Sulcata - MBD?

TurtleTortoise

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I have been looking to buy a Sulcata and recently found an adult male for sale on craigslist. The current owners say they have had him for a year, and they have been helping him recover from his previous owners who did not properly care for him. He is 12 in. long and 5 years old. I asked what issues he has and they said:
1. He has an indent in his shell
2. He got too much calcium as a hatchling and he didn't have a UVB bulb
3. He has an underbite
To me it sounds like he had or still has metabolic bone disease, if not something else. I am wondering if I should buy this tortoise, or if it would not be a good idea. What other issues may he have from his previous care, and also what could the underbite be caused by? I have included the pictures they sent me, and I will be requesting more. In the first picture you can see the indent in his shell, and that he has some pyramiding. Any advice is helpful, Thanks!
 

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SarahChelonoidis

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It sounds like MBD, but he actually doesn't look too terrible. He looks in better shape than the box turtle he lives with (...). It's really hard to judge health from photos. He could be complication free, or have organ damage no one can see. He doesn't look bad to me though, but photos aren't great diagnostic tools.
 

dmmj

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the mushroom cap look to the shell says metabolic bone disorder to me, Plus he slightly pyramided but not terribly bad. if you want to, he seems like he would be a y good tortoise. I seriously doubt he was getting too much calcium there
 

dmmj

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not to sound mean but I would not offer very much for him.
 

TurtleTortoise

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He's going for $200 which seems reasonable to me, though I wouldn't know. If he does have MBD, what should I do or check for? I've heard it can be really hard to stop.
Here are some photos of his head. He definitely has an underbite with an overgrown beak. Thanks again for the help
ImageUploadedByTortoise Forum1454732046.498240.jpg
 

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Big Charlie

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He's going for $200 which seems reasonable to me, though I wouldn't know. If he does have MBD, what should I do or check for? I've heard it can be really hard to stop.
Here are some photos of his head. He definitely has an underbite with an overgrown beak. Thanks again for the help
View attachment 164627
That seems expensive to me. How much do healthy torts of his age normally sell for? When I bought Charlie as a hatchling, he was $89. but that was 17 years ago. Are they more expensive the bigger they are?

There are a few tort owners here who have rescued torts with MBD. You can halt it's progress but you can't get rid of it. I wonder what this tort looked like before these people got him. I wonder what they have done to improve his health.
 

Yvonne G

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Once that lower beak has started to grow out beyond the upper beak it's pretty hard to get it under control. It starts because of a lack of calcium. All you can do now is file it back and keep filing as it grows, and hopefully, with a better diet it will eventually start growing as it should.

$200 doesn't seem too high to me. If you want the tortoise and are committed to try to fix his beak, it's a good deal. If you have a good tortoise vet in your area, you might ask the people if you can get the vet's opinion on the beak, just to let you know what you're in for.
 

dmmj

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personally I think 200 is high.
 

MPRC

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$200 is high for around here, but they need winter housing in Oregon and most people just want to dump them for cheap in fall. If you are in love and you are prepared for the issues that may arise maybe you can ask them to bring him to your vet for a health check. Blood work and x-rays can help you evaluate his condition better by showing you Calcium : Phosphorous ratios in his blood and bone density via xray.
 

surfergirl

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if I had the time to clear some land and setup for another sully I would buy him. I have seen people spend 200 on far worse investments. I was just in Vegas and people throw down 200 in a casino for less than an hours entertainment. any tort with a chance is worth more than that to me. my guys are family though so if looking at it as an investment- buying a car etc I can see how the 200.00 seems high. heck looking back over my tort ownership for the last 20 years makes the initial investment seem like nothing.....it becomes way more than 200.00- the purchase price is far cheaper than the future food, housing, equipment and energy bought over 20 years will be.
 

sibi

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Have you had a chance to see the tort up close? I would slightly press on the concaves, and the scute above the tail. If it gives in, his MBD is still there. Also, check the plastron (under shell) for any shell splits or pealing. A tort with MBD issues can cost you a great deal in vet bills if his intestinal tract has been compromised, or if he has weak lungs. A balance diet of grass /hay, spineless cactus, certain weeds, endive, Mazuri and calcium supplement can stop the disease and help this one year old grow healthier than he started. I think if you tell the seller the expense you'll be undertaking to continue his care should persuade him to sell him to you for $150.00 and no more. Look, in the end, unless you're committed to investing a great deal of time and resources caring for a special needs animal, you may want to rethink buying him.
 
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