What kind of health problems do Russian tortoises have?
Internal parasites are most common with wild-caught and imported Russian tortoises, but captive ones may also have internal parasites, so it’s always a good idea to have a fecal test on new tortoises. Roundworms are common to tortoises and will usually cause diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, and a lack of appetite.
What kind of skin does a tortoise have?
Tortoises are land-dwelling reptiles. They have rugged, tough skin covering stocky limbs, perfectly suited for fending off prickly barbs and rough terrain. Their skin often looks wrinkly and dry. If your tortoise looks wet or moist, there could be a problem.
What should I look for in a Russian tortoise?
The ideal Russian Tortoise should: 1 Be bright and alert. 2 Free of any discharge from its eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. 3 Have skin and a shell free of blemishes or irregularities. 4 Show no signs of aggression when handled. More …
How can you tell if a tortoise has a problem?
If your tortoise looks wet or moist, there could be a problem. But if his skin is overly dry and causing cracks and sores, it’s equally alarming, so don’t delay a vet trip. Try to examine close up photos of various tortoise breeds and see the difference in skin texture.
What to look for in a Russian tortoise?
Tortoises are especially susceptible to respiratory ailments and nutritional deficiencies. Signs to watch for include lethargy, bubbling from the nose, wheezing, swollen or closed eyes, lack of appetite for more than 2-3 days, loose stools, soft shell or abnormal shell growth or beak growth.
Tortoises are land-dwelling reptiles. They have rugged, tough skin covering stocky limbs, perfectly suited for fending off prickly barbs and rough terrain. Their skin often looks wrinkly and dry. If your tortoise looks wet or moist, there could be a problem.
Why does my Russian tortoise have white spots on its shell?
You may notice shell rot in your tortoise if it has white powdery, pitted, or flaking patches on the shell; if left untreated, the infection may eat away the shell. External parasites include ticks, mites, and flies. If you notice any of these, you’ll need to treat immediately as they can cause disease.
Internal parasites are most common with wild-caught and imported Russian tortoises, but captive ones may also have internal parasites, so it’s always a good idea to have a fecal test on new tortoises. Roundworms are common to tortoises and will usually cause diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, and a lack of appetite.
Why is my tortoise not moving or drinking?
Why is my Tortoise Not Moving Enough? If your tortoise seems lethargic and sluggish (even for a tortoise!) it could be down to many of the same factors discussed with regards to them not eating properly, but a particularly likely candidate for the problem is an insufficiently high enough temperature in their enclosure.
Do you need to keep an eye on your Russian tortoise?
It’s very important that you are aware of what illnesses Russian tortoises may contract or develop. You need to keep an eye on your tortoise because any changes in appetite, behaviors, or overall routine may indicate an illness is developing. The most common health problems that a Russian tortoise may contract are very minor.
Can a Russian tortoise Breathe Out of its mouth?
You may notice wheezing and sometimes a mucous discharge from the nose and/or mouth. If you wait until the tortoise is breathing out of its mouth, you’re not in for good results.
What are the dietary habits of a Russian tortoise?
Russian Tortoises are vigorous eaters and will eat continuously in the months leading up to summer to prepare for hibernation. In the wild they are herbivores and eat grass, leafy vegetables, weeds, and flowers. So in captivity they should be fed a diet mainly consisting of greens: Collards (type of cabbage)
How offten should my Russian tortoise eat?
Sulcata tortoises need to eat every day, they require space to graze on for about 20 minutes per day. It is important for the bulk of the Russian tortoise’s diet to consist of dark leafy greens. These greens include Romain lettuce, kale and carrot tops.
What foods a tortoise can and cannot eat?
Tortoise Food List – What They Can and Can’t Eat Legumes and grains. All legumes and grains are prohibited food for turtles such as beans, corn, rice, pea pods, lentils, chickpeas and others. Vegetables. Despite the necessities of feeding vegetables to your tortoise, there are some which you will need to avoid altogether. Fruit. Mushrooms. Sugar. Dog food and cat food. Animal products.
How often should I Feed my Russian tortoise?
Things to remember when feeding your Russian tortoise: Fresh, clean, chlorine free water should be available at all times. Feed tortoises daily; finely chop vegetables. Sprinkle food with calcium supplement once or twice a week once tortoise is 6 months of age. Discard food not eaten within 24 hours.
Can a tortoise have parasites in the wild?
In the wild, tortoises do indeed carry parasites, but because they are not confined to small areas parasites do not normally pose a risk to the animal.
What do you do with a Russian tortoise?
In the Spring he walks around all day long and has a quick pace. We have a plastic baby pool in the house and another in the shade. We load it with sand, dirt, grass, rocks and sticks plus water and food. We let our tortoise roam the fenced garden in the sunshine where they get Vitamin D, daily.
How often should I soak my Russian tortoise?
Russian tortoise are no exception to the rule. Being an arid species , much of the water can be extracted from their food. However they do need a regular source. I keep a shallow bowel of water in the pens. Indoors I prefer to soak them for 20 minutes in chin deep “baby warm” water every 2-3 days.
What should I do with my Russian tortoise?
Keep your tortoise’s habitat toasty and damp, like the warm countries these pets come from. The degree of heat and humidity in the habitat will depend on their breed: Russian Tortoises do best in slightly warmer, drier environments with about 50% humidity; while Greek Tortoises like it slightly cooler and wetter, with up to 80% humidity.
What kind of parasites do Russian tortoises have?
Flies are usually attracted to cuts and abrasions and will lay their eggs in the wound. For Russian tortoises that spend time outside, you’ll want to check for cuts frequently, and use fly traps to prevent flies. You’ll find that worms and protozoa are two common endo-parasites that affect tortoises.
What should the humidity be for a baby Russian tortoise?
Humidity is a big deal for any species of baby tortoise for sale, and the baby Russian tortoise is no different. Keep the humidity in the range of 65-70% for yearlings to juveniles, 50-60% for adults, and as high as 75-80% for captive bred Russian tortoise hatchlings. Using a reptile fogger will help keep the humidity up.
What to do if your Russian tortoise has diarrhea?
Certainly, if your Russian Tortoise is lethargic, has diarrhea or is not eating, has discharge from its eyes or nose, or has difficulty breathing, it should be examined immediately. Reptiles get sick slowly and get better slowly, so the key to good reptile health is preventive care to avert disease and rapid intervention when illness does occur.
When is the best time to feed a Russian tortoise?
Feeding should be done in the early morning. Fruit should be avoided in the Russian tortoise diet as this is not natural to their diet. Additions of fruit can cause bloat and should be avoided. Flowers are an excellent alternative to fruit in the diet and can be offered as incentive to handling.
Why does my tortoise vomit all the time?
– Clear, foamy vomit: Often seen after antibiotics are used. May be a form of RI – Overgrown beak: Often diet (not enough fiber, wrong balance of vit. D and calcium) or general cares. Needs to be worn down or trimmed. – Pale tissues: Low blood count usually due to an infection or disease, or severe stress. See a vet.
What should I do if my tortoise has diarrhea?
If your tortoise’s feces appears overly runny or diarrhea like then there’s a good chance that something about their diet is causing them digestive issues. First things first you should make sure their diet closely matches what they would eat in the wild; for most species this will consist of green leafy weeds and vegetables.
What kind of food does my Russian tortoise eat?
My Russian tortoise, Sheldon, has very loose stool, possibly diarrhea. He eats mainly kale, collards, and dandelion leaves. When I first got him (only one week ago) I mistakenly fed him a small piece of cantaloupe, but haven’t given him any fruit since.
When to seek veterinary help for a Russian tortoise?
If the wound starts to swell, you’ll want to seek veterinary assistance. Toenails are typically short and stubby in the back and longer in the front, and should be kept at short lengths. When the tortoise is housed in an environment with smooth surfaces that do not wear down its nails, they can grow too long.
What happens if you cut a Russian tortoise’s shell?
In most cases, the bacteria or fungus will enter the body through a cut, scrape, or lesion on the shell. If not caught and treated early, shell rot can lead to septicemia (which is an infection of the bloodstream).
What causes a Russian tortoise to lose its shell?
You’ll notice undigested food in the poo. This is typically caused by an antibiotic. Calcium is very important, and if your Russian tortoise doesn’t absorb enough, a deficiency can cause growth problems in the shell and bones. You may notice an abnormal appearance in the shell and legs.
What kind of disease does a Russian tortoise have?
Protozoa can include various bacteria, but in general, you’ll find that they can cause diseases. Signs that your tortoise has protozoa include diarrhea, vomiting, lack of appetite, dehydration, and lethargy. When protozoans are treated, antibiotics can wipe out any good bacteria in the gut, which can cause food to not be properly digested.
You may notice wheezing and sometimes a mucous discharge from the nose and/or mouth. If you wait until the tortoise is breathing out of its mouth, you’re not in for good results.
What should I do if my Russian tortoise got a cut?
Ivermectin is deadly, so don’t use it. Flies are usually attracted to cuts and abrasions and will lay their eggs in the wound. For Russian tortoises that spend time outside, you’ll want to check for cuts frequently, and use fly traps to prevent flies. You’ll find that worms and protozoa are two common endo-parasites that affect tortoises.
What to do if your tortoise has respiratory problems?
For minor treatment at home, you’ll need to soak the tortoise in a saline solution or lukewarm sugar water. Do not push the tissues back in place, but if they don’t shrink, you’ll need to make an appointment as soon as possible. Respiratory illnesses are generally caused by bacteria, lower temperatures, and stress (causing a lowered immune system).
Why is my Tortoise Not Moving Enough? If your tortoise seems lethargic and sluggish (even for a tortoise!) it could be down to many of the same factors discussed with regards to them not eating properly, but a particularly likely candidate for the problem is an insufficiently high enough temperature in their enclosure.
In most cases, the bacteria or fungus will enter the body through a cut, scrape, or lesion on the shell. If not caught and treated early, shell rot can lead to septicemia (which is an infection of the bloodstream).
It’s very important that you are aware of what illnesses Russian tortoises may contract or develop. You need to keep an eye on your tortoise because any changes in appetite, behaviors, or overall routine may indicate an illness is developing. The most common health problems that a Russian tortoise may contract are very minor.
