HELP (red plastron, swollen cloaca)

nicoleann2214

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Hey guys I noticed the under belly of my tort is a bit red? It looks like she has something in there? Any idea?!?! She just had trouble pooping and her bum was a bit swollen it looked like she ate a wood chip. Is this color normal?

4B1D9DD4-1BF4-4306-8CE3-A66DAA36CE3B.jpeg
 

Tom

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Looks normal. The pinkish color is vascularization to support the new growth.

Soak daily to help with the pooping.
 

nicoleann2214

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Looks normal. The pinkish color is vascularization to support the new growth.

Soak daily to help with the pooping.
Is that little weird looking dot something I should be worried about?
 

Sue Ann

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Hey guys I noticed the under belly of my tort is a bit red? It looks like she has something in there? Any idea?!?! She just had trouble pooping and her bum was a bit swollen it looked like she ate a wood chip. Is this color normal?
I’m a newer tort owner,1 yr, but I soak my Sully everyday and usually change the water several times. He poops a lot! Maybe your guy needs more soaking to help hard poops.
 

nicoleann2214

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I’m a newer tort owner,1 yr, but I soak my Sully everyday and usually change the water several times. He poops a lot! Maybe your guy needs more soaking to help hard poops.
I do soak her everyday as well:) she usually poops every two-three days. I think she ate a chip as I just changed her enclosure around and added some new substrate so I’m guessing when she was eating she accidentally got a piece of cypress mulch with her food. Thanks for the advice! :)
 

Sue Ann

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I do soak her everyday as well:) she usually poops every two-three days. I think she ate a chip as I just changed her enclosure around and added some new substrate so I’m guessing when she was eating she accidentally got a piece of cypress mulch with her food. Thanks for the advice! :)
I use small orchid bark in Dexters enclosure I really prefer it to anything else. Maybe Tom could help you.
 

Tom

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Do you happen to know what it would be? Just curious.?
Looks like the umbilical scar where the yolk sac sticks out in a hatchling. When people don't start them right the yolk sac dries up weird and that dot can stay for a while. It should have faded by now, but looks like its still there on yours.
 

nicoleann2214

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Looks like the umbilical scar where the yolk sac sticks out in a hatchling. When people don't start them right the yolk sac dries up weird and that dot can stay for a while. It should have faded by now, but looks like its still there on yours.
Thanks Tom! Is there anything I can do to help with it or just leave be? Thank you for taking the time to give me good information, it’s greatly appreciated. I’m going to be building a nice big closed chamber for my little guy!
 

Tom

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Thanks Tom! Is there anything I can do to help with it or just leave be? Thank you for taking the time to give me good information, it’s greatly appreciated. I’m going to be building a nice big closed chamber for my little guy!
It will disappear on its own over time. Its not a problem.
 

russian/sulcata/tortoise

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Is that little weird looking dot something I should be worried about?
The little dot on the tortoises plastron looks to be just some remnants of some yolk sack from when it was a hatchling. Tortoise shells aren't always perfect, usually slight differences are purely cosmetic.
 

JTH

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I do soak her everyday as well:) she usually poops every two-three days. I think she ate a chip as I just changed her enclosure around and added some new substrate so I’m guessing when she was eating she accidentally got a piece of cypress mulch with her food. Thanks for the advice! :)
I avoid cypress mulch for that reason... lots of larger sharp pieces to swallow. I've switched to fine cocochoir... it seems to hold humidity better and if they swallow any, it appears to pass easily through the gut. But you'll get a lot of opinions on substrate... this is just one person's experience.
 

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