My Russain Tortoise Rupert

julicolon

New Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2021
Messages
11
Location (City and/or State)
EVANSTON
Hello everyone. I am looking for some advice. I have a Russian, male tortoise who we have had since he was about 1 or 2 years old. He is now about 10 years old. He has always been in perfect health and a happy boy. He is very fussy with eating and only will eat Romaine lettuce and kiwi fruit. Trust me we have tried to get him to eat new stuff but he just refuses. Rupert does not hibernate and usually gets a bit slower in the winter months. I am in Chicago so it does get very cold.

We noticed that the shell part under his beak is getting wider which is preventing him from being able to bring his head out. He can move to the side and his head can come out. We have an appointment at the Vet Tuesday for them to trim it.

I am more worried about his behaviour. For the past couple of days he is going to his bowl and standing there but is not eating anything. He has been under his log and does not come out to sun himself like he normally does. He seems very lethargic and not his normal feisty self.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks
 

Blackdog1714

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2018
Messages
4,666
Location (City and/or State)
Richmond, VA
Hello everyone. I am looking for some advice. I have a Russian, male tortoise who we have had since he was about 1 or 2 years old. He is now about 10 years old. He has always been in perfect health and a happy boy. He is very fussy with eating and only will eat Romaine lettuce and kiwi fruit. Trust me we have tried to get him to eat new stuff but he just refuses. Rupert does not hibernate and usually gets a bit slower in the winter months. I am in Chicago so it does get very cold.

We noticed that the shell part under his beak is getting wider which is preventing him from being able to bring his head out. He can move to the side and his head can come out. We have an appointment at the Vet Tuesday for them to trim it.

I am more worried about his behaviour. For the past couple of days he is going to his bowl and standing there but is not eating anything. He has been under his log and does not come out to sun himself like he normally does. He seems very lethargic and not his normal feisty self.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks
Welcome and photos please so we may help.
 

julicolon

New Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2021
Messages
11
Location (City and/or State)
EVANSTON
Here are some pics of Rupert. Thanks
 

Attachments

  • F5F1F9B1-7096-407B-A645-8FD169BFE72B.jpeg
    F5F1F9B1-7096-407B-A645-8FD169BFE72B.jpeg
    1.3 MB · Views: 31
  • 18597F83-83DB-45D0-B241-AC90F2D5D63A.jpeg
    18597F83-83DB-45D0-B241-AC90F2D5D63A.jpeg
    1.2 MB · Views: 29
  • 817970ED-17B3-4BCC-B1C6-3AAF77544F5C.jpeg
    817970ED-17B3-4BCC-B1C6-3AAF77544F5C.jpeg
    1.2 MB · Views: 32
  • 1515A94C-0042-460A-A79C-19F3A4C227E3.jpeg
    1515A94C-0042-460A-A79C-19F3A4C227E3.jpeg
    1.3 MB · Views: 33
  • 79FB5D5A-B539-4F5D-91FA-5633D0736CE2.jpeg
    79FB5D5A-B539-4F5D-91FA-5633D0736CE2.jpeg
    1.4 MB · Views: 32

Yossarian

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2015
Messages
813
Location (City and/or State)
Wales
Hi, there is nothing wrong with rupert or his shell, but you need to get his beak trimmed asap, it is severely overgrown.

Can you show us a picture with his head out please, both sides of his head would be usefull.
 

julicolon

New Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2021
Messages
11
Location (City and/or State)
EVANSTON
Hi, there is nothing wrong with rupert or his shell, but you need to get his beak trimmed asap, it is severely overgrown.

Can you show us a picture with his head out please, both sides of his head would be usefull.
 

Attachments

  • C7265168-35BB-4BF2-8A49-2F6E619BB9FD.jpeg
    C7265168-35BB-4BF2-8A49-2F6E619BB9FD.jpeg
    1.1 MB · Views: 22

julicolon

New Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2021
Messages
11
Location (City and/or State)
EVANSTON
It’s definitely his beak. It’s curled under so he can’t get to the lettuce. Vet is on Tuesday so he will be fine after that. How often should you trim his beak?
 

Yossarian

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2015
Messages
813
Location (City and/or State)
Wales
It’s definitely his beak. It’s curled under so he can’t get to the lettuce. Vet is on Tuesday so he will be fine after that. How often should you trim his beak?

whenever it is needed, this can vary depending on the conditions the tort lives in.
 

Lyn W

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2014
Messages
23,497
Location (City and/or State)
UK
Hi and welcome,
I hope Rupert will be better after his visit to the vet.
This is an up to date caresheet you'll find useful

You really should persevere with introducing new foods because he is missing out on a lot of nutrients etc that he needs for a long healthy life and fruit is not good for torts unless they are a fruit eating species which Russians aren't; their systems can't deal with sugars and could be doing hidden damage long term.

Continue with the romaine he likes and cut up new food to mix in Gradually add more of the new foods. He may refuse it at first but a hungry tort will eat. Lambs lettuce is a good food to start with and has small leaves that will easily stick to other wet leaves.

The dandelions and other weeds will soon be back - www.thetortoisetable.org.uk is a good guide to tort safe plants.
 

julicolon

New Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2021
Messages
11
Location (City and/or State)
EVANSTON
Hi and welcome,
I hope Rupert will be better after his visit to the vet.
This is an up to date caresheet you'll find useful

You really should persevere with introducing new foods because he is missing out on a lot of nutrients etc that he needs for a long healthy life and fruit is not good for torts unless they are a fruit eating species which Russians aren't; their systems can't deal with sugars and could be doing hidden damage long term.

Continue with the romaine he likes and cut up new food to mix in Gradually add more of the new foods. He may refuse it at first but a hungry tort will eat. Lambs lettuce is a good food to start with and has small leaves that will easily stick to other wet leaves.

The dandelions and other weeds will soon be back - www.thetortoisetable.org.uk is a good guide to tort safe plants.
Thank you for the advice! I will keep up with feeding him new food and stop with the kiwi fruit. Tomorrow i know he will feel better. Poor baby boy is trying to eat!
 

Yossarian

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2015
Messages
813
Location (City and/or State)
Wales
How did Ruperts beak trim go? any update pics for us?
 

julicolon

New Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2021
Messages
11
Location (City and/or State)
EVANSTON
Hi. Rupert is doing great! Thank you. He is back to his normal self. They clipped his back nails and told me to look into new lighting. That will be my next area to research. I have a UVB lamp and a heat lamp right now.
 

Attachments

  • 28A794C0-3AA6-408A-A420-D29E1275D3C2.jpeg
    28A794C0-3AA6-408A-A420-D29E1275D3C2.jpeg
    1.2 MB · Views: 16
  • 4A893B71-B979-45C7-95C3-FB01699838CA.jpeg
    4A893B71-B979-45C7-95C3-FB01699838CA.jpeg
    1.3 MB · Views: 15

Lyn W

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2014
Messages
23,497
Location (City and/or State)
UK
Hi. Rupert is doing great! Thank you. He is back to his normal self. They clipped his back nails and told me to look into new lighting. That will be my next area to research. I have a UVB lamp and a heat lamp right now.
I'm glad he is doing well.
Didn't they do his beak?
If you post some pics of the lamps you are using members can help you make sure they are the the most suitable and safest.
 

julicolon

New Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2021
Messages
11
Location (City and/or State)
EVANSTON
I'm glad he is doing well.
Didn't they do his beak?
If you post some pics of the lamps you are using members can help you make sure they are the the most suitable and safest.
Yes sorry I should have said they did trim his beak as well. He looks so much better and is happy! Great I will post pics later
 

Yossarian

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2015
Messages
813
Location (City and/or State)
Wales
Hi. Rupert is doing great! Thank you. He is back to his normal self. They clipped his back nails and told me to look into new lighting. That will be my next area to research. I have a UVB lamp and a heat lamp right now.

Are these old pics? I hope so, his beak does not appear to have been trimmed, if it has been, they left it way too long.
 

julicolon

New Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2021
Messages
11
Location (City and/or State)
EVANSTON
The pi
Are these old pics? I hope so, his beak does not appear to have been trimmed, if it has been, they left it way too long.
the pics I just posted are new pictures. I see a big difference in his beak from what it was. It is more in line with his bottom part of mouth. Should they have taken more off?
 

Attachments

  • F559D7D4-A011-4D7E-8B45-6494CFEFBBCE.jpeg
    F559D7D4-A011-4D7E-8B45-6494CFEFBBCE.jpeg
    1.2 MB · Views: 11

Mrs.Jennifer

Well-Known Member
Tortoise Club
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jul 22, 2020
Messages
673
Location (City and/or State)
Norwich CT
The pi

the pics I just posted are new pictures. I see a big difference in his beak from what it was. It is more in line with his bottom part of mouth. Should they have taken more off?
It certainly is an improvement, but it is still too long. Did the vet discuss a follow up appointment to grind it down more?
 

Krista S

Well-Known Member
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Aug 4, 2019
Messages
1,364
Location (City and/or State)
Saskatchewan
It’s an improvement, but definitely more should be taken off. It is still quite overgrown. Was the vets plan maybe to do it in stages and there’s another appointment booked?
 
Top