Snorting mean potential breathing issue?

Wherethetortiroam

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So I recently moved my Herbert to a temporary pen on the ground in my living room because she out grew and was hurting herself in her old pen I so dismantled it but I'm not done with her cedar palace yet so her she be on the floor. But as over the past couple weeks I notice shes making more strange noises I associate with breathing struggles so I made a vet appointment for Monday but wanted to also consult y'all. What should I do n the mean time?

I'm gonna go into to town soon and get some plastic to drape over the pen so it holds more humidity and heat. Any other advise is always appreciated. Thanks guys/gals/ Yvonne
 

wellington

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What are the temps? It's always colder on the floor.
Btw, cedar is not a good wood for most animals including tortoises.
 

JoesMum

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She’s on the floor sounds like she’s roaming your home?

What temperatures does she have? It sounds like she is far from warm enough (try lying on your kitchen floor and you will see what I mean)

You need to get her in a proper sized enclosure with a damp earthy substrate like fine grade orchid bark or coco coir asap.

If there’s any suggestion of a respiratory infection, she needs to be kept at a 80-85F day and night.
 

Wherethetortiroam

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She is on the floor and yes I've sat on the floor with her when I first put there to make sure. There is a couple warm spots that are between 80-90 and she sleeps under a ceramic heat emitter which keeps her between 75-80. She doesn't like sleeping directly under it because she moves when I move it closer to her.

The substrate is organic peat moss and there is a humidifier going all the time.

But now I'm all concerned about what Wellington said as well, why not cedar? What do u you know I don't cause I thought cedr would hold up to the humidity well. I'm about to have a cow man
 

Wherethetortiroam

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And her pen on the floor does have boarders shes not roaming the house

When I set the appointment for Monday I asked what they typically do they said they might give her an anti biotic either in an inijection or bottle for me to squirt in her mouth but wanted to ask what you guys on here thought about vet proceedures. I'm more leary then ever cause mycat died earlier this year from complications at the vet. Needless to say I don't go there any more and never took my torts to that guy.

So yeah other question is what are overall thoughts on medison/vets

The guy I'm seeing Monday has 30years experience and works with the torts and turtles at the zoo in Lincoln nebraska.
 
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JoesMum

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Can you put some sort of garden cloche over it to make it warmer? Something like this. You need a closed chamber.

The whole enclosure needs to be 80-85F ambient day and night if your tort has a respiratory infection as I suspect.

What temperature do you have directly under the basking lamp?

Photos of this enclosure will help us to help you.
 

Wherethetortiroam

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That garden things is good idea. And yes I did get some clear plastic and draped over the pen shes in. Rit now as of 4:25am local time she is sleeping under her ceramic at 77......

I hate nebraska. I hate my things walls and I hate myself for being dumb
 

Wherethetortiroam

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Just put a space heater in and set it to 85. And she's up already trying to see what I'm doing. Following me from one end to the other.

Having a bad day and its not even 5am yet. Not only am I stressed about my tortoise baby but now this peice of awesomeness I've been working on for 2 years and spent like $4k on I'm starting to find I can't use because its f'ing cedar.



And i would include pics but I'm also computer retarded. I can barley work this I pad with out throwing it.
 
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JoesMum

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You are doing your best. We will help you.

I think they may have been referring to cedar substrate rather than for building. Don’t give up hope. You may well be OK.

I understand the technical difficulties too! I have an iphone. I don’t know if the app is the same, but there is a camera icon on mine that allows me to take a photo and post it.
IMG_5666.jpg
 
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Wherethetortiroam

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Correction, I can upload pics here but they suck and are dark because the sun don't rise for another couple hours

But you might be able to see her in the corner soaking in her bath water. Which I do change everyday even though you wouldn't know it by looking, she loves to dirty it back up as soon as I give her fresh water.

image.jpg
 

JoesMum

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Correction, I can upload pics here but they suck and are dark because the sun don't rise for another couple hours
:)
But you might be able to see her in the corner soaking in her bath water. Which I do change everyday even though you wouldn't know it by looking, she loves to dirty it back up as soon as I give her fresh water.
They are little wotsits like that! Surrounding the water dish with rocks can help to stop the substrate being dragged in.

I suggest you get yourself a cuppa and maybe something to eat and rest for a while :)
 

Wherethetortiroam

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a tortoise can't cook itself right?

i know i feel stupid for asking but after putting a space heater in there she'll sometimes just chill under that. i checked her shell temp after she was sitting for a bit and it was 108! i shut it off then moved it to other side and she just followed.

maybe i'm still being paranoid because after she sits by the heater for a bit she'll go walk or seems like run today around her pen and then rest under the heater it just seems a little hot. i'm still playing with the settings though
 

JoesMum

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Tortoises will only cook if there’s nowhere else to go.

Otherwise they’ll stay in a hotspot just as long as they need then move somewhere cooler for a while.
 

Wherethetortiroam

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Hello all. I hate threads that end with no closure so here it is

My yellow foot tortoise I'm happy to say is healthy, always was. The sound I was hearing was her feet/ shell rubbing against the wood/tarp enclosure she is in temporarily, until her actual palace is complete. Which is still gonna be cedar however after some research I've found that its the shavings that are most harmful. And the bits that will be exposed after plants and obstacles are installed, will be covered in a sealent of some kind. I'm leaning toward tompsons never wet but not sure if it drys with non toxic fumes. Which products usually say on the outside if they are or not so I just have to look around next time at menards or Home Depot
 

TammyJ

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Watching the progress and getting a few laughs at some of the posts here.
The cedar thing though....it is definitely toxic especially to reptiles. Before I knew about it I had a little ball python that got very sick because he drank his water in which the piece of cedar wood had fallen, so the water was contaminated with the cedar. He almost died. But I think it's OK if it's not substrate chips, if it does not get wet or get into any of the animal's water anyhow.
 
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