Does this turtle look ok?

[Niki]

My sons class has a pet turtle,I think he is a box turtle? He is in a glass tank with what looks like fake grass. Recently I heard his beak fell off. I noticed the other day that it looks like there is a hole on top of his head? Not sure if you can see this in picture. I am pretty sure the teacher took him to a vet when his beak fell off. My son says he is 16 years old. I volunteer once a week in his class and everytime I see this cute guy I feel kinda sad for him. His teacher takes him home on vacations so I am not 100% sure if he stays in tank all of the time, but probably. Hopefully picture works... This is my first time.

 

[DanaLachney]

I know I'm still new here but that's poor thing looks terrible and his beak looks overgrown. What's his diet? I see some sort of pellets in his dish is that all he gets? And he also looks like he has MBD. I don't mean to offend its just he looks bad :'(

 

[Angi]

He does not look okay to me. Can you tell us a little more about his care. Does he have a place to soak? does he have heat? Does he have a hide? What does he eat. The fake grass needs to go, but we should find out what else needs to change before you talk to the teacher.

 

[dmmj]

Overgrown beak, bumpy shell. It is rare to see pyramiding in a box turtle, but they managed it somehow.
Please direct them to this forum, at least for the turtle's sake.

 

[Angi]

BTW-Niki, your dog is really cute!

 

[dmmj]

O I C no love for my dog huh?

 

[Angi]

I like Niki's dogs hair, but your dog is cute too Captain

 

[WallieTheTortoise]

Poor boxie....

 

[Niki]

Well... Here is a pic of his tank. I am pretty sure this is his permanent home. My son says she does soak him during the week and he says she gives him grapes a lot. I see the food in there and it looks like turtle food from a pet store? I feel bad because I love his teacher. She is awesome...probably doesn't know any different. How do I go about talking to her without insulting her? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

---

I like Niki's dogs hair, but your dog is cute too Captain

Wish this was my dog... I thought it was so cute! But I do have a chi that is even cuter. ( to me anyway!).

 

[dummy_lifted]

im not a specialist nor am i a tortoise vet but i can say he does look unhappy or maybe thats how he looks. but im jst basing off the tank that he is according to his size and the food he eats..... its always fun to switch up new things for them to eat.

 

[Radiated]

It doesn't have access to water in the terrarium!!!???? You should adopt it!

 

[nicoleandrocky]

poor little guy

 

[HonuFonu23]

My heart just went THUD. I haven't had my sully for along, but that tort looks like he needs a whole lot more than fake grass. Poor thing looks very sickly

 

[Floof]

Oh dear. That is an extremely inadequate enclosure. Too small, too dry, no access to water, sounds like an inappropriate diet (pellets and grapes are not a proper boxie diet!), inappropriate substrate, no thermometers in sight to monitor temperatures (and I assume she's not temp gunning it, either)... Plus, as has been said already, that poor boxie is just terrible looking all around. Pyramiding, extremely overgrown beak, and goodness only knows what else is going on.

As far as approaching the teacher... The only bit of advice I can offer is approach her with concerned kindness. Try not to be accusatory at all (might be a little difficult, I know--she seriously dropped the ball there!!! If I saw that, I'd be fuming...). Print out some care sheets and bring them along, and suggest she do some research on her own, online, to see for herself how incredibly much more in-depth box turtle care is than she evidently thinks it is. Point her toward TFO, of course--there's lots of great threads on boxie care here, and I'm sure we'd all be happy to help her out should she choose to ask for advice.

Regarding how much needs to be done... I'm by no means an "expert," in fact all my box turtle knowledge is derived solely from care sheets and browsing TFO... But from what I can tell, that poor thing needs a total enclosure & care regime make-over! New tank, new substrate, new hiding places, a water dish, a new diet, some thermometers to monitor his temps, and a visit to a QUALIFIED herp vet with turtle experience. If you let us know *roughly* where you are (i.e. nearest big city), then someone may be able to suggest a good vet near you that she can take the turtle to.

In the mean time, a couple good places to research box turtle care so you can better help the teacher are http://boxturtlesite.info/, http://aboxturtle.com/, and, of course, our very own "American Box Turtles" forum down below (under Species Specific -> Turtles).

 

[Niki]

Oh dear. That is an extremely inadequate enclosure. Too small, too dry, no access to water, sounds like an inappropriate diet (pellets and grapes are not a proper boxie diet!), inappropriate substrate, no thermometers in sight to monitor temperatures (and I assume she's not temp gunning it, either)... Plus, as has been said already, that poor boxie is just terrible looking all around. Pyramiding, extremely overgrown beak, and goodness only knows what else is going on.

As far as approaching the teacher... The only bit of advice I can offer is approach her with concerned kindness. Try not to be accusatory at all (might be a little difficult, I know--she seriously dropped the ball there!!! If I saw that, I'd be fuming...). Print out some care sheets and bring them along, and suggest she do some research on her own, online, to see for herself how incredibly much more in-depth box turtle care is than she evidently thinks it is. Point her toward TFO, of course--there's lots of great threads on boxie care here, and I'm sure we'd all be happy to help her out should she choose to ask for advice.

Regarding how much needs to be done... I'm by no means an "expert," in fact all my box turtle knowledge is derived solely from care sheets and browsing TFO... But from what I can tell, that poor thing needs a total enclosure & care regime make-over! New tank, new substrate, new hiding places, a water dish, a new diet, some thermometers to monitor his temps, and a visit to a QUALIFIED herp vet with turtle experience. If you let us know *roughly* where you are (i.e. nearest big city), then someone may be able to suggest a good vet near you that she can take the turtle to.

In the mean time, a couple good places to research box turtle care so you can better help the teacher are http://boxturtlesite.info/, http://aboxturtle.com/, and, of course, our very own "American Box Turtles" forum down below (under Species Specific -> Turtles).

Thank you for the advice. I am volunteering this Wednesday and I am planning on speaking with her then. ( wish me luck!) . We are in Phx/Scottsdale, Az. She told me she took him to a vet when his beak fell off, I am surprised the vet didn't say anything to her. She is a fabulous teacher... I didn't know anything about tortoises/turtles until I was given my Russian and started researching her care. The TFO has actually been more helpful and correct than the vet I took my RT to! So I am hoping she just needs a little education on turtle care. I just hope I don't offend her. I would feel awful! Will let you know the outcome. Feel so bad when I see that little guy.