Help, Sneezing and “Wheezing”?

Princess Nova

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Hello everyone ! I’m new to this app but have gotten most of my information and research on tortoises from here, so I trust the community.

I have a problem with my female Russian tortoise and would love to get some help or opinions. I have had her for over a year, and just recently she has started sucking her head in quickly and blowing air out her nose, like sneezing or “blowing” her nose almost? The other day I could have swore I saw a bubble come out (I haven’t seen anything else yet). I’m hoping it’s not respiratory infection!

She’s also acting very odd and different than usual. (I’ll attach pictures), She is in an open top tortoise table with 2 floors, 4”x2.5”. Lately she will retreat up her ramp into the second floor where it is dark, and huddle in the corner. She has missed meals doing this! In hopes of making this stop, I pull back the “roof” of the top floor to let light in, but she insists on finding a dark corner and staying there. She gets very cold sometimes by doing this, and I always place her underneath her heat lamp when she does. I thought maybe she’s trying to hibernate? What could she be doing this for?

She is from a pet shop, and the guy there said she was about 5, but she looks very small to me for a 5 year old. I weigh her every month, this month she weighs 1 lb., 2 oz., an ounce less than last month, yet she was on an empty stomach when I weighed her.

And lastly some information I often see people ask for is:
Diet - I feed her mainly spring mix, and occasionally switch it up with kale, mustard greens, collard greens, and turnip greens.
She loves her carrots, broccoli and cauliflower, squashes and zucchini, and more. The more variety I can give her, the better. I do sprinkle ReptiCalcium with D3 on her meals a few times a week. She usually doesn’t eat more than 1 or 2 times a day.
VERY occasional fruit such as apple, banana, tomatoes, etc.
Fresh bottled water is always provided and accessible to her in a bowl buried in the dirt.
Substrate - At the moment I’m using very basic top soil as substrate. When it dries, it’s not very deep at all. I have noticed that it is very dusty (which I’m thinking could be the whole problem here) and dry, and despite what I have recently seen on this app, Russians are supposed to have dry substrate with little humidity. I haven’t found one set substrate that I like the most. I would LOVE to know what kind of substrate you use and how it works for your RT! We are crunched on money so please take that into consideration.
Heat and Light - 12 on 12 off light cycle. She has heating in the day of course, and also night time as our house is set at 67 degrees (F). Sometimes she sleeps underneath her night lamp, sometimes she doesn’t. She is also provided with her necessary sun light lamp.
Her basking area is at around 90 degrees (F), the rest is about 80 and the upstairs that she won’t stop hiding in is room temp at high 60’s - low 70’s.
Soaking - I soak her roughly 2-3 times a week for 15-20 minutes in the sink, with nice warm water. Usually she poops and pees while being soaked, but I do also have to spot clean her enclosure. She clearly drinks while being soaked, and I won’t let the stream from the tap pass over her face too much as I don’t want her to get any water in her nose.

If you can help it would be MUCH appreciated! I hope I provided enough information, sorry it’s long, I’m just very confused and stress out at why she’s acting so weird. If you have any questions I will try my best to answer them. Thank you!
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wellington

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The temps, we need an exact number not an around number. The second level temps are too cold. The basking needs to be 90 or above, 95-100 better. Now for possibly her being sick, you need to bump all temps except basking but day and night and low end all upto 80-85 and do not let them dip. If she is starting to come down with something this'd could help ward it off. Keep it like this until she seems back too normal. Then put temps back except the cool end is too cool, raise that to 75 and no lower then 68
 

wellington

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Btw, the enclosure is way too small for an adult Russian. She needs a minimum of a 4x8 foot. A two level can be used to try to give more space. However, it has to be much bigger of a second level then what you have.
 

Princess Nova

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Btw, the enclosure is way too small for an adult Russian. She needs a minimum of a 4x8 foot. A two level can be used to try to give more space. However, it has to be much bigger of a second level then what you have.

Thank you for your suggestions, I thought the heating could be the problem. What about humidity levels? What type of heat bulb would you recommend that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg? Thank you again.
 

TechnoCheese

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RosemaryDW

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@Princess Nova there are issues with your setup and diet, some of which is mentioned above. While those things are very important, it sounds very much to me like your tortoise has a respiratory infection (our tortoise is just finising recovery from one). Bump the heat and let her hide and sleep. Give her daily warm soaks.

And find a good reptile vet asap. You may have to drive a bit but there will be one in your state; in fact there will be several. Take a look at our vet list and/or reach out to a local tortoise organization or rescue center for recommendations. Unlike some of our members, there is no reason you can’t find and access one.
 

wellington

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@Princess Nova there are issues with your setup and diet, some of which is mentioned above. While those things are very important, it sounds very much to me like your tortoise has a respiratory infection (our tortoise is just finising recovery from one). Bump the heat and let her hide and sleep. Give her daily warm soaks.

And find a good reptile vet asap. You may have to drive a bit but there will be one in your state; in fact there will be several. Take a look at our vet list and/or reach out to a local tortoise organization or rescue center for recommendations. Unlike some of our members, there is no reason you can’t find and access one.
With only one possible siting of a nose discharge a vet visit isn't immediately needed. Most vets can do more harm then good. With her temps being too cold and only one sighting of a possible bubble, bumpin up the temps as I mentioned may be all that is needed. Usually the raised temps will clear up anything that might have been coming on. If the temps are raised and things don't get better or get worse then a vet visit may be needed.
 

wellington

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Thank you for your suggestions, I thought the heating could be the problem. What about humidity levels? What type of heat bulb would you recommend that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg? Thank you again.
The CHE's mentioned are cheap and last a long time. You can get the fixtures cheaper usually at Home Depot and some Walmarts even. Just be sure they are ceramic socket and the large metal domes.
 

wellington

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Your diet needs to be improved too. No more fruit should be fed. Make the other greens you mentioned as the main diet and add the spring mix in to that.
 

Princess Nova

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@Princess Nova there are issues with your setup and diet, some of which is mentioned above. While those things are very important, it sounds very much to me like your tortoise has a respiratory infection (our tortoise is just finising recovery from one). Bump the heat and let her hide and sleep. Give her daily warm soaks.

And find a good reptile vet asap. You may have to drive a bit but there will be one in your state; in fact there will be several. Take a look at our vet list and/or reach out to a local tortoise organization or rescue center for recommendations. Unlike some of our members, there is no reason you can’t find and access one.

I was hoping it wouldn’t be a RI :( an issue is she insists to sleep on her second level, which has no heat lamp or anything to keep her warm. I’m going to keep my room warmer with a space heater and hopefully that will help too. Would adding more moist substrate help as well? Would bumping up the humidity help or worsen this situation? There are a couple exotic pet vets a little over an hour away from where a live, yet holding me back from taking her is I have never took her to one, I’m very scared they will kill her with vitamins or antibiotics as many tortoise owners have reported after taking their tort to the vet :( thank you for your help
 

Maro2Bear

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This is the heat bulb that I use. Do you think using 2 at once would help? View attachment 233652


But what about at night? The beauty in using a CHE is that you can have one attached to a thermostat with a probe at substrate level, turns on and off as needed. And it produces only heat, no light, so good to use at night .
 

wellington

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They should and need it dark at night. A Che is cheap and last a long time. I'm not sure the bulb you pictured a link to should even be used on a tortoise. I'm not familiar with them and tortoises. For around 20-25 bucks you can get a Che and a fixture.
 

wellington

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For added day time heat you could use a regular 40-60 watt bulb. You would have to try one and see if it's too hot or not hot enough and then switch to the other wattage depending. But for night time a Che is needed, no light.
 

Princess Nova

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Update :

I just got home and took her out, letting her roam around my room while I quickly added the rest of the substrate I had for her into her enclosure. It’s very very moist, and the humidity has jumped to 65%. Afterward I gave her a nice 20 min and very warm (but not hot) soak. She seems to be almost energetic and alert, climbing at the sides of the walls, demanding to get out and do some more roaming, (she’s usually like this after baths) but she’s still slightly wet and I don’t want her to get cold. I also put our space heater in my room with the door closed, and I’m currently sweating lol. We get paid Friday, so hopefully by then I can upgrade her lights to this CHE everyone is suggesting. You guys say this can function as a heat lamp and a source of heat at night without light? Also, does it provide artificial sun rays? Thank you all. This is the current night time bulb she has IMG_3292.jpg
 

wellington

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The Che is only for heat, no light, no uvb. The black bulb you have pictured should not be used. But if it's all you have for night heat, then use it until you can get a Che.
 

RosemaryDW

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There are a couple exotic pet vets a little over an hour away from where a live, yet holding me back from taking her is I have never took her to one, I’m very scared they will kill her with vitamins or antibiotics as many tortoise owners have reported after taking their tort to the vet :(

It is good to be thoughtful about choosing a good reptile vet. Even if you don’t need one now, it’s good to have one identified in case you ever need one in a hurry.

You know enough now to know that a knowledgeable vet won’t suggest a vitamin shot and you’re smart enough to say no to one, should it be suggested.

You also live in a populous state with plenty of folks with some discretionary income; you will be able to find a good vet. You can contact some rescues in Oregon and ask for a recommendation. Everyone I spoke to in my area suggested the same doctor but I also did my own research from reviews people had left on Yelp and elsewhere to reinforce my decsion. Look for vets who have worked specifically with snakes and lizards and tortoises.

You can always take a new to you tortoise in for a basic checkup to see if you like him or her. If you’ve ever been to a regular vet it won’t be too different. They check the tortoise over for some vitals and perhaps take a fecal sample for parasites. Nothing invasive. Again, you can always say no to something that sounds unnecessary.
 

Princess Nova

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It is good to be thoughtful about choosing a good reptile vet. Even if you don’t need one now, it’s good to have one identified in case you ever need one in a hurry.

You know enough now to know that a knowledgeable vet won’t suggest a vitamin shot and you’re smart enough to say no to one, should it be suggested.

You also live in a populous state with plenty of folks with some discretionary income; you will be able to find a good vet. You can contact some rescues in Oregon and ask for a recommendation. Everyone I spoke to in my area suggested the same doctor but I also did my own research from reviews people had left on Yelp and elsewhere to reinforce my decsion. Look for vets who have worked specifically with snakes and lizards and tortoises.

You can always take a new to you tortoise in for a basic checkup to see if you like him or her. If you’ve ever been to a regular vet it won’t be too different. They check the tortoise over for some vitals and perhaps take a fecal sample for parasites. Nothing invasive. Again, you can always say no to something that sounds unnecessary.

Thank you so much for all of this. I’ll do some research and asking around to try and find a good vet. Right now I hope the steps I’m taking can kick whatever might be going on with Nova.
 
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