How can I tell if my box turtle is healthy?
A healthy turtle is usually active and alert, feels “heavy,” and retracts its head and limbs into its shell when handled. Make sure the shell is smooth and is not cracked, pitted, missing scutes or has any obvious signs of infection (such as shell discoloration or moldy growth).
How big does a Malaysian box turtle get?
Their shells grow up to about 200 mm (8 inches). Malaysian Box Turtle There aren’t obvious differences between male and female. Malayan box turtles have similar feeding habits as other box turtles.
What kind of food does a Malaysian box turtle eat?
Malaysian Box Turtle There aren’t obvious differences between male and female. Malayan box turtles have similar feeding habits as other box turtles. In water, this box turtles feed on crustaceans, aquatic insects, mollusks, and aquatic plants. On land, they feed on worms, insects, terrestrial plants and mushrooms.
Why are the legs of my turtle swollen?
Its looks like he having really heavy shedding but in the same time the legs and the other parts of body looks swollen. I assumed this must be some sort of fungus or bad bacteria that infect my turtle. It could be from the water. Dirty water, wrong temperature can give this kind of symptom.
Why does my Chinese golden thread turtle have skin problems?
I would like to share that, a month ago my Chinese Golden Thread Turtle (CGTT) had this skin problem. I don’t know what is it and how it happen. Its looks like he having really heavy shedding but in the same time the legs and the other parts of body looks swollen. I assumed this must be some sort of fungus or bad bacteria that infect my turtle.
What kind of disease does a box turtle have?
Symptoms include a lack of appetite, lethargy, swelling of the eyelids (often with a pus-like discharge), swelling of the ear (due to the formation of an ear abscess), kidney failure, and respiratory infections. “In turtles, most respiratory infections are caused by bacteria and are often secondary to vitamin A deficiency.”
How to tell if a box turtle has an abscess?
Turtles with respiratory infections may have excess mucus in their oral cavities (seen as bubbles in the mouth), nasal discharges, lethargy, loss of appetite, open-mouth breathing, and wheezing, and may stretch the neck out with each breath. An abscess is a pus-filled swelling within a tissue of the body.
What are the signs of illness in turtles?
“More commonly, signs of illness are non-specific, such as a turtle with anorexia (lack of appetite) and lethargy” Signs of disease in turtles may be specific for a certain disease, such as nasal discharge in the case of a respiratory infection.
Why does my turtle have a lump on the side of its head?
If you notice lumps, bumps or swelling under the skin of a turtle, it might be a sign of an abscess. These can occur pretty much anywhere on a turtle. Turtles are susceptible to middle ear infections which can result in an aural abscess that can be seen on the side of their heads.
