Tippie is coming up on 1 year old. She made a noise today!! It was like a grinding sound from her neck. I'm so excited for her to make noise! What does this noise "mean"? (Ex: dogs bark, it means go away, cats purr, it means they're happy)
Tippie makes noise!!!
- Thread starter Tippiethetortoise
- Start date
Ok so after doing some investigating, I'm becoming quite concerned that Tippie might have a RI.
This is a video I found at at the 0:40 second mark the tort made a noise and that's the noise my Tips is doing. Help??
Waltumus
Member
Was it just a one time thing? Maybe she had something caught in her throat.
It's the first time I've heard her make the noise, so I'm hoping it's an isolated incident. Either way, she needs a checkup at the vet soon.
Waltumus
Member
I would ask a senior member of the forum just to be sure, but I'm pretty sure your little lady is OK. If it's a one time, then it was probably just something irritating her throat.
What are your four temperatures? Warm side, cool side, basking area and overnight low?
What are you using for night heat?
How often do you soak her?
What do you feed her?
Not yet, I'm hoping it's just once
She soaks 3x a week. For night heat I use a purple night heat lamp (xterra I think) overnight low is around 90°* and she's outside the majority of the day now unless it is rainy. And I feed her a large variety of foods from dandelion to collard greens to grass and hay
She's a Sulcata and the temps have been high 80s to low 90s
Sorry. I had to go back and re-read what you wrote about the video. I thought that was Tippie, until I re-read it.
RIs are usually caused by low temps, especially low night temps. Is it 90 right under the bulb, or does the entire enclosure stay 90, even in the farthest corner of the enclosure away from the bulb?
Is it 80-90 when you are putting Tippie outside in the morning? Or is it still a bit cooler unties the day warms up?
I put her out around 10 and its already in the mid 80s and take her back inside in the evenings and its still in the 80s (it's hot here always lol) the far corner of the tank sits at about 80-83° at night
I don't see any reason why this tortoise would have a RI. Anything is possible, but I don't have an answer for this one.
Perhaps you should soak more often for a while. Sometimes they make funny noises when they are constipated. Is she pooping up a storm in the soaks that you are doing?
She usually poops once during soaks, but I've also noticed she is pooping outside. I'll try giving her a longer soak and see if she goes more than usual.
This sounds like a case of "keep an eye on it".
Appetite normal? Activity level normal? Any other symptoms or anything different than the norm?
If all else is good, I'd just keep an eye on things.
Everything else seems to be normal. She's been sleeping more inside, but I think it's because she gets more exercise outside during the day. Other than the one occurrence, she hasn't made the noise again. I scheduled a checkup for her anyhow since she hasn't been to the vet yet.
Be careful. Most vets don't have a clue about tortoise husbandry. There is no class on how to care for tortoises in vet school.
If the vet recommends a "vitamin injection", politely decline and find another vet.
I set an appointment with one of the vets on the list provided
Speedy-1
Well-Known Member
It sounds like you are doing things right . If all else is normal I would do as Tom said and just keep an eye on things . I think she will be OK !
