Louise C
Member
Hi everyone,
My first tortoise, Henry the baby Russian, sadly passed away about three weeks now....I have had the test results back from the vets which show he had a mycoplasma infection. I questioned the vet (specialist reptile vet at university clinic who rescues torts) about how he could of caught this infection and she was 100% that it had to have been transmitted from another tortoise. They cannot catch it from their mothers through the egg so he must have mixed with another infected tortoise or the husbandry where he came from meant he had used feeding/water bowls also used by infected tortoise.
Now I know this is one of those illnesses where the infected tortoise may not show symptoms for a long time so to give benefit of doubt I e-mailed the breeder to confirm the diagnosis in the hope they would use the info to take action to prevent further infections. (I had been in contact previously to ask further info on my tort and they were very friendly). Well, I've had no response back from them this time!
The breeder is also a specialist reptile pet store but they do specialise in captive breeding of several types of tortoise and have been in business for 30 years.
What I want to know is, am I expecting too much in wanting a response from the breeder? Are they compelled to take action knowing their stock could be compromised or is Mycoplasma such a common ailment that people are supposed to just take accept it as known risk when buying a tortoise?
I just can't help feeling sorry for all the other baby torts who may be suffering from this and also the owners, who like me expect to buy a healthy animal and have to go through lengthy vet treatment and possible heartbreak when their pet dies.
Many thanks X
My first tortoise, Henry the baby Russian, sadly passed away about three weeks now....I have had the test results back from the vets which show he had a mycoplasma infection. I questioned the vet (specialist reptile vet at university clinic who rescues torts) about how he could of caught this infection and she was 100% that it had to have been transmitted from another tortoise. They cannot catch it from their mothers through the egg so he must have mixed with another infected tortoise or the husbandry where he came from meant he had used feeding/water bowls also used by infected tortoise.
Now I know this is one of those illnesses where the infected tortoise may not show symptoms for a long time so to give benefit of doubt I e-mailed the breeder to confirm the diagnosis in the hope they would use the info to take action to prevent further infections. (I had been in contact previously to ask further info on my tort and they were very friendly). Well, I've had no response back from them this time!
The breeder is also a specialist reptile pet store but they do specialise in captive breeding of several types of tortoise and have been in business for 30 years.
What I want to know is, am I expecting too much in wanting a response from the breeder? Are they compelled to take action knowing their stock could be compromised or is Mycoplasma such a common ailment that people are supposed to just take accept it as known risk when buying a tortoise?
I just can't help feeling sorry for all the other baby torts who may be suffering from this and also the owners, who like me expect to buy a healthy animal and have to go through lengthy vet treatment and possible heartbreak when their pet dies.
Many thanks X