Lower beak falling off

[Daviddr]

Hey Everyone,

We recently brought two Sulcata tortoises into the fam. They are great but we recently noticed that one of there lower beaks is falling off. Should we be concerned? If so what do we do? Hoping it’s not a lost cause.

 

[crimson_lotus]

The 3rd pic (assuming it was before the beak fell off) looks like it was significantly overgrown. If that's the case then give them cuttlebone to make sure they keep their own beaks trimmed. You might also want to improve their diet to make sure they are getting the right nutrients and there is no lacking in anything. Check the sulcata care sheet for more info on that.

Also don't keep the 2 torts together, they are solitary animals and usually a pair does not end well. There will be aggression eventually.

 

[Yvonne G]

One of the symptoms of Austwikia disease in sulcata tortoises is the beak falling off. I'm sending an alert to @mastershake for they're opinion about this.

The tortoise is too young/small to have had an overgrown beak, something else is going on.

 

[dd33]

I noticed in the photo you posted in your other thread that one of them is missing a front toenail. That is another symptom of Austwickia. Are they missing any nails on the back feet?
Wait for @mastershake to chime in. In the meantime you can search here for threads on Yellow Bumps or Austwickia. For the time being keep them and anything that has come in contact with them away from other reptiles and birds.

 

[mastershake]

missing toenails on the back feet is almost a tell tale symptoms of austwickia. it can happen on the front feet as well but usually is more common on the back feet

 

[mastershake]

aw will cause necrosis of the tissue especially in the face and mandible this can sadly very possibly be a case but it could be a small handful of other things. my first though here though would be to be suspect of aw.

 

[Gijoux]

Hey Everyone,

We recently brought two Sulcata tortoises into the fam. They are great but we recently noticed that one of there lower beaks is falling off. Should we be concerned? If so what do we do? Hoping it’s not a lost cause.

As mentioned you should never keep two together. I am wondering if the other tortoise accidentally bit at the mouth of the other one, perhaps while they were eating something. Good Luck with this. AW would be far worse, I hope it is just an injury that will heal.