Russian Tort

[ColinS]

Just a quick question. I have a baby tort not sure of age! But anyway. It's eating ok and pooing etc... it seems to enjoy a daily soak where it does its business more often than not. I've recently put a cocoa soil substrate in its enclosure. And since this it keeps opening its mouth like its gaggin but with nothing comin up and like I said it's feeding fine and pooing etc... any ideas?

 

[JoesMum]

Hi

Have we seen pictures of your enclosure to check it out?

 

[ColinS]

Sorry but I can't figure out how to do it. Let me see if I can sort it out

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

If you're on a PC, use the UPLOAD A FILE button next to the POST REPLY box.
This should allow access to the photos on your computer.

 

[JoesMum]

Sorry but I can't figure out how to do it. Let me see if I can sort it out

If you have an Android or Apple phone, download the app and do it that way; it's MUCH easier!

 

[ColinS]

Cheers. Just having a nosey now ha

 

[ColinS]

 

[ColinS]

There's 2 Russians in there. And I already know and read the threads on here!! But there is no problems as of yet and they will be outdoors soon in a large enclosure. I have 2 feed bowls and water bowls and there's 3 or 4 hides too.

 

[ColinS]

A new uvb strip too

 

[Jodie]

Is it like he is breathing through his mouth?

 

[ColinS]

No not really. Like he tryna burp and he stretching his neck and head up. Gonna get a pic

 

[ColinS]

 

[ColinS]

He is defo wrentching. Like he needs to be sick!! But he is eatin drinking and pooing etc... doesn't seem to be poorly

 

[ColinS]

The more I'm reading the more it sounds like impaction! It was on wood chips but that was over a month back when I switched to cocoa soil mix!

 

[SarahChelonoidis]

That doesn't look/sound like retching (very unusual for tortoises to do anyway), that looks like gasping for breath (a common symptom of a respiratory infection).

What are your high and low temperatures like?

 

[ColinS]

The basking temp is 36 and there is a slate/flat rock under it And the cooler end is 20 I think it is ( I'm in work so can't double check ) and the lights and heater goes off at night but I think the temp was 16 The heat lamp is set on a sensor to turn off and on at 36. As of today it hasn't eaten. It's had a 30 minute soak in warm water. No discharge from its nose or mouth.

 

[ColinS]

It doesn't seem to be gasping for breath. Quite the opposite. It's like it wants to be sick. It looks like it's heaving!

 

[JoesMum]

Are you saying that your tort does not have continuous access to basking heat in the day?

The basking lamp must be on for 12-14 hours continuously. You adjust the temperature underneath by raising or lowering the lamp and then leave it alone.

Basking is essential so a tort can digest food and be healthy and active. It must not be restricted.

If the enclosure as a whole is becoming too hot then your enclosure is too small or you need a lower wattage basking bulb.

 

[SarahChelonoidis]

It could be that something is stuck in its throat. But with 16C temperatures overnight, I wouldn't rule out an RI just yet. That's pretty cold for a hatchling.

Tortoises aren't built like mammals - the don't have a diaphragm so they can't really dry-heave. If there is some piece of wood caught in their, see if you can shine a flashlight in there and look next time the mouth is open.

 

[ColinS]

Very rarely goes off the baskin light. So don't think that would be the prob. And the whole lights/heater come on at 6am and go off at 8pm and my house isn't cold it's always a comfy room temp! So I doubt the temp at night is a prob. I'm a beginner so I may be wrong that's why am on here!