I want to put my redfoot outside this summer, (I think, although I'm rural I still worry about kids stealing him), but my other big worry is ticks. my area is polluted with ticks, brown dog ticks and deer ticks, my father has got bit by a confirmed lyme disease carrying deer tick he got at the park, i know snakes get ticks, but do torts?
Ticks on Redfoots?
- Thread starter Dėad Lee
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I suppose they could. But it must be rare. I've read very little about them.
Mostly the concern is fire ants.
Mostly the concern is fire ants.
- Joined
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- Location (City and/or State)
- South Eastern Florida (U.S.A.)/Rock Hill S.C.
And yes.
Kids love to steal tortoises.
Kids love to steal tortoises.
A warm welcome to the forum.
I'd never leave/put my tort outside. Anyone could - not only steal him/her - someone may even harm him/her.
Sorry, do not know whether or not torts get ticks.
Hopefully a more experienced member will be able to give you an answer. 
A few years ago "they" stopped importing tortoises from Africa because of the deer tick. And we were not allowed to take our African tortoises across state lines without a vet certificate saying they were tick free. So, the answer is, yes, tortoises can get ticks.
Most ticks are host specific, so just because humans and dogs are getting bit, doesn't mean tortoises would be on the menu. If you live in a place with native tortoises, tortoise hungry tick species could be a problem - do you live in the Gopherus range?
I copied this from the Tortoise Trust site. If they refer to how to get rid of a tick on a tortoise, that must mean that, yes, tortoises can get ticks:
Parasites: For any external parasites you can dip the tortoise in Alugan or diluted tritix (Amitraz) 1-2ml/litre. Ticks can be removed manually - coat with alcohol or vaseline, turn on its back to loosen its grip and pull off. Apply a little betadine to the spot where the tick was attached.
Parasites: For any external parasites you can dip the tortoise in Alugan or diluted tritix (Amitraz) 1-2ml/litre. Ticks can be removed manually - coat with alcohol or vaseline, turn on its back to loosen its grip and pull off. Apply a little betadine to the spot where the tick was attached.
Although most are species specific, some ticks will try to latch onto anything that may be passing.
Like dog and cat fleas biting people out of desperation, though they prefer their natural hosts.
see http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/ticks.146495/
Tortoises can get ticks.
Like dog and cat fleas biting people out of desperation, though they prefer their natural hosts.
see http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/ticks.146495/
Tortoises can get ticks.
Alot of people have outdoor enclosures...A warm welcome to the forum.
I'd never leave/put my tort outside. Anyone could - not only steal him/her - someone may even harm him/her.
Sorry, do not know whether or not torts get ticks.
I don't think we have fire ants...
Yea, i only have one kinda close neighbor, and his enclosure wI'll be wire tops and locked, and he probably would be out if I wasn't home. they leave them outside all the time in arizona , people must be nicer there
I don't think I do, we have turtles, box, snappers, wood, but i don't think any tortoises
Ticks will attach to snakes, between the scales
Darn...
Darn...
Yea, i know cats get dog ticks , but the dog tick prefers dogs, it goes after cats if there's no dogs... I hate ticks
I live in a rural area in Texas. My dogs have gotten ticks, and I've found some on myself after walking through the field, but I've never seen them on a tortoise. It seems the ticks prefer long/thick grass, which the yard is usually cut short, so this may help if you have a tick problem.
Fair enough if you mean in an enclosure. Sorry, it seems that I didn't make things clear.
Some people just leave their torts to roam around a garden for example.
Any tick species especially the nymph stage will attach to any animal for a blood meal. The adults ticks are more host specific. Count the legs, if there are only 6 it is a nymph and will feed wherever. I have found a few ticks on my own tortoises that are kept outside for the warm months. Outdoor enclosure will promote better health for a tortoise w/ natural sunshine as opposed to being kept indoors entirely.
