Mouth Discoloration

[LeonardTheTortoise]

His mouth has always been dark, but does this much discoloration indicate an issue like rot? Mouth shape is uneven. More jagged on one side than the other.
He seems healthy otherwise. Goes out to graze in the pasture on his own everyday. 12+ year old sulcata tortoise.
Watch closeup video:

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[RandyTortoise]

His mouth has always been dark, but does this much discoloration indicate an issue like rot? Mouth shape is uneven. More jagged on one side than the other.
He seems healthy otherwise. Goes out to graze in the pasture on his own everyday. 12+ year old sulcata tortoise.
Watch closeup video:

New video · Wednesday, Jun 4, 2025 ð¬

Tap to view!

photos.app.goo.gl

You need to do some research on how to trim his beak. How long has his mouth been that color and is he eating and otherwise acting ok? It is weird

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

@zovick might be able to help.

 

[zovick]

His mouth has always been dark, but does this much discoloration indicate an issue like rot? Mouth shape is uneven. More jagged on one side than the other.
He seems healthy otherwise. Goes out to graze in the pasture on his own everyday. 12+ year old sulcata tortoise.
Watch closeup video:

New video · Wednesday, Jun 4, 2025 ð¬

Tap to view!

photos.app.goo.gl

The beak could stand to be trimmed a bit as mentioned above in another post.

The discoloration is simply staining from the chlorophyll in the grass/weeds the tortoise has been eating outside. It is definitely not any kind of rot.

 

[RandyTortoise]

The beak could stand to be trimmed a bit as mentioned above in another post.

The discoloration is simply staining from the chlorophyll in the grass/weeds the tortoise has been eating outside. It is definitely not any kind of rot.

Very cool call out. I would have never thought that could be the cause of the stained mouth.
Either that or he was being fed chewing tobacco…just a thought.

 

[Yvonne G]

No need to trim that beak. Quite a few sulcatas grow the Dracula-look. It's normal.

As to the stained beak, it's just oxidation, like what happens to the bowl you use to hold their veggies every day.