My deepest fear!

[AnnV]

I have an Indian Star that I received a couple werks ago. I think about a year - 3.5 inches. He has been good. Eating, active, etc. He is a little shy though, withdrawing if I am moving around him.
Just this morning I went over to see if I could intice him to come to me for a piece of collard green. He did! But then I noticed the tiniest bubble come out of his nose.
ACK! What do I do? Does this warrant a vet visit? It was just that one bubble. He then proceeded to eat the collard and a chunck of zucchini.
He has been shipped twice in a short period. The original buyer found out he was a male right after she bought him, then sold and shipped him to me.
I am a lttle panicked. :-(


Ann from CT

 

[tortadise]

Just keep up warm temps for the guy. Make sure he is hydrated. Shipping can be stressful, especially multiple times in a short time period. What are your temps currently. If he does have a Respiratory Infection, they can take some time to alleviate. They also dont pop up over night either. A little TLC and he should be fine. I would keep him low to mid 80s minimum. If you soak use warm water and towel dry him off so upon placing him back into his enclosure an excess water doesn't turn cool whilst being on him. Do you have an open top enclosure? Remember tortoises are cold blooded so they're response to a good feeling temperature is way warmer than a wamr blooded person. Temperature gauges are a good ally with tortoises.

 

[AnnV]

Thank you for response!
He has been inside the last few days. I was told he was raised outdoors (western desert), then shipped to GA and kept outside. I know being out is important for sunlight, but here in CT, the temps do not allow for them to be out 24/7. Even now in mid summer, it dipped to 58 last night. I left my redfoots out, but dont dare with this guy. I dont like going from outdoors to AC in house (even with heat source in his enclosure), so I decided to just keep him in under steady temps. Good thing I did or I may have never noticed that tiny bubble.
His enclosure is open topped. 80 degrees at cool dry end and nearly 100 under the lights where I keep it damp. He circles around often, but stops to bask and eat, at the warmer end.
I appreciate the help. This forum is so great!
Ann from CT

 

[tortadise]

Sounds good on the temps. I would indeed leave him inside until it resides, or does not go away. In the event it stays persistent I would seek a vets help. If it gets very bad, to the point of mucous and large bubbles then a vet visit should be in order. You can also help to remedy the heat by using some foil or a piece of plexi glass to retain more heat and constant warmth in the enclosure by sealing it a little better. I call them hospital tanks. I would suggest to get a few more thermometers or even a temp gun and check the surrounding ambient air temps appose to the cool side and hot side. Lots of times the temp will be just perfect under the heat bulb but just outside of that range it could be cool. Cool AC air mixed with spot heat in an enclosure can incubate some not so favored thermal conditions. Do you spray the enclosure down with water too? That also can be a catalyst for issues too.