Cherry head health question

Plowmandust77

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I picked up a pair of Cherry Head tortoises off a local Craigslist. They are in rough shape and I'm ready to get their health right. I'm concerned about the dry skin on their head and also shell rot. Any other input would be great. I have been using Lubriderm non scented lotion which has helped a bit so far and also have Betadine and chlorhexidine. I have not used anything on their bellies until I get more information.

Thanks for any help! First time uploading pictures so bare with me !


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MPRC

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That is some nasty shell rot. Athletes foot anti-fungal cream seems to be the go-to fix for that, along side with proper husbandry.

When I have an extra dry tortoise (I have 6 redfoots) I use a little virgin coconut oil on them, I rub it in post-bath and then rub off the excess after a few minutes.

Aside from the shell rot they don't look too bad, a couple of cute boys.
 

ZEROPILOT

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Use the Betedine just once. Any more and it'll slow down the healing of the areas.
Then place a dab of athletes foot cream on the areas once a day for a week or two to kill the fungus.
Even though the fungus will die pretty quickly, the scars will remain for a LOT longer.
I wouldn't use any lotion. It may be keeping the skin from peeling off as it should. (Looking at all the shell rot kind of shows that they weren't kept too dry.)
 

Plowmandust77

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Previous owner said he kept them on wood chips in a 50 gallon rubbermaid tub with a 100 watt vapor bulb.....talk about what the.......blank. They are active and seem helluva lot more happier in my 8 foot enclosure.
 

ZEROPILOT

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You have a UV source too, right?
Remember you need high humidity but not a wet floor.
This can be accomplished by using your wood chips or mulch with soil on top. The chips will absorb the water poured into it and let off humidity as evaporation, leaving the top layer dry.
You also want heat through the whole enclosure to be from 80 to around 88. A hot basking area is not required and a little cooler at night is O.K.
And real sunlight or a good UVB source. Nothing very bright. And no spiral or looped compact florescent bulbs.
If you have the space, I like to include a shallow pool for mine to self soak. However, I'd wait until that fungal issue clears up first.
 

Plowmandust77

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I have a UVB 5.0 reptisun light on the cool end of my enclosure. I have cypress mulch throughout the enclosure, with sphagnum moss in the hide home area. The humid end is 80 degrees, and the cooler end is 68 to 70.
 

ZEROPILOT

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I have a UVB 5.0 reptisun light on the cool end of my enclosure. I have cypress mulch throughout the enclosure, with sphagnum moss in the hide home area. The humid end is 80 degrees, and the cooler end is 68 to 70.
The UVB light sounds good. But 80 should be your minimum temp. Not the maximum. Keep in mind that your tortoises are tropical and can not digest food correctly unless it is at least 80 degrees in the enclosure.
 

Plowmandust77

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I have a 150 watt CHE on the hot end. I'm thinking I'm going to get a 200/250 for the hot end. The tortoises are very active and are definitely having large bowel movements lol...and I definitely will agree they are males......they flashed me......lol....
 

Yvonne G

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Actually, the RF species don't need a "hot end, cool end." They do just fine with the temp a pleasant 80-85F degrees over the whole habitat.
 

Plowmandust77

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Shell rot really starting to recover. Betadine n fungal cream.
 

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