Russian tortoise - external parasites?

[RussianTortKing]

Hi. Im worried that my little tortoise has parasites. He has these weird black dots right about his head area in his neck but I'm not sure what it is. Please help I'm really worried. He eats slot but he also sleeps. When I take him outside he lives to play but when he's inside, he sleeps ALOT. But anyways, I don't know if those are parasites or something else. Is it normal? He is also making a puffing sound through his nose like he is pushing air out. He doesn't have any snot and he doesn't squeal

 

[RussianTortKing]

It's a male Russian

 

[RussianTortKing]

A lot not slot lol

 

[RussianTortKing]

I just figured out that they all make that puffing sound because you startle them

 

[JoesMum]

That all looks normal to me

As you said the breathing is normal too. A tort cannot expand its chest when it breathes like you can due to its shell... these sudden huffs are normal along with the head and legs bobbing when a tort is relaxed

Enjoy your tort

 

[RussianTortKing]

I also have a question. I don't really know how to post my own thing on this website so I'm going to post on this. Does my RT have parasites? He has these black little dots right below his head on his neck and I'm worried. If it isn't parasites, what is it? And should I be worried?

 

[Yvonne G]

Hard to tell from a picture, but it just looks like colored skin to me (freckles??)

 

[RussianTortKing]

Thanks! Also, when I hold him, it sounds like he's s bones are rubbing together or something I just want him to be okay.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Can't see anything in the photo to worry about.
Just looks like markings to me.
And what you describe seems perfectly normal.
When you pick up a tortoise the internal organs can move about, this is your 'bones rubbing', I should think.
Try to keep him horizontal, if at all possible, when you pick him up.

 

[RussianTortKing]

Ok thank you so much you just saved me 120 dollars

 

[RussianTortKing]

Also, his skin is peeling. People say it's because they're dehydrated but I soak him in warm water for 20 mins a day. I have been doing that for 2 weeks now. I don't know why. Do you think it needs more time to go back to normal?

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Do you mean the little bit of skin at the top, bac of his neck near the head ?
That's tiny and may be caused by a rub on his carapace, again nothing to worry about .
Or is there other peeling ?
It's probably okay, but remember we are just giving advice from experience with our own torts and what we see daily on here.
We are not vets.

 

[RussianTortKing]

Like a little in his leg and his next. But if it's just scrapes they will heal. Thank you so much. It really helped.

 

[JoesMum]

Like a little in his leg and his next. But if it's just scrapes they will heal. Thank you so much. It really helped.

That's normal. All animals shed skin.

You shed skin in tiny bits that are house dust. Snakes do it tidily all in one go. Torts shed skin in phases as they grow and age and look downright tatty at times.

Please don't worry about that either. It is completely normal

 

[Kasia]

I also have a question. I don't really know how to post my own thing on this website so I'm going to post on this. Does my RT have parasites? He has these black little dots right below his head on his neck and I'm worried. If it isn't parasites, what is it? And should I be worried?

View attachment 185784

He is shedding no worries normal tortie stuff no parasites either, normal skin color