Torts and mozzies

Chasen

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We've just had a lot of rain and the mosquitos are once again out of control. The place where I work has a sulcata and I've notice he is occasionally bothered by the little monsters. Are there any health issues associated with mozzies and is there any safe all natural repellents that can be used?
 

Yvonne G

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We had a thread about this subject several years ago:

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/mosquitoes.55710/

. . . and my friend Google found this for us:

"Mosquitos sure do bite reptiles, but generally, they do prefer to go after mammals. Mosquitos will probably opt for you and leave your tortoise or reptile . Also, mosquitos can transfer disease to tortoises, in fact, this has gotten researchers worried about the risks mosquitos have on rare tortoises.
You don't really have much to worry about for your tortoise when it comes to mosquitos, and as shelled animals, there really is less skin for a mosquito to bite on; mosquitos would rather target you"
 

Chasen

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We had a thread about this subject several years ago:

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/mosquitoes.55710/

. . . and my friend Google found this for us:

"Mosquitos sure do bite reptiles, but generally, they do prefer to go after mammals. Mosquitos will probably opt for you and leave your tortoise or reptile . Also, mosquitos can transfer disease to tortoises, in fact, this has gotten researchers worried about the risks mosquitos have on rare tortoises.
You don't really have much to worry about for your tortoise when it comes to mosquitos, and as shelled animals, there really is less skin for a mosquito to bite on; mosquitos would rather target you"
Thanx for that info. They seem to go for his neck and I've seen him do a head rub at times as if one really stuck it to him. The little tormentors definitely target me..
 

Pastel Tortie

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We had a thread about this subject several years ago:

https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/mosquitoes.55710/

. . . and my friend Google found this for us:

"Mosquitos sure do bite reptiles, but generally, they do prefer to go after mammals. Mosquitos will probably opt for you and leave your tortoise or reptile . Also, mosquitos can transfer disease to tortoises, in fact, this has gotten researchers worried about the risks mosquitos have on rare tortoises.
You don't really have much to worry about for your tortoise when it comes to mosquitos, and as shelled animals, there really is less skin for a mosquito to bite on; mosquitos would rather target you"
Yvonne, I'm curious... What's the source for that quote (that Google found)?

My brain is still trying to wake up this morning, and I probably won't have a chance to chase down specific references until later in the day. That being said... Years ago, when West Nile virus was first found in Florida, I was working for the Office of the State Veterinarian. I'll keep the questions / issues in the back of my mind today and see if I recall any specifics.

There was an issue back then regarding alligators (on an alligator farm, I think) and West Nile virus. It was an artificially high population of alligators in a confined space. I don't remember right off what symptoms they had, if any.

For the more general questions about tortoises and mosquitoes, my gut suggestion is to see what information is available from the University of Florida. They do research on mosquitoes, and they do research on reptiles. It's a matter of finding the overlap.

I'll keep thinking on this one... :)
 

Tim Carlisle

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Yvonne, I'm curious... What's the source for that quote (that Google found)?

My brain is still trying to wake up this morning, and I probably won't have a chance to chase down specific references until later in the day. That being said... Years ago, when West Nile virus was first found in Florida, I was working for the Office of the State Veterinarian. I'll keep the questions / issues in the back of my mind today and see if I recall any specifics.

There was an issue back then regarding alligators (on an alligator farm, I think) and West Nile virus. It was an artificially high population of alligators in a confined space. I don't remember right off what symptoms they had, if any.

For the more general questions about tortoises and mosquitoes, my gut suggestion is to see what information is available from the University of Florida. They do research on mosquitoes, and they do research on reptiles. It's a matter of finding the overlap.

I'll keep thinking on this one... :)
I'd be curious as well. I can't help but think that since many tortoises / turtles are exposed to high humidity areas, bogs, swamps, monsoons, etc, that mosquitoes would be rampant in their natural environment. I would also surmise that they have some kinda natural defense system to aid against the diseases mosquitoes carry. The only exception of course would be the true desert tortoises with less exposure to mosquitoes.
 

Pastel Tortie

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I'd be curious as well. I can't help but think that since many tortoises / turtles are exposed to high humidity areas, bogs, swamps, monsoons, etc, that mosquitoes would be rampant in their natural environment. I would also surmise that they have some kinda natural defense system to aid against the diseases mosquitoes carry. The only exception of course would be the true desert tortoises with less exposure to mosquitoes.
It may not be that they possess an immunity, but rather that they lack a vulnerability... If that makes sense.
 

Yvonne G

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It may not be that they possess an immunity, but rather that they lack a vulnerability... If that makes sense.
I think it has to do with respirations. Seems mosquitoes are attracted to the exhale breath of the creature they want to bite. Tortoises have pretty shallow respirations.
 

Tim Carlisle

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It may not be that they possess an immunity, but rather that they lack a vulnerability... If that makes sense.
I can go with that but for one exception, and that's the fact that they DO get bitten; albeit not as much as warm blooded mammals. Very interesting discussion.
 

Pastel Tortie

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We've just had a lot of rain and the mosquitos are once again out of control. The place where I work has a sulcata and I've notice he is occasionally bothered by the little monsters. Are there any health issues associated with mozzies and is there any safe all natural repellents that can be used?
I realize this probably sounds a bit flippant and perhaps even crazy... I have no knowledge of how this particular Sulcata is set up (burrows, housing, infrastructure, etc.), but is there any opportunity to use mosquito netting or a good strong electric fan?

I'm thinking if there's a night box or a certain spot the Sulcata likes to hang out, maybe a tent-like flap can be added that the tortoise can pass through the panels of netting, but have the netting (or screen fabric) weighted enough at the bottom to fall closed behind him. They do make mesh screen curtain panels for doors.

Otherwise (probably not in conjunction with the idea above though), you might try setting up a decent sized fan and see if he takes after many decades of dogs, cats and kids... and parks his carapace in front of the fan! That is, if he doesn't knock the fan over first.

Those are the only solutions I've come up with so far that wouldn't require figuring out if a particular substance or plant was toxic, in what doses, what proximity, how applied, etc.
 

Pastel Tortie

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I can go with that but for one exception, and that's the fact that they DO get bitten; albeit not as much as warm blooded mammals. Very interesting discussion.
They definitely get bitten. My line of thought is that diseases (or their causes) require certain environmental conditions to be able to survive, thrive, grow, and further infect. Certain warm-blooded creatures (mammals and birds) are ideal environments for certain diseases. It's possible that tortoises and turtles do not provide a good environment, unless the disease (pathogen) is already at a critical mass in an individual.
 

Chasen

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I realize this probably sounds a bit flippant and perhaps even crazy... I have no knowledge of how this particular Sulcata is set up (burrows, housing, infrastructure, etc.), but is there any opportunity to use mosquito netting or a good strong electric fan?

I'm thinking if there's a night box or a certain spot the Sulcata likes to hang out, maybe a tent-like flap can be added that the tortoise can pass through the panels of netting, but have the netting (or screen fabric) weighted enough at the bottom to fall closed behind him. They do make mesh screen curtain panels for doors.

Otherwise (probably not in conjunction with the idea above though), you might try setting up a decent sized fan and see if he takes after many decades of dogs, cats and kids... and parks his carapace in front of the fan! That is, if he doesn't knock the fan over first.

Those are the only solutions I've come up with so far that wouldn't require figuring out if a particular substance or plant was toxic, in what doses, what proximity, how applied, etc.
I realize this probably sounds a bit flippant and perhaps even crazy... I have no knowledge of how this particular Sulcata is set up (burrows, housing, infrastructure, etc.), but is there any opportunity to use mosquito netting or a good strong electric fan?

I'm thinking if there's a night box or a certain spot the Sulcata likes to hang out, maybe a tent-like flap can be added that the tortoise can pass through the panels of netting, but have the netting (or screen fabric) weighted enough at the bottom to fall closed behind him. They do make mesh screen curtain panels for doors.

Otherwise (probably not in conjunction with the idea above though), you might try setting up a decent sized fan and see if he takes after many decades of dogs, cats and kids... and parks his carapace in front of the fan! That is, if he doesn't knock the fan over first.

Those are the only solutions I've come up with so far that wouldn't require figuring out if a particular substance or plant was toxic, in what doses, what proximity, how applied, etc.
Thanx for your input. He doesn't have a "house" yet as they just got him a couple months ago. He has a few fav spots he likes to nap and it just wouldn't be feasable to have little mozzie net tents all over the yard.
 

Pastel Tortie

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Thanx for your input. He doesn't have a "house" yet as they just got him a couple months ago. He has a few fav spots he likes to nap and it just wouldn't be feasable to have little mozzie net tents all over the yard.
Understand. How large is he?
 

JoesMum

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I honestly don't think a mosquito is capable of biting through a tort's skin. It isn't like yours and mine. There may be a lot of mozzies about and they may be near your tort, but I really don't think he is being bitten


EDIT
I stand corrected. They do bite reptiles.

What are the disease risks to humans where you live from mosquito bites?
 
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