Is half his chin swollen?

[vcarol222]

I just got him on Sunday and not sure if his chin is swollen or not. He also looks like he has some eye damage not sure, it's my first turtle. He has skin flaking off the top of his head, not shedding but looks like a jagged healed skin tear. I'm building an outdoor enclosure for him, the tank I received him in seems very small and he's been in it for 4yrs.

 

[vcarol222]

He/she also has a whiteish ring around eye like it's dry flakey skin but it's not flaking off.

 

[ascott]

He/she also has a whiteish ring around eye like it's dry flakey skin but it's not flaking off. View attachment 237984View attachment 237985View attachment 237986

Not from what I see....nice heft and a tortoise retracting its head in is all that I see....beautiful tort by the way.

 

[ascott]

I just got him on Sunday and not sure if his chin is swollen or not. He also looks like he has some eye damage not sure, it's my first turtle. He has skin flaking off the top of his head, not shedding but looks like a jagged healed skin tear. I'm building an outdoor enclosure for him, the tank I received him in seems very small and he's been in it for 4yrs. View attachment 237980View attachment 237981

Nope...but, if it were me, I would add about 6 inches of nice clean dirt for that dirt loving tortoise to dig down into....

 

[ascott]

I just got him on Sunday and not sure if his chin is swollen or not. He also looks like he has some eye damage not sure, it's my first turtle. He has skin flaking off the top of his head, not shedding but looks like a jagged healed skin tear. I'm building an outdoor enclosure for him, the tank I received him in seems very small and he's been in it for 4yrs. View attachment 237980View attachment 237981

I also would get rid of that snake water soaking water dish and replace it with a flat, easily entered into plant water dish...the bottom of a plant water catching saucer....the eyes look like that tort is a bit dehydrated and some easily accessed water consumption would be beneficial....

 

[TechnoCheese]

Welcome to the forum!
Your enclosure definitely needs a few changes-
-it’s much too small. Your tortoise needs a minimum enclosure size of 8x4 feet.
-your water bowl is a huge flipping hazard. Replace it with a terra cotta saucer big enough for him to fit into.
-you need a much deeper, 4-8 inch deep substrate.
-do you have a uvb light? Is that a mercury vapor bulb? I would move it so that it’s not directly over a hide, and more in an open area.
Please give these a read and come back with questions-
Russian Tortoise Care Sheet
https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/Russian-Tortoise-Care-Sheet.80698/
Beginner Mistakes
https://tortoiseforum.org/index.php?threads/Beginner-Mistakes.45180/

 

[Yvonne G]

It does look to me as if the tissue under the chin is retaining fluid. I think you'll see a whole new animal once you get him set up outside.

Don't worry about the flaky skin. It's normal.

 

[Kasia]

Is he swollen in front leg pits, neck area? Or any other part of his body (back legs, tail area?). Do you know what was his previous diet? How old is he? I would get him to a good reptile Vet and do some blood testing to see if kidneys and liver are working properly.

 

[vcarol222]

Is he swollen in front leg pits, neck area? Or any other part of his body (back legs, tail area?). Do you know what was his previous diet? How old is he? I would get him to a good reptile Vet and do some blood testing to see if kidneys and liver are working properly.

It's just the one part of his chin, no other part is swollen. He is eating and pooping good. He is active and seems to be comfortable enough to stretch all limbs out and bask. When outside he is active and free feeds on the weeds. I have though maybe he had some type of trauma to the area. His previous owner was a 10yr old boy who's had him for 4yr. Not sure of previous diet. He did tell me no iceberg lettuce but that was about it.

 

[Kasia]

Gout can show as chin deposits in tortoise, so I would check him out. X-ray will show both trauma or gout.

 

[vcarol222]

Gout can show as chin deposits in tortoise, so I would check him out. X-ray will show both trauma or gout.

Okay. I've been trying to find a turtle specialist or reptile vet, the closest I get is a bird expert. I'm in the Gainesville, fl. Or even Ocala, Florida area. We do have the university's vet clinic...

 

[DARKFIRE007]

Read those links Techno posted, they are invaluable for new owners. Also after seeing it twice I gotta say it, it is a tortoise, not a turtle. Pointing that out is important because tortoises can't swim (normally, I have seen exceptions) and turtles can. Many have accidentally drowned a tortoise thinking they were turtles that could swim.

I saw no one else suggest it, so I suggest a cuddle/calcium bone. Also a piece or two of flat rock/slate is MUCH better to feed them on as it naturally grinds down their nails and beaks. The first thing on your list should be a 4X8 foot enclosure and deeper substrate though.