Tortoise injuries

[Jo77]

Hi

I've just noticed that my tortoise has what looks like a split on one side of her beak. I have no idea how this happened, or when. I prodded it and it doesn't seem sensitive and so far her appetite hasn't decreased. I've attached pictures of both sides, for comparison. What should I do about this? Will it close over or does she need a vet trip? Also, she toppled over a month or so ago and bashed her head on the pointy bit of her shell above her head. We cleaned up the wound and kept her indoors until it had healed. She now has a white mark on her head (photo attached). Is this something that will heal or is she scarred for life? We didn't take her to vet on that occasion. Sorry for the double question. We've had her for 5 years and the first problem we've had with her. Thank you.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Jo, and welcome to the Forum!

The beak split because it has grown too long and is in pretty dire need of a trim.

The head looks perfectly normal to me. You can wipe some coconut oil into it and then polish it off with an absorbent cloth. That should bring back the original color.

 

[Yvonne G]

Tortoises in the wild keep their beaks in shape by biting off their food. They have to bite stems off of plants and bite off blades of grass, etc. We think we're doing them a favor by feeding them soft foods and cutting it all up for them, but we're not. Also feeding on a rough surface helps keep it in shape. I use cement stepping stones.

 

[Jo77]

Wow, thank you. The vet told me it didn't need trimming. He wasn't a reptile vet but had a 'special interest' in tortoises. I'll make an appointment with a reptile vet. We do feed her off of slabs of stone but I think she must just hoover the food up so her beak doesn't touch it!