Choking / Cough?

[Micakrystine]

Hi, still a new owner here, only 1 week with them! I’m doing research now on this but if anyone experienced can give me advise on my cherry head red foot please!! A bit over 2 years old. She was up eating some greens and munching on her cuttlefish bone. Idk what happened but I think she may have gotten some orchard bark/substrate in her mouth/throat! she drags her food off the slate, I changed to terracotta saucers immediately. I’m not sure but she like coughed or something for 30 seconds, kinda squeaky. SHE DID KEEP EATING AFTERWARDS, and then went to her big hide and I’ve checked on her every 30 mins since seems to be okay. Please let me know what you think!! I have 2 videos but I can’t upload them here not sure how I can show you them!

 

[144 Grandpa Turtle]

Hope your tortoise is OK now

 

[Micakrystine]

Hope your tortoise is OK now

Thank you I’ll look into using that instead!

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

I have 2 videos but I can’t upload them here not sure how I can show you them!

You can share videos by uploading them somewhere else first like YouTube and then post a link here.

 

[Micakrystine]

Here’s the video of it happening! I’m probably being paranoid. But please someone tell me if I did something wrong and how to prevent her from choking or getting hurt! I use coco coir and orchard bark. It’s pretty big chunks of bark. And she was eating a cuttlefish bone.

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Yes, looks like choking or something stuck in mouth. Could be a strand from coco coir or a piece of cuttlebone. One time is not a problem, if it's repeating behaviour - I would be worried.

Concerns about choking on a cuttlebone are valid but mostly for larger tortoises who crush the whole thing into large chunks when taking a bite. Cuttlebone is coated with a thin hard layer - it can be removed before offering. Or you can just use calcium powder (crushed egg shells or reptile-marketed) 1-2 times a week and offer a hard-boiled egg with shell on "protein days".

 

[Micakrystine]

Yes, looks like choking or something stuck in mouth. Could be a strand from coco coir or a piece of cuttlebone. One time is not a problem, if it's repeating behaviour - I would be worried.

Concerns about choking on a cuttlebone are valid but mostly for larger tortoises who crush the whole thing into large chunks when taking a bite. Cuttlebone is coated with a thin hard layer - it can be removed before offering. Or you can just use calcium powder (crushed egg shells or reptile-marketed) 1-2 times a week and offer a hard-boiled egg with shell on "protein days".

Okay I’ll consider these and watch for if it happens again! She really likes the cuttlefish so I don’t want to take it away yet but that also scared the out of me. I do give them the calcium with d3 powder on food sometimes. Thank you for responding Alex!
P.S. I took a lot of your recommendations on the enclosure! I put foam insulation boards all around and on top, plus some for the doors that I put on at night. the brooder in the large hide is working so well, and I put in some safe plants in little terra cotta pots with only coco and bark.
Temps are perfect, still working on humidity, but It’s really coming along great! Thank you so much for all the help!