Redfoot hatchling missing two nails

[berrybon]

With missing claws being a symptom of Austwickia, there is no way I would take a tortoise with missing claws unless I knew for certain how that happened, especially since I already have a healthy tortoise which I would be putting at risk.

Hi @TammyJ thank you for your advice; I’ll keep it in mind. If only I had known about the disease before I got him, I would re-thinking my decision.

However, as I stated before, I unfortunately rescued this tortoise from my friend, who passed away. A couple of weeks after he passed, we found several of his pets. Since no one had the experience of raising a tortoise, no one would take him. My friend’s family tried to sell him, but no one wanted to buy either. So the only option was for me to adopt it or to let him die. Since no one took care of him for a couple of weeks, I thought the missing nails were caused by neglect/improper housing. Previously, he was living with a lot of cats and was put in a small tub, so I thought it was an old defensive wound.

I only realised that it might be a virus once I already agreed to have him and he’s on the way. Again, if I had known before I agreed to adopt him, I might rethink my decision, as I don’t want to put my sulcata at risk. I just lost my friend, and I guess I don’t have the heart to let a part of him die as well.
I am putting him on a strict bio-quarantine, put him on a different floor, use separate equipment, tools and handling waste carefully. Seeing his old living conditions, I am almost certain it was an attack/defensive wound. But better be extra cautious at this point.

 

[TammyJ]

Wishing you the very best outcome! Stay with us and keep us updated, please!

 

[berrybon]

Hi guys, I just want to give you an update! I thoroughly checked him twice a day and found no marks/pustules/blisters.
He is alert, eats a lot, poops and pees every morning during sun bathing. He's also consistently gained weight (as if I'm not mistaken, one of the Austwickia's symptoms is lack of growth). It also seems like one of his nails has started to grow? But it might be just my imagination, though . If he's still asymptomatic by the end of next week, I might be just quarantining him (not bio-quarantining). We'll see!

 

[Alex and the Redfoot]

Hi guys, I just want to give you an update! I thoroughly checked him twice a day and found no marks/pustules/blisters.
He is alert, eats a lot, poops and pees every morning during sun bathing. He's also consistently gained weight (as if I'm not mistaken, one of the Austwickia's symptoms is lack of growth). It also seems like one of his nails has started to grow? But it might be just my imagination, though . If he's still asymptomatic by the end of next week, I might be just quarantining him (not bio-quarantining). We'll see!

He looks much better under your care!

 

[Littleredfootbigredheart]

He looks much better under your care!

I agree! Well done! And thank you for the update on this baby, keep us in the loop

 

[berrybon]

Hi guys! So it's been (almost) two months since we got him. I want to update those who have been so helpful to us!

So he's been doing great! He grew twice as big as the first time we got him, which is crazy since I didn't realise he was getting bigger. He seems as tiny as when he first arrived. He still only has three nails; the other two have not grown back. So I guess I just imagined it grew back after all. We decided to name him Wolfie, as his three nails remind us of Wolverine

These past few days, he's been eating a lot more than usual, growth spurts, maybe? Special thanks to @Alex and the Redfoot, who have been super helpful with his diet! So, I guess this will be the last update. Thank you all for your help! Wolfie (and Sulky) says hi!

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

So, I guess this will be the last update. Thank you all for your help! Wolfie (and Sulky) says hi!

I hope this won't be the last we see or hear of him!

 

[zolasmum]

Please do keep in touch - you have friends here now who will want to know how he is doing - including people like me who just think he looks beautiful, and who are so glad that he seems to have got past the infection scare - your friend would have been proud of him - and of you.
Angie