Sulcata cracked beak!

Diaz.V

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Help!! Carlos has a cracked beak and Im not sure when it happened. I never look closely at his beak (shame on me). He has a good diet, greens cacti strawberries as treats etc. We recently moved him to a new area by the house while the rest of the grass is getting treated for fleas. He's a beast when it comes to eating and never passes up an opportunity which is completely my fault that i haven't inspected him. I checked on his buddy Gerald and he seems ok but Carlos has his beak cracked!!! What do i do! was it too long! Can i get a file and do it myself?CArlos.jpg carlos bottom.jpg

Carlos is 2 years old, got him as a baby and spends everyday outside in this Texas heat. He has two watering holes with shallow water he likes to sit in. And plenty of grass with two houses in the shade.
 

Diaz.V

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Here are a bit more pictures. Im starting to think he cracked it trying to climb the cement onto the opposite side of house... :/ IMG_2800.jpgIMG_2804.jpgIMG_2803.jpg

The last photo is Carlos ( big one) and Gerald the smaller one. Both same age and obtained at the same time.

The rest of the yard has bushes and other hiding spots they like to roam in but this side doesn’t. Their homes are against our house in the shade as well as their water.
 

Yvonne G

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That looks very painful for poor Carlos. I'm willing to bet it happened by the two of them fighting. When they ram each other it can be a VERY hard collision. It's not a real good idea to keep only a pair together. Three or more works much better, but when there are two you always have a dominant and a subordinate.

Every time he bites down on his food it forces that crack apart. This is a VERY hard place to heal. It would be good if you can figure out a way to stabilize the crack so it can't be forced apart, but I have no words of wisdom for you on that matter. You can try chopping up his food so he doesn't have to bite it, but it will still be forced apart as he grazes.
 

Diaz.V

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That looks very painful for poor Carlos. I'm willing to bet it happened by the two of them fighting. When they ram each other it can be a VERY hard collision. It's not a real good idea to keep only a pair together. Three or more works much better, but when there are two you always have a dominant and a subordinate.

Every time he bites down on his food it forces that crack apart. This is a VERY hard place to heal. It would be good if you can figure out a way to stabilize the crack so it can't be forced apart, but I have no words of wisdom for you on that matter. You can try chopping up his food so he doesn't have to bite it, but it will still be forced apart as he grazes.

Ohhhh no!
 

TechnoCheese

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+1 for getting them separated. They are actually showing aggressive behavior in the picture. While it may look affectionate, “cuddling”, “following”, and just being together in general are actually crowding and chasing, which they use to stress and push the other out of their territory. The fact that one is smaller than the other is a good clue that bullying has been happening. For future reference, tortoises, especially Sulcatas, are solitary and territorial animals that should never be kept in pairs.

It may be a good idea to keep him in an indoor hospital set up to keep him from damaging it further. I almost wonder if you couldn’t use a small amount of tape or something like super glue to keep the beak together, but I would absolutely get a second opinion on that.
 

Diaz.V

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I definitely didn’t know this. They’re always together but when put In backyard ( without any boundaries) entirely they go their separate ways and have diff homes they prefer.. I just made an apt at the exotic vet near me.
Thank you for this information now I’m worried thinking they just liked going where the other did.
 

Diaz.V

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IMG_2815.jpg.
Carolos has now been separated to their old home by the shed. Has gravel and sand and his hiding spots. His appointment is Tuesday so till then... separation
 

Maro2Bear

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+1 for getting them separated. They are actually showing aggressive behavior in the picture. While it may look affectionate, “cuddling”, “following”, and just being together in general are actually crowding and chasing, which they use to stress and push the other out of their territory. The fact that one is smaller than the other is a good clue that bullying has been happening. For future reference, tortoises, especially Sulcatas, are solitary and territorial animals that should never be kept in pairs.

It may be a good idea to keep him in an indoor hospital set up to keep him from damaging it further. I almost wonder if you couldn’t use a small amount of tape or something like super glue to keep the beak together, but I would absolutely get a second opinion on that.


Yes. First thing that comes to mind is to use some type of safe super glue that can be applied, and quickly set. I’m guessing a good vet has this and can apply. If not, it’s going to keep splitting.
 

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