Tortoise Tail - Please help

[Haley J.]

This might be a silly question but I think my hermann's tortoise's tail is a little strange. His (or her) tail has looked like this since I got him, but I was browsing pictures of hermann's tortoises and their tails did not look like this. His looks swollen and more curved. He has been defecating and urinating fine and seems in good health, but I'm concerned he may have a tumor. Do you think his tail looks okay?

 

[Aunt Caffy]

That top picture looks a little bulged.

 

[Lyn W]

Could it be an old injury? My tort has lost one of his feet from being nibbled by something in his past, so if you don't know his past maybe the same sort of thing happened.

 

[Yvonne G]

Looks like a rock trying to get out. What happens if you gently press it towards the opening (cloaca)?

 

[Haley J.]

I pressed on it and it won't move but it is very hard. I think I will just take him to the vet to be safe. Thanks for the input.

 

[Yvonne G]

Good idea. Please let us know what they say. We all learn this way.

 

[Haley J.]

Ok I took him to the vet and he is fine Turns out he either just has a deformed tail or it broke and fused together at some point.