RI QUESTION

[Daniel84]

Ok so i bought 2 star 's 2 weeks ago i noticed that they had a little of a runnie noise i didnt think anything of it. But i took them to see a vet she said they have RI im doing injection every 72 hours with Ceftazidime.
Ive got my hot spot at 90-100 cold 80-90 for heat treatment right now humidity is 20-30. Thay are both eating and drinking but have watery eyes and watery noises.

BUT my question is can RI be airborn? Im pretty good with washing my hands with sanitizer but im a little worried about my skink collection in the other room not sure if they can catch it by airborne any info would be great thanks!!!

 

[turtletania]

Sorry, i can't help you, but others I am sure will be able to. I have stars and have at some point had RI in 2 of them. Separation and meds healed both back to full health. Good luck and keep us updated. (Do you have any pics?)

 

[tortoises101]

RI is a pretty mysterious thing amongst keepers. Usually Indian stars get it because of excessive cool/damp. I think they might have caught it on the date of purchase and likely gotten worse. I would seperate them immediately like what turtletania said, and increase all temps in the habitat by 5F. And get intact with a vet ASAP. Usually medications and warm temperatures will help with the RI.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Daniel84 (may I call you Daniel?):

Welcome to the forum!!

I'm not sure, but I don't think its airborne. I think it is a contact thing. So feces, urine, snot, saliva, etc. You get it on you somehow and transfer it to your other animals.

Where are you located?

Stars are beautiful little tortoises. I hope they get well soon.

 

[egyptiandan]

No a respiratory infection isn't airborne. It needs to be transmitted by contact.
The watery eyes are from the humidity being to low. Try to get the humidity up to about 50% in the warm end.

Danny

 

[SILVERSTAR]

I often wonder how easily if at all pathogens could be passed pback and forth bcuz i have frog and toad species and i clean very often(most my time)but i still get mite problem and wonder how easy it is to pass pathogens,parasite,diseaes,back an forth between then but it helps to know that its not airborne,by the way i though my star tortoise had a runny nose at one point cuz i saw a bubble and snot but i raised temps and never saw it again,is it sumwhut common or a common ailment for stars to get runny nose?

 

[Benjamin]

I often wonder how easily if at all pathogens could be passed pback and forth bcuz i have frog and toad species and i clean very often(most my time)but i still get mite problem and wonder how easy it is to pass pathogens,parasite,diseaes,back an forth between then but it helps to know that its not airborne,by the way i though my star tortoise had a runny nose at one point cuz i saw a bubble and snot but i raised temps and never saw it again,is it sumwhut common or a common ailment for stars to get runny nose?

I would 2nd the idea the humidity is too low. I see clear bubbles from time-time w/my indian stars mostly during the winter. key being CLEAR.

 

[SILVERSTAR]

well thats the thing i saw bubbles once or twice but clear and everytime i saw it i monitored him to see if it was RI but never seen it again so i figured maybe sumtimes it jus happens.

 

[samstar]

Yes key being clear, mine gets it from time to time, could be humidity, could be allergy. As long as it's not thick yellowish mucus and it's eating and drinking well, I would not worry to much.

 

[SILVERSTAR]

oh yeah healthy as an ox,and if i let him hed prolly eat as many times as i woke him and soakd him thats his favorite time to eat after a warm soak,i had to put him on a diet actually cuz he started gettn pudgy fat armpit,lol like he was to fat for his shell,hes back to normal tho i think it was allotta water weigh cuz i used to saok him sumtime 3 times a day and boy does he pee alot.

 

[samstar]

I soak mine once a week

 

[Benjamin]

I soak mine once a week

I soak the young everyday for the first month or so, every 2nd after that. The adults have shallow bowls several times a week.

 

[SILVERSTAR]

Am i soakn to much? cuz i do tend to spoil him and actually im startn to think its a girl wich sucks cuz named him sterling,,,

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i really do soak him alot now that i think about it cuz i have the time,i dont have to leave my house,so i tend and play wit him/her and my many other amphibians.

 

[samstar]

Where Stars come from, they'd be lucky to have rain come down on them once a month which is why I feel once a week is enough, plus they have their shallow water dish to drink from. Again it's what your comfortable and happy doing.

 

[geekinpink]

oh bubble/runny nose has been causing me stress too until i figured what's causing my torts runny nose...Mine is allergic to any kind of substrate...the only thing that does not cause her to have runny nose is newspapers laid down...and some tiles around so she does not slip when she walks.

how much is too much soaking? Because mine soaks herself everyday, she even takes a nap on her "pool". should I leave her be or remove her water dish? there's a light beside it so the water stays warm.