Tortoise health

[skitz2999]

Hello.....I have a 2 year old leopard tortoise and I could reallly use some help. This morning I took her out to graze and noticed a little round indent on her upper lip. When i brought her in i gave her fresh water to bathe in and a few minutes later i took her out and that little round indent from earlier came out so now she has a hole in her face. I'm taking care of her the best I know to do but I'm really freakin out. I'll make her an appt tomorrow but I live in a rural area and I'm not sure how soon she'll be seen. I would REALLY appreciate ANY advice that could be given. Thanks in advance.

 

[Ink]

Please post pictures of the tortoise face. @zovick or @Yvonne G might be able to help

 

[zovick]

Hello.....I have a 2 year old leopard tortoise and I could reallly use some help. This morning I took her out to graze and noticed a little round indent on her upper lip. When i brought her in i gave her fresh water to bathe in and a few minutes later i took her out and that little round indent from earlier came out so now she has a hole in her face. I'm taking care of her the best I know to do but I'm really freakin out. I'll make her an appt tomorrow but I live in a rural area and I'm not sure how soon she'll be seen. I would REALLY appreciate ANY advice that could be given. Thanks in advance.

It sounds as though this might be Austwickia chelonae. Do you see any yellow bumps anywhere on the tortoise's skin, particularly on the neck or legs?

 

[MenagerieGrl]

So, with the "A" word thrown into the conversation, if this IS Austwickia chelonae, it is highly communicable to other Reptiles.
I'm NOT saying that this is the case with your tort, but without testing to confirm or deny it is unknown.
Just want you to be aware of the situ.
If you have other reptiles, do not keep them close together, preferably in separate rooms and disinfect everything, and hands before touching others.

If you can, please post pictures. . .

 

[skitz2999]

So, with the "A" word thrown into the conversation, if this IS Austwickia chelonae, it is highly communicable to other Reptiles.
I'm NOT saying that this is the case with your tort, but without testing to confirm or deny it is unknown.
Just want you to be aware of the situ.
If you have other reptiles, do not keep them close together, preferably in separate rooms and disinfect everything, and hands before touching others.

If you can, please post pictures. . .

Thats the best I can do atm as far as pics go. As far as the other things you said, I really dont knot what youre saying or talking about. Sorry.

 

[Ink]

@zovick @mastershake
They should be able to help

 

[skitz2999]

@zovick @mastershake
They should be able to help

what?

 

[Ink]

The members can look at the pictures and hopefully give you some help on care... or did you go to the vet?

 

[skitz2999]

The members can look at the pictures and hopefully give you some help on care... or did you go to the vet?

No vet til Wednesday. I live in a really rural area and reptile care is hard to come by. Will you please pass my thread along to those members??? It would be really appreciated.

 

[Ink]

Already have and @Yvonne G

 

[skitz2999]

Already have and @Yvonne G

Thanks a bunch. I'm new here.

 

[zovick]

Thanks a bunch. I'm new here.

Your tortoise looks quite ill. Its eyes are closed and its posture is that of a sick tortoise.

Has it been eating or not? How long have you had it?

How warm is its enclosure? You need to keep it at 80 degrees minimum day and night for a tortoise in this condition.

 

[Markw84]

Are you sure of the age? That is the size of a 1-2 month old leopard, not a 2 year old. Perhaps a picture of the enclosure and tell us what the temperatures are day and night, basking and cool side in the enclosure.

Your tortoise does look very ill.

 

[Yvonne G]

The number one most common cause of why a baby tortoise got sick is incorrect husbandry. So when we ask how you take care of the tortoise, his enclosure, heat and diet, these are the things we need to know in order to figure out what's wrong with the little guy.

 

[skitz2999]

Your tortoise looks quite ill. Its eyes are closed and its posture is that of a sick tortoise.

Has it been eating or not? How long have you had it?

How warm is its enclosure? You need to keep it at 80 degrees minimum day and night for a tortoise in this condition.

Her eyes were closed because she was sleeping. She mainly eats collards except when I take her outside to graze on clovers. I read that they were good for her. I always spray her food with a calcium spray. I set her temp to 85 during the day and the high 70s at night. I'm going to keep it somewhere in the 80s round the clock until she gets better. We go to the vet Wednesday.

 

[skitz2999]

Are you sure of the age? That is the size of a 1-2 month old leopard, not a 2 year old. Perhaps a picture of the enclosure and tell us what the temperatures are day and night, basking and cool side in the enclosure.

Your tortoise does look very ill.

I've had my lil SweetPea since she was old enough to sell. She's not quite 2. She'll be 2 in a month or so. I've always tried to take good care of her. She's my first tortoise although I've had many local turtles. Mainly box and painted. I keep the warm side around 85 during the day and in the high 70s at night although I'll be keeping it in the 80s around the clock until my lil girl gets better. We go to the vet Wednesday.

 

[skitz2999]

The number one most common cause of why a baby tortoise got sick is incorrect husbandry. So when we ask how you take care of the tortoise, his enclosure, heat and diet, these are the things we need to know in order to figure out what's wrong with the little guy.

It's "her". I really dont know what husbandry is. Her enclosure is for a larger tortoise. Plenty of room. I keep heer heat at 85 on the warm side during the day and in the high 70s at night although I'll be keeping it in the 80s around the clock til my lil gal gets better. I mainly feed her collards except when I take her outside to graze on clovers. I read that theyre good for her. We go to the vet Wednesday.

 

[skitz2999]

Are you sure of the age? That is the size of a 1-2 month old leopard, not a 2 year old. Perhaps a picture of the enclosure and tell us what the temperatures are day and night, basking and cool side in the enclosure.

Your tortoise does look very ill.

She's been a happy lil gal for the last almost 2 years til the piece came off her face a few days ago. I really hope she'll be alright. I love my lil SweetPea.

 

[Yvonne G]

It's "her". I really dont know what husbandry is. Her enclosure is for a larger tortoise. Plenty of room. I keep heer heat at 85 on the warm side during the day and in the high 70s at night although I'll be keeping it in the 80s around the clock til my lil gal gets better. I mainly feed her collards except when I take her outside to graze on clovers. I read that theyre good for her. We go to the vet Wednesday.

It's not possible to tell a baby tortoise's sex until it (if you prefer I don't call it 'him') reaches a larger size (about four or five years old). Husbandry is what you do to take care of the tortoise, where it lives, what it eats, what the temperatures are day and night, what lights you're using, where the enclosure is sitting and any other thing you can tell us about the way you're caring for your tortoise. It needs a size enclosure appropriate for a baby tortoise, and covered to keep the warm, moist air inside. The temperature should be 80-85F day and night, all over the whole enclosure. Collards aren't a good staple food, as too much of it can cause goiter or bladder/kidney stones.

 

[skitz2999]

It's not possible to tell a baby tortoise's sex until it (if you prefer I don't call it 'him') reaches a larger size (about four or five years old). Husbandry is what you do to take care of the tortoise, where it lives, what it eats, what the temperatures are day and night, what lights you're using, where the enclosure is sitting and any other thing you can tell us about the way you're caring for your tortoise. It needs a size enclosure appropriate for a baby tortoise, and covered to keep the warm, moist air inside. The temperature should be 80-85F day and night, all over the whole enclosure. Collards aren't a good staple food, as too much of it can cause goiter or bladder/kidney stones.

The temperature the eggs are kept at determines the sex and I was told I should have received a female although it isn't 100 percent right all the time. I've been thinking about putting her in a 10 gallon I have. I might just do that.