Missing nails

[xiaosi01]

Dear tortoise lovers, my Indian star has also 2 nails missing from his front leg! I have no idea what really happened. Seems it was chopped off or something? Or infection? I’m worried. But he is eating well so far just walking a bit limping now. Can see that area is a bit sore and pain when walk. I believe there was blood but already dried when I notice it. Can anyone advise what should I do or what really happened? Will his nails grow back??

 

[Tom]

Dear tortoise lovers, my Indian star has also 2 nails missing from his front leg! I have no idea what really happened. Seems it was chopped off or something? Or infection? I’m worried. But he is eating well so far just walking a bit limping now. Can see that area is a bit sore and pain when walk. I believe there was blood but already dried when I notice it. Can anyone advise what should I do or what really happened? Will his nails grow back??

This looks like it could be rodent damage. Is your tortoise indoors and protected at night?

 

[xiaosi01]

This looks like it could be rodent damage. Is your tortoise indoors and protected at night?

I don’t think so. My tortoise is free to walk in the day inside the house and is back to his tortoise house evening time. No rats in my place. His bedding is also very clean.

 

[Tom]

I don’t think so. My tortoise is free to walk in the day inside the house and is back to his tortoise house evening time. No rats in my place. His bedding is also very clean.

Is the tortoise house closed? Post a picture?

Do you have a dog? A cat?

The tortoise should not be free roaming loose on the floor. This is not safe and can't be made safe.

 

[xiaosi01]

Is the tortoise house closed? Post a picture?

Do you have a dog? A cat?

The tortoise should not be free roaming loose on the floor. This is not safe and can't be made safe.

No cats or dogs. It can walk freely in the turf and also inside the house. But will put back to its house late afternoon.

 

[Tom]

No cats or dogs. It can walk freely in the turf and also inside the house. But will put back to its house late afternoon.

This not a suitable way for a tortoise to live. It needs a proper enclosure and shelter. Check this out:

The Best Way To Raise A Sulcata, Leopard, Or Star Tortoise

I chose the title of this care sheet very carefully. Are there other ways to raise babies? Yes. Yes there are, but those ways are not as good. What follows is the BEST way, according to 30 years of research and experimentation with hundreds of babies of many species. Babies hatch during the...

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Info For New People. Please Read This First.

Hello and welcome to tortoiseforum.org! We are all glad you are here! There is no other forum like this anywhere. We have tens of thousands of members from all over the world ranging from kids with their first tortoise to people who have been breeding and keeping high end tortoises since the...

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[xiaosi01]

No cats or dogs. It can walk freely in the turf and also inside the house. But will put back to its house late afternoon.

Noted. But do you know the reason why? And will his nails grow back?

 

[mark1]

put chlorhexadine on his feet/nail bed untill they look like they are healing ..... growing back depends on the reason and what damage was done to the nail bed ....... i got a turtle one time that had all his nails "rotted" off from what i assume was a bacterial infection , about half her nails grew back ...... damage could be from trying to dig in something that can't be dug , regardless i'd use the clorhexadine to prevent an infection....jmo

 

[xiaosi01]

Noted. But do you know the reason why? And will his nails grow back?

put chlorhexadine on his feet/nail bed untill they look like they are healing ..... growing back depends on the reason and what damage was done to the nail bed ....... i got a turtle one time that had all his nails "rotted" off from what i assume was a bacterial infection , about half her nails grew back ...... damage could be from trying to dig in something that can't be dug , regardless i'd use the clorhexadine to prevent an infection....jmo

Thank you @mark1 , I have already cleaned his wound with wound cleaning solution. Hope for the best.