Question about tortoise nails

[Conor Belton]

Hello, I have a baby Russian/ Horsefield tortoise and her nails are growing in every way possible. She had bowel surgery about a year and a half ago. This might be the reason way. Anyway how do I file her nails or, do I bring her to the vet?

 

[Yvonne G]

Hi Conor:

Bowel surgery? What was wrong?

Can we see a picture of the nails? I know in box turtles every-which-way nails means he's not getting enough calcium, but I've never seen this in Russian tortoises.

 

[Conor Belton]

I accidentally gave her a tiny bit of bacon and a week later she had to have surgery as her bowel came out.

 

[Conor Belton]

I don't know how to put pictures unless I just did. I will give her more calcium just in case. Thank you anyway.

 

[Yvonne G]

Have you read the care sheet, Conor? It sounds like you need to educate yourself on the correct care and set up for Russian tortoises:

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/russian-tortoise-care-sheet.80698/

 

[Yvonne G]

At the bottom of the area where you're posting click on "upload a file" and follow the directions from there.

 

[Conor Belton]

OMG I made myself look sooo bad, I actually already use calcium powder 4 times a week. I will post a photo in a while. I have also booked a vet appointment for her.

 

[Conor Belton]

Here

 

[Conor Belton]

here

 

[Yvonne G]

Yeah, I see what you mean. Is it loose-can you wiggle it? I'd like to see a picture of this tortoise, as this picture doesn't look like a baby russian.

 

[Yvonne G]

. . . and don't worry about looking bad. We're not here to judge you.

 

[Conor Belton]

Sorry it is definitely a Russian it has 4 toes but one is very small. This is the other foot.

 

[Conor Belton]

A close up.

 

[Conor Belton]

I can wiggle the swurvy one a little bit.

 

[Yvonne G]

Hard to see the whole tortoise, but it looks like a greek to me.

That nail might be broken off down in the nail bed.

 

[counting]

Hard to see the whole tortoise, but it looks like a greek to me.

That nail might be broken off down in the nail bed.

I want to say it almost looks hermanns.

Can we get a picture of the carapace and plastron?

 

[Conor Belton]

It actually does look hermans.

 

[Conor Belton]

My "Russian".

 

[JoesMum]

My "Russian".

Your tort is a Hermann's

These are the care sheets you need to read. They're written by species experts working hard to correct the outdated information widely available on the internet and from pet stores and, sadly, from some breeders and vets too.

Beginner Mistakes
http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/beginner-mistakes.45180/

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/threads/sticky-hermanns-tortoise-care-sheet-updated.101410/

 

[Conor Belton]

Could you please post a photo of a Russians tortoise.