Introduction and query

[tracey4706]

Hi, I am a newbie here on the Tortoise Forum. I live in West Sussex UK and have a 7 year old Hermanns Tortoise, who we have had since she was 10 months old. She is called Daisy. I have always hibernated her in our spare fridge with no problems, gradually increasing the hibernation time each year. Yesterday when I woke her up she appears to have a lump/growth on the side of her head? This wasn't there prior to hibernation I believe. Has anyone any ideas what this may be? Apart from that she is absolutely fine

 

[Grandpa Turtle 144]

Hello and welcome to the TFO fromAZ, USA . To me it looks like a ear abbess .

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi, and welcome to the Forum!

At first I thought that you were joking about the ball next to the tortoise's head, but then I thought maybe you just put the ball there for a size comparison and the tortoise really does have a bump.

If the bump is in the spot where an ear would be on the tortoise's head, then Grandpa has told you true - an ear abscess. It will have to be lanced by a vet. Ear abscesses show up because the tortoise has some sort of infection someplace in his body. He will need to be put on antibiotics.

 

[tracey4706]

Thank you so much for your advice. Here is a pic of what I am talking about .... Prob should have put this on here earlier.

 

[Yvonne G]

No, I don't think that's an ear abscess. That just looks like a flake of skin. Can you pick at it?

 

[laramill]

It's kind of hard to see. Is it the sort of pointy thing, or is there a lighter color bump above that?

An abscess is normally more roundish... but I can't really tell if the lighter area is a bump, or just some lighter coloration and smoother texture that makes it appear as a bump.

If it's the pointy thing your concerned about, could it just be sort of a clump of dry skin/scale that collected/hardened while hibernating? (so then, when he popped his head out, it sort of stuck up?-- is it hard and dry?)

 

[tracey4706]

I think maybe you are right have picked at it, looks more like a loose skin scale but should I pick it right off? She doesn't seem to like me moving it. Somehow it looked bigger yesterday! Seemed more bulbous. Do they shed scales?