Health issue HELP!

[Angi]

I have been watching my Mom's two CDTs. I keep them seperate from mine because hers are bigger and pick on mine. They have been in a tort yard with lots of plants, weeds, rocks and a dog house. A few days ago I noticed ants had gooten in there area. I removed the torts and started working on getting rid of the ants. Now I noticed the both have two bunps under their chin. They look like blisters. Anybody know what this is? Could it be an ant bite?

HELP!!!!!

 

[Yvonne G]

No, they were always there, you just didn't notice them before. Male desert tortoises have two glands under their chin that look like big boils or hard blisters. When they are actively breeding these glands swell up and even burst and bleed.

You sounded like you had tried to put them with yours in the beginning. This may have caused the swelling of the glands (being with new tortoises). There's nothing to worry about. Its a normal occurrence.

 

[ascott]

Yup...the males have the glands alright.....

 

[Angi]

Oh...man...I am so relieved! They were not together long. Hers are a lot bigger but only three years old.