juliette1953
New Member
Hi.i have a 21 year old female horsefield
She is puffy round the neck
Is this normal for her age
She's eating normally
She is puffy round the neck
Is this normal for her age
She's eating normally
Puffy skin can be a sign of kidney problems. How about in the leg sockets? Does the skin in them also look puffy?Hi.i have a 21 year old female horsefield
She is puffy round the neck
Is this normal for her age
She's eating normally
NoPuffy skin can be a sign of kidney problems. How about in the leg sockets? Does the skin in them also look puffy?
Probably not a concern then, IMHO.No
Legs look fine
Just mainly round the neck
Can I send pics tomorrow pleaseProbably not a concern then, IMHO.
Probably not a concern then, IMHO.
That will be fine. If I can tell anything more from the pix I will let you know.Can I send pics tomorrow please
That will be fine. If I can tell anything more from the pix I will let you know.
It's a 4ft tankoooof that does not look good. If its not something medical, is something with how it is kept.
Please read this, its a LOT of info, but is a good place to start: https://tortoiseforum.org/threads/info-for-new-people-please-read-this-first.202363/#post-2036954
How big is its enclosure?
Please please please read over the care sheets on this forum and listen to the experts here, for the tortoises sake.It's a 4ft tank
With sand she's been in it 21 years
heFirst, post: 2059007, member: 148774"]Please please please read over the care sheets on this forum and listen to the experts here, for the tortoises sake.
Will be changing the sand for top soilPlease please please read over the care sheets on this forum and listen to the experts here, for the tortoises sake.
Please please please read over the care sheets on this forum and listen to the experts here, for the tortoises sake.
It desperately needs a bigger enclosure, too, and from what I’ve read I don’t think(?) top soil is the best substrate to use because you never know what chemicals have been added to it! Coco coir would be better, or fine grade orchid bark.heFirst, post: 2059007, member: 148774"]
Please please please read over the care sheets on this forum and listen to the
Will be changing the sand for top soil
experts here, for the tortoises sake.
It's 4ft by 2 ftIt desperately needs a bigger enclosure, too, and from what I’ve read I don’t think(?) top soil is the best substrate to use because you never know what chemicals have been added to it! Coco coir would be better, or fine grade orchid bark.
Is his tank 4x1? When I first got my Shelly he was in a similar size tank to yours, and it was absolute misery for him until I did the necessary research and had him a 4x6ft tank made. I wouldn’t be surprised if the size of his tank is the reason for the tortoises ‘puffiness’.
It’s a lot to take in but please read and reply to everything everyone is saying here. They know what they’re talking about.
It desperately needs a bigger enclosure, too, and from what I’ve read I don’t think(?) top soil is the best substrate to use because you never know what chemicals have been added to it! Coco coir would be better, or fine grade orchid bark.
Is his tank 4x1? When I first got my Shelly he was in a similar size tank to yours, and it was absolute misery for him until I did the necessary research and had him a 4x6ft tank made. I wouldn’t be surprised if the size of his tank is the reason for the tortoises ‘puffiness’.
It’s a lot to take in but please read and reply to everything everyone is saying here. They know what they’re talking about.
Yeah. That’s far too small for him. Even my 6x4ft isn’t ideal, but I’ll be adding a second level to it soon. It needs room to walk around and explore in, to aid digestion and exercise. What are your temps?It's 4ft by 2 ft
Yeah. That’s far too small for him. Even my 6x4ft isn’t ideal, but I’ll be adding a second level to it soon. It needs room to walk around and explore in, to aid digestion and exercise. What are your temps?
Temps are fineYeah. That’s far too small for him. Even my 6x4ft isn’t ideal, but I’ll be adding a second level to it soon. It needs room to walk around and explore in, to aid digestion and exercise. What are your temps?
What is fine? lolTemps are fine
And she can walk around .we put them in the garden as wel
What is fine? lol
What type of basking bulb do you use? UVB? Diet?
With all due respect it doesn’t look like she even has much room to turn around in there, let alone walk around (maybe a few steps back and forward?) It’s a crap pill to swallow when our husbandry has been off, but our responsibility, and necessary, to give our pets the best life possible. I can assure you 4x2 is FAR too small for her, and just because she’s been housed like that for 20+ years doesn’t make it right. Which is most likely the reason she is so puffy/severely overweight.
She has a red heat lamp and a white light on a 12 hr timerWhat is fine? lol
What type of basking bulb do you use? UVB? Diet?
With all due respect it doesn’t look like she even has much room to turn around in there, let alone walk around (maybe a few steps back and forward?) It’s a crap pill to swallow when our husbandry has been off, but our responsibility, and necessary, to give our pets the best life possible. I can assure you 4x2 is FAR too small for her, and just because she’s been housed like that for 20+ years doesn’t make it right. Which is most likely the reason she is so puffy/severely overweight.