So folks, I've caught the tortoise bug and since I have the space and I am a sucker for any creature with a sob story I brought home my 2nd redfoot in under two weeks.
It all started with me looking to get a 2nd hand redfoot that maybe hadn't had the best start in life. I have a ton of reptile and veterinary medical experience and I am financially and emotionally prepared for a problem tort since that seems to be what romps around on craigslist and other rescue boards.
I had a sad little Russian all lined up who was a class pet and no one knew anything about him or his care and it fell through because he went to a student. Then I caught wind of another tortoise who had been bounced around from home to home named Vern and he fell through because someone else was willing to drive from the next state over to pick him up ASAP.
I was getting frustrated and wasn't sure I would ever find the right fit and then I met Ruby. She's young and healthy and spunky. She is so alert and friendly. I am in LOVE. She's just over a year old and is only 3-1/2 inches long.
Fast forward about 10 days. I get another email from the gal with Vern. Apparently his other two suitors fell through and they are getting desperate to find him a home before she leaves for school. She sent over a photo and my sucker sign started flashing and I agreed to go meet him. Just to see.
He is SO FRIENDLY! Because Ruby is so small and healthy I justified bringing home this poor dried out tortoise that nobody wants. He's got some pyramiding and was being kept in a dry 40g tank for years when the weather here in Oregon wasn't suitable for romping around outside (not any more my friend, you just hit the tortoise jackpot!).
Needless to say he's in a bit rougher shape than little Ruby so we're going to be off to the vet this week for a preliminary visit and to check out a sore on his neck. Apparently he stuck his head through a fence and it didn't come back out as smoothly as he expected. I've flushed the wound and hit it with some nolvasan. Question: Should I put triple antibiotic ointment (without painkiller of course) on it until we see the vet? (See pics) I've seen far worse wounds on reptiles and treated them at home, but I just have to ask.
Also, apparently he grew up on a high protein diet with very little humidity. Aside from providing proper diet & supplementation, unfiltered UVB access, good humidity and lots of soaks is there anything EXTRA that I should be doing?
One LAST THING: Has anyone ever seen a damaged plastron like this? (See pics again) The lady who has had him for a couple of years doesn't know what its from and she kind of seemed like she had never noticed it.
Thank you all in advance! Enjoy the attached photos as a sign of gratitude for reading this far!
I am Vern and I realize my shell is a mess.
Also I stick my head through holes in the fence and panic when it doesn't come back out.
Here is my funny looking scute.
So long as the head and neck rubs continue I think I'm going to like it here...
It all started with me looking to get a 2nd hand redfoot that maybe hadn't had the best start in life. I have a ton of reptile and veterinary medical experience and I am financially and emotionally prepared for a problem tort since that seems to be what romps around on craigslist and other rescue boards.
I had a sad little Russian all lined up who was a class pet and no one knew anything about him or his care and it fell through because he went to a student. Then I caught wind of another tortoise who had been bounced around from home to home named Vern and he fell through because someone else was willing to drive from the next state over to pick him up ASAP.
I was getting frustrated and wasn't sure I would ever find the right fit and then I met Ruby. She's young and healthy and spunky. She is so alert and friendly. I am in LOVE. She's just over a year old and is only 3-1/2 inches long.
Fast forward about 10 days. I get another email from the gal with Vern. Apparently his other two suitors fell through and they are getting desperate to find him a home before she leaves for school. She sent over a photo and my sucker sign started flashing and I agreed to go meet him. Just to see.
He is SO FRIENDLY! Because Ruby is so small and healthy I justified bringing home this poor dried out tortoise that nobody wants. He's got some pyramiding and was being kept in a dry 40g tank for years when the weather here in Oregon wasn't suitable for romping around outside (not any more my friend, you just hit the tortoise jackpot!).
Needless to say he's in a bit rougher shape than little Ruby so we're going to be off to the vet this week for a preliminary visit and to check out a sore on his neck. Apparently he stuck his head through a fence and it didn't come back out as smoothly as he expected. I've flushed the wound and hit it with some nolvasan. Question: Should I put triple antibiotic ointment (without painkiller of course) on it until we see the vet? (See pics) I've seen far worse wounds on reptiles and treated them at home, but I just have to ask.
Also, apparently he grew up on a high protein diet with very little humidity. Aside from providing proper diet & supplementation, unfiltered UVB access, good humidity and lots of soaks is there anything EXTRA that I should be doing?
One LAST THING: Has anyone ever seen a damaged plastron like this? (See pics again) The lady who has had him for a couple of years doesn't know what its from and she kind of seemed like she had never noticed it.
Thank you all in advance! Enjoy the attached photos as a sign of gratitude for reading this far!
I am Vern and I realize my shell is a mess.
Also I stick my head through holes in the fence and panic when it doesn't come back out.
Here is my funny looking scute.
So long as the head and neck rubs continue I think I'm going to like it here...
