Need some help/advise please

[axeman25]

Ok, one of my female russians (Emma) seems to be having an eye issue. I've noticed for the past couple days that she hasn't opened them at all when I check on her. They don't look really puffy at all, there is no fluid or wetness around them, but they look whiter than my other two. I am trying to get a good pic now to post. She has been separated from the others for well over a month and her substrate is the coco coir. I'm not exactly sure what to do here so any help is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[axeman25]

Ok here is a pic. Again, any help is appreciated.

 

[wellington]

Have you tried soaking her and letting some warm water drizzle over her eye?
@Yvonne G nay have some other ideas

 

[axeman25]

She's soaking right now. I have soaked her everyday since I noticed this. I will try to drizzle the water over her eyes. Both eyes are shut and look the same by the way, not sure if I made that clear in my first post.

Thanks for your reply!

 

[axeman25]

She seems a bit lethargic as well. She is literally sprawled out in the tub I am soaking her in and kept her head down in the water to the point where I emptied some for fear she'd drown. She is still sprawled out and not moving much but I did notice that she is drinking quite a bit.

 

[Tom]

Coil bulb for UV?

If not, what was the source of this tortoise and how long have you had her?

What are your four temps? Warm side, cool side, basking area and overnight low?

 

[axeman25]

Coil bulb for UV?

If not, what was the source of this tortoise and how long have you had her?

What are your four temps? Warm side, cool side, basking area and overnight low?

Not a coil, 24" florescent style UVB from Petsmart.

I've had her and the others for about two months now. All three had been living together at the previous owners. I had separated her shortly after and have her in her own enclosure.

Basking area is 95, warm side around 80, cool side about 73, and the overnights are in the mid 60's. These are the temps for both my enclosures (pretty close anyway) and the other two seem to be just fine and very active. Both enclosures are on the same timer evern.

I have noticed that she pretty much stays in the basking area as long as the light is on (12 on 12 off). She does not wander like my other two do. She hasn't eaten in the last couple of days and I've even put the food right in front of her.

I'm glad she drank while she was soaking, I am a little worried that she didn't poop in the water. I have been soaking all three in the same tub and I guess I wouldn't have noticed if she hadn't been pooping in the water like the others. I assumed she was because of the amount in there after their soaks.

 

[sissyofone]

I have no experience with Russians at all, But if she's not eating, add some carrot baby food to her soak water. I've heard people use pedialyte also. Its actually for babies but it won't hurt her. How old is she? I'm not sure but the mid 60's at night may be a little to cool if she's sick. IMO.. I think her night time temperature should be bumped up to a warmer setting.

 

[axeman25]

I have no experience with Russians at all, But if she's not eating, add some carrot baby food to her soak water. I've heard people use pedialyte also. Its actually for babies but it won't hurt her. How old is she? I'm not sure but the mid 60's at night may be a little to cool if she's sick. IMO.. I think her night time temperature should be bumped up to a warmer setting.

I was thinking of picking up some baby food for her in the morning. As far as her age goes, I'm not really sure, I got quite a bit of conflicting information from Their previous owner. Kinda sad really. She's about 4.5" long and from what I've been reading on here that means she's somewhere between 1 and 46 years old. LOL.

I am going to keep her upstairs with me tonight in a tub where I can keep a closer eye on her. I'll keep her temp up a little bit, but I know that my night time temps are ok for russians (well, one's that aren't sick anyway).

I was actually wondering if a warm mist from a vaporizer would do her any good? I am concerned that I may have accidentally dehydrated her somehow. I'm still very new at this and even though I've been soaking them several times a week (do to their previous living conditions) I'm still getting things wrong and am having to constantly make adjustments to their environment (as well as my thinking on whats best for their needs).

Thanks for the info!

 

[sissyofone]

Lol any where from 1 year to 46 years huh. I have no idea regarding the vaporizer. She isn't making funny noises when she breaths is she? What about opening her mouth to breath? Any nasal discharge? How long has it been since she went poo?
As far as you getting things wrong is concerned, I'm sure your no different than the rest of us, we've all made mistakes with our torts at one time or another, There's a lot of conflicting information on the internet and such. I'd disregard everything you've heard and just start fresh here on TFO. Your Sure To Get The Right Info Here. But I'd still bump those temps up keep her warm and soak her a few times a day if possible. I'm sure @Tom will be bk here to let you know more about your temps and such. He's awesome. Also @Yvonne G or @tortadise maybe able to help also. Good Luck to you and yours. I'd try not to stress her any more than possible. Keep her warm and get that baby food and pedialyte seems as though she needs it. Where are you located?

 

[axeman25]

I'm in central Michigan. I've cut any an all ties with every other tort information site except this one. Very friendly and helpful people. I've got some great advise and so far my guys for the most part seem to be content and are staying pretty healthy.

Funny thing about the whole age thing. I 'rescued' these three from and friend of a friend who had supposedly had all three from hatchlings and they were 6 or 7 years old. Then I hear stories from the guy I know about how he's only had them for a year or two and never pays attention to them. I measured them and asked about their age and the consensus was anywhere from a year to ten years from people on here. I know that the guy had kept all three in a 29 gallon aquarium while he had them. I saw several pictures of them before I had bought them and had him ship them to me. I now have two tort tables, one for Emma here and I have the other male (Pavel) and female (April) still together in the other.

But back to your original questions. She's not making any funny noises, no discharge, closed mouth breathing, and I'm not sure when she pooped last.

Thanks again

 

[Tom]

Your temps are perfect for a russian in normal circumstances.

I would do the baby food soaks daily and keep her a little warmer especially at night.

What type of UV bulb? (Example: 10.0 or 5.0..)
What distance is the bulb from the tortoise?
Do you supplement calcium with D3?
What are you feeding?
Have you had a fecal run by your vet on this girl?

I'm just trying to eliminate possibilities at this point. Hopefully we can get her all better and they can make lots of babies for the world.

 

[axeman25]

Your temps are perfect for a russian in normal circumstances.

I would do the baby food soaks daily and keep her a little warmer especially at night.

What type of UV bulb? (Example: 10.0 or 5.0..)
What distance is the bulb from the tortoise?
Do you supplement calcium with D3?
What are you feeding?
Have you had a fecal run by your vet on this girl?

I'm just trying to eliminate possibilities at this point. Hopefully we can get her all better and they can make lots of babies for the world.

Thanks Tom, I was directed to your care sheet many, many, many times. LOL.


What type of UV bulb? (Example: 10.0 or 5.0..) It is a 10.0
What distance is the bulb from the tortoise? About 10". You had me lower it to this about a month ago
Do you supplement calcium with D3? Yes, a few times a week
What are you feeding? A variety of greens from local organic food store (mostly). Turnup, kale, dandelion, ect... I have been lately cutting it into small pieces and mixing it with their grassland tortoise food otherwise they will not eat any of the grassland food.
Have you had a fecal run by your vet on this girl? No vet visit for them yet

I will start the baby food soaks in the today. Any special flavor? Just wondering if carrots work better than turnips or what not. Thanks again for the advise and I'll keep everyone posted on her progress.

 

[tortdad]

Thanks Tom, I was directed to your care sheet many, many, many times. LOL.


What type of UV bulb? (Example: 10.0 or 5.0..) It is a 10.0
What distance is the bulb from the tortoise? About 10". You had me lower it to this about a month ago
Do you supplement calcium with D3? Yes, a few times a week
What are you feeding? A variety of greens from local organic food store (mostly). Turnup, kale, dandelion, ect... I have been lately cutting it into small pieces and mixing it with their grassland tortoise food otherwise they will not eat any of the grassland food.
Have you had a fecal run by your vet on this girl? No vet visit for them yet

I will start the baby food soaks in the today. Any special flavor? Just wondering if carrots work better than turnips or what not. Thanks again for the advise and I'll keep everyone posted on her progress.

You need a baby food high in vitamin A. Carrots and sweat potatoes are good for that.

 

[Tom]

Thanks Tom, I was directed to your care sheet many, many, many times. LOL.


What type of UV bulb? (Example: 10.0 or 5.0..) It is a 10.0
What distance is the bulb from the tortoise? About 10". You had me lower it to this about a month ago
Do you supplement calcium with D3? Yes, a few times a week
What are you feeding? A variety of greens from local organic food store (mostly). Turnup, kale, dandelion, ect... I have been lately cutting it into small pieces and mixing it with their grassland tortoise food otherwise they will not eat any of the grassland food.
Have you had a fecal run by your vet on this girl? No vet visit for them yet

I will start the baby food soaks in the today. Any special flavor? Just wondering if carrots work better than turnips or what not. Thanks again for the advise and I'll keep everyone posted on her progress.

Man... All of that sounds good.

Given everything you've told me, I have to guess that this little has some sort of disease issue taking place. The guy told you they were captive bred, but you think he was lying right? If she was WC, that might be what is going on. Some low lying disease she's been carrying for a long time, and the stress of the move and group living has hampered the immune system enough to let the pathogen get a foothold. Just guessing here, but we've eliminated most other possibilities.

 

[Yvonne G]

My best advice is to take the tortoise to a qualified tortoise vet. I think it needs a round of antibiotics.

 

[axeman25]

My best advice is to take the tortoise to a qualified tortoise vet. I think it needs a round of antibiotics.

She was a little more active this morning. I'm going to give her some baby food soaks today and maybe run her out to the vet in the next day or two.

Is there a thread on this site anywhere that list common illnesses and their symptoms for Russians? Just maybe give me some ideas of things to keep an ehe out for. Of course I've interacted enough with them over the last couple months that I now know when something is off with one of them.

Thanks again. I'll try to update as I can but it's been a really busy few weeks.

 

[smarch]

How's she doing now?

Sounds to me like its something she's had for a while that was finally set off by the stress of the move and entirely new environment. You did all the right things by separating and soaking more, and baby food soaks (if you started them, if not at least planning to is also good).

 

[axeman25]

I've been meaning to update everyone. Sorry.

She is doing SO MUCH better! I found that squash baby food has a lot of vitamin A in it so I started soaking her a couple times a day. I've kept her upstairs in a small tub that so that she is kept warmer at night, plus I can keep a closer eye on her. she has opened her eyes and has eaten like a pig since last night. She was eating a little bit here and there but last night she tore into some collard greens and kale like it had insulted her mother. It was awesome to see. I give her a couple squash soaks a day. She doesn't mind them at all. I have put her in the small tub in the middle of my living room with the heat lamp over it and my wife has non stop made fun of me for three days about how much I'm fussing over her.

thanks again.

 

[smarch]

I've been meaning to update everyone. Sorry.

She is doing SO MUCH better! I found that squash baby food has a lot of vitamin A in it so I started soaking her a couple times a day. I've kept her upstairs in a small tub that so that she is kept warmer at night, plus I can keep a closer eye on her. she has opened her eyes and has eaten like a pig since last night. She was eating a little bit here and there but last night she tore into some collard greens and kale like it had insulted her mother. It was awesome to see. I give her a couple squash soaks a day. She doesn't mind them at all. I have put her in the small tub in the middle of my living room with the heat lamp over it and my wife has non stop made fun of me for three days about how much I'm fussing over her.

thanks again.

HORAY! so glad she's feeling better! Sounds like the torts were lucky to have found you!