Help! Petco Russian- Shell rot?

[tortnerd]

Hello, here's my story:
I've wanted a Russian Tortoise for a long time, I've done the research, and I know captive bread is a heck of a lot better than wild caught. But there don't seem to be any breeders in my area. About a week ago, I noticed petco had 3 new baby RTs. They are being kept in what looks to be about a 15 gallon setup. There is feces everywhere, and the water is soiled and old. They were being fed aquatic turtle pellets, but I noticed yesterday their bowl was empty.
I know I can provide a better life for them than petco can, and probably the average petco customer too. But money is an issue (I'm a college student): each tortoise is $90. I can afford one, given time to raise the money, but what I'm really worried about is being able to afford the vet care. The one I've sort of fallen for has a really beat up shell- it looks scratched, which white parts all over. I know that is the description of shell rot, but I was wondering if that could have been just damage from transport?
Can any experienced eye here tell me if they think this is shell rot? These pictures were taken yesterday:


Any help would be Greatly appreciated! He seems active, hungry, and healthy otherwise. Thank you for your time.

 

[Itort]

To be honest with you with the conditions you describe them being kept in, this tortoise will end up costing you more $90 with possible vet bills, ect. Chain petstores seldom stand behind the animals they sell (in their mind they are merchandise and expendable). Where are you located, perhaps there is a rescue available.

 

[tortnerd]

To be honest with you with the conditions you describe them being kept in, this tortoise will end up costing you more $90 with possible vet bills, ect. Chain petstores seldom stand behind the animals they sell (in their mind they are merchandise and expendable). Where are you located, perhaps there is a rescue available.

I know I'll have to take him to the vet... and I know that is expensive, probably more expensive than the tortoise. I'm just wondering if he does have shell rot, then I can bring it to the managers attention (they probably wouldn't care, but they do have a vet on call, apparently), or just factor in treatment costs if I end up just taking him home myself (what I'd rather do).

The tortoises are at the University District petco;
809 NE 45th Street
Seattle, WA 98105

Do you know of any reptile rescue that would buy them? In my experience, rescues don't want to contribute funds to unethical businesses, which makes sense... it just sucks for theses guys.
Thanks

 

[JustAnja]

They also are not babies, they are adults from what I can see. I would opt to wait for one to come available through a rescue or save up and buy CB. The conditions they are in sounds crappy to say the least, I would complain go the Manager of the store every day until the conditions were improved.

 

[Itort]

I believe it was Yvonne that gave the address for a rescue in Wa and they had some RTs.

 

[tortnerd]

I believe it was Yvonne that gave the address for a rescue in Wa and they had some RTs.

That's probably the PNW Herptological Society.
I know I could save up and buy captive bread, or buy from a rescue, but that seems wrong when these tortoises are suffering in Petco. I know its wrong to give my money to that industry, but its also wrong to just watch a tortoise die in a tank.
I'm going in to complain (again) today and request that a vet see the tortoise with the beat up shell. Can anyone tell me if I should tell them the tortoise has shell rot?
Thank you for all your responses!

 

[hystrix]

Hi.

I agree that you should get a cb animal or a rescue. There was a link to pictures of wc tortoises imported in horrible conditions posted by modestyfirst on this forum.
http://www.socalreptiles.com/captivebred.htm

However, big chains such as petco and petsmart do take back the sick animal and treat it, then give you the option of buying him/her back. I think the last thing they want is to look like they don't care about animals. The employees at least seem to genuinely care about animals, albeit somewhat misinformed about how to care for them.

The costs of treating these animals are far more than the profits they can make out of them. All wc torts have some kind of problems, especially parasites. And many stores are deciding not to sell tortoises.

When I go to those stores, if I see a tort obviously sick (runny nose and such), I talk to the manager, and later call to ask about the sick tortoise, to check if they are really treating the animal. Hopefully they will realize how much it is costing them and stop selling torts.

I am in no way recommending you to buy a tortoise from a big chain. Because "rescuing" one from the store just end up with another replacement.

Have you checked Craigslist? Tortoises are listed on there sometimes.
Also, set up (enclosures, light etc..) and food cost a lot of money, too, if you haven't configured those into your budget already.

Good luck.
You WILL find your tort!

Em

 

[Yvonne G]

No, its not shell rot. Its just scuffed up from being manhandled. If you have your heart set on this tortoise then go ahead and get it. Better to be with you than in those awful conditions. Also buy a horse de-wormer called Panacur. Go for a "well-baby" vet visit and ask the vet for the dosage of Panacur for your animal. Take the horse wormer with you so he can see the percentage on the package. Then treat the tortoise yourself, its cheaper. If you can't get his mouth open to squirt it down his throat you can inject the de-wormer into a strawberry and feed it to him. (don't feed fruit to a Russian...this is a one time medication type feeding!!)

Yvonne

 

[cvalda]

I agree with Yvonne! No, not shell rot. (Also with Anja, no this is not a baby!) And go for him if you want him! Exaggerate the shell condition to the manager, and talk him down in price! Tell him this tortoise needs specialized care to improve his shell condition, and that most customers will not be able to provide this. Work it up, I have gotten tortoises half off this way! LOL!

 

[Jacqui]

As I read down all these posts, I kept getting a little ticked (not sure that is the word). Then Yvonne and Cvalda, started saying what I was feeling. I am going to agree with them, it does not look like shell rot to me either, just a rough life for this tort. Also as you were told, your looking at adults not babies.

Your heart is already telling you what to do, so follow it. Yes, you can give them a much more wonderful life, then they are currently having. No, not all Russians bought from Petco are unhealthy. My first three Russians all came from Petco. None have had any health problems and we are talking many years now.

To the argument that the store will just replace them, they might, but then they also might if the animal dies too. I myself have a hard time just sitting back and not buying an animal I think is going to die otherwise. I believe I can't save the world, but sometimes I can save one tortoise and that's better then none.

Talk with the manager, tell him your concerns, it can't help and he/she might reduce the costs

I just feel your heart already belongs to this tortoise. Try to give him the life he deserves and the enjoyment you deserve. If you leave him behind, your always going to wonder and say things like, "I shoulda". From the looks of the shell, this guy has had a rough life. Doesn't he deserve to be allowed to live all the long years he has the potential to live and to live them well? Why should he/she have to die to prove a point? If he dies, it really won't matter to the store, but it will to you.

 

[Crazy1]

Well stated Jacqui, well stated.

 

[tortnerd]

Hey everybody, thanks for all your thoughts. I’ve decided I’m going to go for it and purchase one tortoise as soon as I can afford it, and take him/her to the vet as soon as I can afford it.

I feel really terrible about supporting the tortoise importing trade. But I would feel more terrible if some dufus took him home and kept him in a 10 gallon fish tank for the rest of his short life. Or worse; death by petco.
Also, I know he’s not a baby! I just always call any creature less than half way through its normal life span a baby. Actually, I also call my 13 year old golden retriever a baby, so may be I’m just a lost cause.
Anyway, he looks 4-5, maybe 6 years old, to my inexperienced eye.

Right now, I’ve got %80 of the money I need to spring him from his glass prison. It’s hard to raise money at the moment, because my only source of income is selling off supplies I don’t need on craigslist. But in 14 days I will be done with classes, and able to return to my job. = Able to afford a reptile vet.
I have most of the tortoise supplies I need (basking lamp, UV bulb, soaking dish, weeds) but I still need a calcium chew. I was thinking I would just partition off a part of the room for him to roam- is this a bad idea? Do tortoises need substrate? I’m perfectly fine cleaning up after him, and I’ve read about Russians just roaming the house. But I’ve also read about Russians eating carpet. I have an empty 20 gallon and coconut husk substrate if anyone thinks that would be a better idea. I just think he would be way happier out of a fish tank…

Thanks for all your help everybody!

 

[Itort]

I would suggest you get cement mixing tub (a black tub about 24x36x12) at a home improvement store for him. These run $10 to $12 apiece and have about double area of 20L tank and better air circulation. Torts do need substrat for digging,ect. I would not let a tort wander the house, too many hazards.