Baby sulcata issue

[Brickman420]

About two weeks ago someone gave me a baby sulcata they couldn’t care for. I got him a nice big tank, coco choir, heaters, uvb lights, maintained good humidity and soak him daily. I noticed he was shedding a little when I got him, looked like a skin tag on his head. It came off and then it looked like his top beak was starting to shed. It’s been a few days and I think it’s a different problem. He is always active after a soak (but spends a lot of time sleeping) and poops usually during the soak, although I haven’t seen him eat. It just looks like a dry nail instead of a healthy tortoise mouth. I tried calling the vet and the specialist isn’t in till nov 10th. I tried researching but haven’t found anything similar. I’m not sure of the age but will attach some pictures. I’m new to the forum and would appreciate any help, I like this little guy.
Thank you,
Steve.

 

[ZenHerper]

Welcome - thanks for rescuing!

I'm afraid this looks like Austwickia Chelonia...a deadly bacterial infection that is running rampant in some Sulcata breeding programs.

This bacterium is contagious to All other types of reptiles, so be sure to keep this habitat quarantined from any other collection you have and practice careful disinfection of your hands and all moveable cage components. You need to use an ammonia-based cleaner (bleach is NOT effective).

This is the Austwickia sub-forum here:

Yellow Bumps on Tortoises

www.tortoiseforum.org

I'll tag our member who has the greatest in-person experience with the issue: @mastershake

 

[Brickman420]

Welcome - thanks for rescuing!

I'm afraid this looks like Austwickia Chelonia...a deadly bacterial infection that is running rampant in some Sulcata breeding programs.

This bacterium is contagious to All other types of reptiles, so be sure to keep this habitat quarantined from any other collection you have and practice careful disinfection of your hands and all moveable cage components. You need to use an ammonia-based cleaner (bleach is NOT effective).

This is the Austwickia sub-forum here:

Yellow Bumps on Tortoises

www.tortoiseforum.org

I'll tag our member who has the greatest in-person experience with the issue: @mastershake

Thank you

 

[mastershake]

this def looks like austwickia im so sorry to say. you could have a lab run some tests to be sure but it requires a deep tissue resection and seeing prob more of these than anyone so far this does look to fit that diagnosis. if you have any other reptiles are all hopefully you have not handled them after touching this one. this animal either needs to be in STRICT qt i.e. basically hospital grade type deal or sadly humanely euthanized. the symptoms from what i can see are def there including the lower beak issue. the bumps do dry up and fall off BUT that does not in any way mean they are gone they will come back in almost every case i have seen on antibiotics or not.

as zen said everything used substrate wise needs to be disposed of or burned. and use either straight ammonia to clean or something like ecoloab oasis. you need a long "wet time" so spray and let it sit for at least 30min or more before rinsing and i recc repeating 2-3 times if you must try to re use the enclosure.

nothing anti biotic wise has been fully effective in "curing" this it can be suppressed for a bit but every case we have monitored it has come back after. sometimes a week later sometimes a few months later. i wish i was able to come with better news but being honest if this is what it appears to be the right thing to do with be to not let them suffer sadly.

if you want to have a sample sent out to a lab not all labs test for this specific thing i can tell you where to send it or your vet but as said it needs to be all the way through the skin where you see an affected area. this will require a stitch or two there and has to be shipped there overnight to preserve the sample. if you have any specific questions please do let me know. and do inform the person who had this about how contagious this is if they have any other reptiles or plan to get any.

 

[wellington]

So very sorry.

 

[TaylorTortoise]

Is this bacteria contagious to humans or just reptiles?

 

[mastershake]

only reptiles and has been found in black crows

 

[Brickman420]

Thanks for your help and replies everyone.