantville, NY who knows a good deal about tortoises. His name is Jeremy Sabatini and he used to be a volunteer at the Bronx Zoo Reptile House before he went to vet school.

Here is a link to his office web site in case you need it: https://www.pleasantvillevet.com/

Tell him I sent you and he'll treat you very well!
Oh Pleasantville isn't too far, I am going to keep an eye on her tonight if she squeaks again, I will definitely call them in the morning. She hasn't been eating as much as usual the last 2 days, and now squeaking, I am a bit freaked out. Thank you for your help !
 

zovick

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Oh Pleasantville isn't too far, I am going to keep an eye on her tonight if she squeaks again, I will definitely call them in the morning. She hasn't been eating as much as usual the last 2 days, and now squeaking, I am a bit freaked out. Thank you for your help !
No problem. Good luck with everything.
 

Yvonne G

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Your 8mo. old leopard needs a warm, humid environment and that's not possible in the new enclosure. He was probably better off in the glass enclosure. At that age he should be kept at 80-85°F day and night with high humidity. You achieve this by wetting the substrate and covering the enclosure.

More than likely he got sick because the new enclosure isn't warm enough.

Your CHE on a thermostat with the enclosure covered would probably be all you need to heat it.
 

wellington

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I agree with Yvonne. Get him set up in a proper closed enclosure with the correct temps and humidity asap. Keep the temp for now never lower then 85 day and night with a basking spot of 95-100.
Usually a higher temp will correct things if it hasnt gone too far into a full blown RI.
A couple squeaks is not a sign yet to jump into a vet visit or giving any kinds of meds yet. Just get the temp up and the correct enclosure. Not any spot of the enclosure should be below 80-85 ever.
 

Tom

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My leopard tortoise (about 8 months old) started squeaking. I tried to move her, I recently changed her enclosure to a bigger one, and I was trying to move her to adjust something and she squealed. I always pick her up gently and she never makes any noise. I put her up to my face again and she squeaked again. Like a whistle. I am wondering if there is any way I can tell if she has a respiratory infection? She is 8 months old and weighs about 5.5 oz, the first night she was in the new enclosure (3 days ago), her moss was cold and not warm enough. The new enclosure is wooden and I couldn't transfer her mat since her other tank was glass. I am thinking maybe that one cold night, she could've gotten sick? Is there any way to tell? And any sort of heater that could work for wood? The one side of the enclosure has no glass, its dark with a wooden top for "sleeping" but its cold in there and the heat lamp cant penetrate. Any advice is helpful.
Open topped enclosures don't work for this species. That is like trying to heat your house in winter with no roof.

Also, moss should not be used. It does nothing and they always eat it which is an impaction risk.

Here is the care info you need:

RIs are caused by cold temps, especially cold damp night temps. The cure is warm temps.
 

Jackiethetortoise

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I have the top covered in plexiglass, but the one night I just left the ceramic heater on and thought it would be enough and it wasn’t. I didn’t know about the moss, I’ll def take it out now, she likes to burrow a bit into it… any other substrate you recommend? She has coconut fiber under the moss. Anything similar that could be fluffy enough to help him her burrow? And I’m keeping all the heaters on it’s at 82 now.
 

wellington

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I have the top covered in plexiglass, but the one night I just left the ceramic heater on and thought it would be enough and it wasn’t. I didn’t know about the moss, I’ll def take it out now, she likes to burrow a bit into it… any other substrate you recommend? She has coconut fiber under the moss. Anything similar that could be fluffy enough to help him her burrow? And I’m keeping all the heaters on it’s at 82 now.
Leopards don't really burrow. The coir is great for humidity you can also use fine grade orchid bark.
 
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