Tortoise beak broke

[redfoots333]

she also has weird growths on her face. What am I doing wrong to take care of her?

 

[tort_luv_5055]

I can't give you any advice, but what I do know is this- if you want the experts to help you, you have to include WAY more information. Substrate, diet, lighting, hydration, etc.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi 333, and welcome to the Forum!

Well, right off the bat, if you're using aspen bedding for substrate, that's the #1 wrong thing that I see.

As for the beak breaking off, its just because you've allowed it to get a little overgrown. Not much, just a little.

Her head wouldn't look so dry and patchy if she were being kept in a humid/moist environment.

There's some very good redfoot reading at the Tortoise Library

 

[parrotlady]

First of all don't panic. I don't know what you are feeding or what you are using for a dish. I use a paving stone and place my redfoots food on it. This will help with the user grown beak. If this doesn't help you can use a finger nail file and file a little bit periodically. If you are scared to do this you can take her to a vet for a beak trim. They will probably use a Dremel type tool to file the beak. That is what they use on birds. Remember the long beak is not a life threatening issue, it is caused by your husbandry practices.

 

[redfoots333]

I have her in my chameleon room right now under the counter. I have panther chameleons which are from Madagascar so I keep it very humid in there. Her head has always looked very dry, probably because I'm in Nevada. I will switch my substrate when I get home. What should I use for substrate? And the stuff on her face looks like cuts that come to her ears. Then scabs form over it. My dad tells me to soak her to soften the scabs. Then we pull them off and use medicated gel on the cuts. I don't know if I'm treating it wrong though. Any suggestions?

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Thank you parrotlady! I will try filing it when I get home. I usually feed her food nuggets that you soak in water so they are soft. I feed her from the lid of a plastic container.

 

[Yvonne G]

I'd need to see pictures of the 'cuts' before I could comment on that, however, I don't usually pick off scabs, but rather just dab on some NeoSporin and let nature take its course.

 

[redfoots333]

Okay thanks I will try Neosporin.